Turkey cements position as Europe’s top coal-fired power system

Turkey has spent eight of the first nine months of 2024 as Europe's largest producer of coal-fired electricity, overtaking Germany and Poland as it cranked coal burning for power.

Turkey generated a record 88 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity from coal during January through September, according to energy think tank Ember, which was 2% more than during the same period in 2023.

That total was 28% above the 69 TWh generated in Germany and 36% above the 65 TWh generated in Poland, Europe's next largest coal-fired power producers.

With power systems across northern Europe set to make further cuts to coal use in power generation going forward, Turkey's lead in Europe looks set widen, and may establish southern Europe as a major hub for coal use in the region.

Emissions impact

Turkey's emissions from coal-fired power also scaled new...