Transmission and Distribution in focus of Türkiye workstream
The MENALINKS Consortium hosts strategic workshops MENR, EMRA, TEİAŞ, DSOs, ELDER and other relevant stakeholders in Ankara to address challenges in transmission and distribution grids.
The MENALINKS consortium convened pivotal scoping workshops in Türkiye’s capital, bringing together key national stakeholders to address the pressing challenges of integrating renewable energy into the country’s power grid. With Türkiye aiming to quadruple its renewable energy capacity by 2035, the workshops identified the key priorities for grid operators, regulators, and policymakers that must be addressed to meet such an ambitious target.
The workshops, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (MENR), the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA), the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEİAŞ), the Association of Distribution System Operators (ELDER), and several DSOs, were organized by MRC Türkiye, Elia Grid International (EGI), and Guidehouse. The goal: to identify and prioritize the most critical focus areas for ensuring a robust and efficient energy transition.
Transmission-Level Priorities: Enhancing Grid Stability
Ahead of the workshops, MRC Türkiye conducted targeted consultations with TEİAŞ to understand the evolving needs of the transmission system. With the increasing share of renewables and the corresponding decline in conventional power plants, the system faces a significant reduction in inertia, an essential factor for grid stability. To address this, EGI presented several technical options, leading to two key recommendations:
Grid-Forming Inverters (GFM): Develop technical requirements for GFMs to be integrated into regulations for new Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) expected to come online soon.
Inertia Mapping Tool: Create a tool to assess local inertia zones, identifying areas most vulnerable to frequency fluctuations and enabling targeted reinforcement.
Distribution-Level Focus: Managing the Renewable Surge
With projections indicating that 80% of new renewable projects will connect at the distribution level by 2035, the consortium prepared 14 use cases for discussion with DSOs, EMRA, ELDER, and MENR. The discussions highlighted two critical areas:
Voltage Control and Reactive Power: There is currently no technical or regulatory framework enabling DSOs to invest in voltage regulation infrastructure. Establishing such a framework is essential to manage the variability introduced by renewables.
Smart Meter Rollout: While EMRA has studied international smart metering practices, Türkiye needs a tailored, actionable plan with clear Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) to unlock flexibility and enhance grid responsiveness.
The MENALINKS workshops in Ankara underscored the importance of coordinated action among policymakers, regulators, and grid operators. By identifying concrete technical and regulatory priorities at both transmission and distribution levels, Türkiye is taking decisive steps toward a resilient, renewable-powered future. The outcomes of these workshops will serve as a foundation for future initiatives, ensuring that the country’s ambitious energy goals are met with stability, efficiency, and innovation.
