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Turkey seals position as Europe's top coal-fired power system: Maguire

Turkey has actually spent 8 of the first nine months of 2024 as Europe's largest manufacturer of coalfired electrical power, overtaking Germany and Poland as it cranked coal burning for power.

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

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

With power systems throughout Northern Europe set to make further cuts to coal usage in power generation going forward, Turkey's lead in Europe looks set expand, and may establish southern Europe as a major hub for coal usage in the area.

EMISSIONS AFFECT

Turkey's emissions from coal-fired power also scaled new highs up until now in 2024, striking 88.4 million lots of carbon dioxide and 1.5 million lots more than in the exact same months last year.

Coal-fired emissions in Germany were 71.5 million tons of CO2, and were 67 million lots in Poland, which in both cases were the most affordable on record for the January to September period.

With coal-fired generation and emissions declining in most other European countries, Turkey's share of the area's. coal-fired use and emissions reached a record of just over. 19% up until now this year, Ember information shows.

Continued coal burning during the winter season - when need for. heating in Turkey peaks - may press Turkey's share of regional. emissions above 20% for the very first time, specifically if power. systems somewhere else continue to suppress coal use throughout that duration.

IMPORT DEPENDENCE

Around 35% of Turkey's electrical energy up until now this year was. produced from coal, which was the country's biggest single. power fuel source.

That share was below around 37% in 2023, due to higher. output this year from both hydro dams and solar farms which. permitted power firms to lift output from clean energy sources.

Nevertheless, both hydro and solar output are set to fall to. their yearly lows over the coming winter in Turkey, which will. force power providers to boost coal usage towards year-end to satisfy. system demand.

And Turkey needs to import coal to fulfill approximately 40% of its. coal-fired needs, due to a consistent shortage in domestic coal. supply compared to domestic coal demand.

Over the first nine months of 2024, Turkey's total coal. imports were 16.7 million metric tons, according to. ship-tracking information from Kpler.

That total is 5% less than throughout the same months in 2023,. however volumes are most likely to climb up over the final months of the. year as power companies stock up ahead of peak heating need.

Russia is Turkey's main coal supplier, accounting for around. 70% of Turkey's coal imports, followed by Colombia, Australia. and the United States.

RISING DEMAND

Turkey's dependence on coal for 35% of its electrical power is. higher than the 20% share in Germany and 13% share for Europe. as a whole, however is less than the 56 % coal-share in Poland.

However, Poland's coal share is below close to 74% in. 2022, and looks set to continue falling quickly as Poland's. power firms deploy growing volumes of renewable power throughout the. nation's grids.

In contrast, Turkey's reliance on coal for power looks set. to keep increasing, especially as the country's total power demand. continues to increase more quickly than power firms can raise tidy. supplies.

So far in 2024, Turkey's electricity demand has actually climbed by. 5% from the exact same months in 2023, compared to 2.4% growth for. Europe as an entire, 3% development in Poland and 0.4% development in. Germany.

Over the longer term, Turkey's electrical power demand development has. surpassed peer countries by an even bigger degree.

Turkey's electrical power demand has actually grown by 13.3% given that 2019,. which contrasts greatly with a 1.7% contraction in electricity. demand for Europe over the very same period, and an 8.2% contraction. in need in Germany.

Continued growth in Turkey's export-oriented production. economy looks set to preserve pressure on power companies to keep. developing low-cost energy supplies.

Nevertheless, Turkey's economic sector has high levels of foreign. debt that look set to keep business spending in check, and may. imply that only limited upgrades to power generation systems may. be seen over the near term.

That recommends that coal's location as Turkey's primary power. source might continue to grow over the close to medium term, and. will likely result in the country further widening its coal. use lead over countries elsewhere in Europe.

<< The opinions revealed here are those of the author, a. columnist .>

(source: Reuters)