Turkey Identifies Four Aegean Sea Candidate Zones for First Offshore Wind Tender

Turkey's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has published details of four candidate areas in the Aegean Sea for the country's first offshore wind tender, with the zones collectively capable of supporting 1.5 to 2.0 GW of offshore wind capacity. The Turkish government has also confirmed that it will launch a YEKA tender for 1 GW of offshore wind capacity later in 2026, marking the formal start of what could become a significant new offshore wind market with technical potential estimated by the World Bank Group at 75 GW.

 

Strategic Significance for Turkey's Energy Mix

 

The launch of Turkey's offshore wind programme represents a structural shift in the country's energy strategy, addressing both rising domestic electricity demand and the country's heavy dependence on energy imports. Turkey currently imports approximately 70 percent of the energy it consumes, and rapid economic growth has continued to drive demand beyond what domestic sources alone can satisfy. The World Bank Group has projected that electricity demand will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.5 percent, reaching 511 terawatt hours by 2035, a 67 percent increase compared with 2020 levels. Meeting that demand will require approximately 100 GW of new generation capacity over the next decade, more than doubling current installed capacity. Offshore wind has been identified as one of the most credible pathways to delivering significant volumes of domestic, low-carbon electricity at the scale required.

 

Candidate Zones in the Aegean Sea

 

The four candidate zones identified by the Ministry are all located in the Aegean Sea. The Gökçeada zone off Çanakkale covers approximately 75 square kilometres, the Bozcaada zone off Çanakkale covers approximately 127 square kilometres, the Gulf of Saros zone spanning Edirne and Çanakkale provinces covers approximately 173 square kilometres, and the Edremit Bay zone off Balıkesir covers approximately 125 square kilometres. All four areas are considered suitable for the use of bottom-fixed offshore wind turbines, which simplifies the technical requirements of the first phase of development and aligns the programme with the mature segment of the global offshore wind supply chain.

 

YEKA Framework and Tender Structure

 

Turkey is using its established YEKA framework for the offshore wind tender. Under YEKA, the Turkish government identifies zones with high wind potential, secures the necessary environmental permits, and then auctions the zones to private developers through competitive tenders. The model has previously been applied to onshore wind and solar development in Turkey and is commercially significant because it reduces the regulatory and consenting risk faced by individual developers, lowering the cost of capital and improving the competitiveness of project bids. By taking responsibility for site identification and environmental assessment upfront, the government accelerates the path from auction to development and provides bidders with a clearer foundation for cost and schedule assumptions.

 

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Historical Context of Turkey's Offshore Wind Ambitions

 

Turkey has been planning to launch its first offshore wind tender for many years, with an earlier attempt in 2018 that did not progress to a final award. The renewed effort in 2026 reflects both maturation in the global offshore wind sector, with significant cost reductions and operational experience accumulated over the intervening years, and the strengthening of Turkey's own institutional and regulatory frameworks for renewable energy development. The international market environment is also more favourable, with major offshore wind developers, supply chain providers, and financiers actively seeking opportunities in new markets after several years of intense competition in established European and Asia-Pacific regions.

 

Technical Potential and Long-Term Market Scale

 

The World Bank Group has estimated Turkey's technical potential for offshore wind at 75 GW, providing a long-term horizon that extends well beyond the initial 1.5 to 2.0 GW capacity supported by the first round of candidate zones. The scale of the technical potential indicates that, if Turkey successfully establishes a credible offshore wind market through its initial tenders, the country could emerge as a significant offshore wind destination over the medium term. The combination of substantial technical potential, strong electricity demand growth, and a structural import dependency provides a favourable underlying foundation for sustained sector development.

 

Implications for the Wider Offshore Wind Market

 

Turkey's entry into the offshore wind market is commercially significant for several reasons. It expands the addressable market for global offshore wind developers and supply chain participants at a time when the sector is seeking new geographies to balance project pipelines and capital allocation. The Aegean location also brings Mediterranean offshore wind firmly into focus, complementing the much more established North Sea and Baltic markets and creating opportunities for installation contractors, vessel operators, and supply chain participants to extend their geographic reach. Successful execution of the first Turkish tender would provide a credible template for additional capacity rounds in subsequent years and could attract significant international investment into the country's energy transition.

 

Outlook for the First Tender and Beyond

 

With four candidate zones identified and a 1 GW YEKA tender confirmed for later in 2026, Turkey is now positioned to take its first concrete step into the offshore wind segment. The success of the tender will depend on the calibration of pricing mechanisms, the credibility of the regulatory environment, and the engagement of international developers and supply chain partners. If the initial tender attracts strong participation and produces viable projects, the foundation will be in place for Turkey to scale offshore wind capacity over the second half of the decade, contributing materially to the country's energy security, electricity demand growth, and decarbonisation objectives. For the global offshore wind sector, Turkey's entry adds a meaningful new market into the international pipeline at a moment when geographic diversification has become an increasingly important strategic consideration.