Offshore Wind Sites Announced: Saros, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, Edremit

Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar announced the designated sites for Turkey's offshore wind energy plants during his speech at TÜREK (Turkish Wind Energy Conference). Accordingly, four separate offshore wind farms will be established off the coasts of Saros Bay, Gökçeada (Imbros), Bozcaada (Tenedos), and Edremit.

Bayraktar stated that Turkey's offshore wind installed capacity target for 2035 is set at 5 gigawatts, while also noting that $30 billion in investment is planned for transmission infrastructure within the same period.

Turkey's first offshore wind YEKA tender

Minister Bayraktar said, "One of the most strategic topics of the upcoming period will be offshore wind energy. Our country has significant potential in this area. As the Ministry, we have identified four offshore sites off Saros Bay, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and Edremit. After completing the permitting processes, we will hold Turkey's first offshore wind YEKA tender."

The upcoming YEKA (Renewable Energy Resource Area) tender means that electricity generated here will receive a purchase guarantee for a certain period. The wind farm to be built off Gökçeada will make a significant contribution to the island's energy infrastructure.

2026 will be the year of wind

Bayraktar stated that a 1,500-megawatt YEKA tender for wind plants will be opened in 2026: "In the coming period, we will continue to hold YEKA tenders of at least 2,000 megawatts each year. 2026 will be the year of wind, as 1,500 megawatts of the YEKA tenders will be for wind."

Massive investments in the transmission grid

Minister Bayraktar also shared important details regarding investments in transmission and grid infrastructure. It was announced that the 14,700 km HVDC (High-voltage direct current) transmission grid investment, which enables high-efficiency transmission, will have a capacity of 40 GW, along with 15,000 km of new alternating current transmission lines and 40 new converter stations planned.

It has long been known that the most suitable offshore wind areas in Turkey are in the Northern Aegean region. The inclusion of two important Aegean islands, Gökçeada and Bozcaada, among the designated sites once again highlights the strategic importance of the region in energy production.