Why do we insist on coal despite our renewable potential?

Although fossil fuels, especially coal, dominated the world after the Industrial Revolution, times have changed.

Over the past 200 years, mankind has progressed far faster than ever to transform the world into an uninhabitable place for future generations, by intervening with the air, water and soil.

The climate is changing, waters are rising; storms and floods are getting tougher; soil is losing its fertility.

Some countries are turning away from coal and head towards renewable sources such as solar and wind energy.

Turkey, on the other hand, insists on coal.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation's publication the "Coal Atlas," is opening up the realities of coal for debate.

Özgür Gürbüz, one of the authors of the Coal Atlas, uses numbers to show Turkey can do without coal:

"In 2016, Turkey consumed 278 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. The solar energy potential in Turkey is 380 billion kWh. The wind energy potential is 100-120 billion kWh. Add 15 billion kWh of geothermal and 60 billion kWh of biogas and you will see the renewable energy potential is two to three times that of Turkey's electricity consumption. More importantly, our country has a potential for energy savings and productivity of 20 to 25 percent."

Do you know what it means to save 20 percent?

It means there is no need for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.

So, why are we stuck with coal?

Why is there a target for the Ministry of Energy to increase electricity production from domestic coal by 50 percent in their 2015-2019 strategic plans?

Why does Turkey want to use more coal contrary to the trend in the world?

Is it possible to reduce foreign dependence on energy this way?

No....