• Energy Research

With the assistance of the LEAP (long-range energy alternatives planning) energy modeling tool, this study explores the energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction potential of the iron and steel industry in Turkey. With a share of 35%, the steel and iron industry is considered as the most energy-consuming sector in Turkey. The study explores that the energy intensity rate can be lowered by 13%, 38% and 51% in SEI (slow-speed energy efficiency improvement), AEI (accelerating energy efficiency improvement) and CPT (cleaner production and technology scenario) scenarios, respectively. Particularly the projected aggregated energy savings of the scenarios CPT and AES are very promising with saving rates of 33.7% and 23% respectively. Compared to baseline scenarios, energy efficiency improvements correspond to economic potential of 0.1 billion dollars for SEI, 1.25 dollars for AEI and 1.8 billion dollars for CPT scenarios annually. Concerning GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, in 2030 the iron and steel industry in Turkey is estimated to produce 34.9 MtCO2 in BAU (business-as-usual scenario), 32.5 MtCO2 in SEI, 24.6 MtCO2 in AEI and 14.5 MtCO2 in CPT a scenario which corresponds to savings of 9%–39%. The study reveals that energy consumption and GHG emissions of the iron and steel industry can be lowered significantly if the necessary measures are implemented. It is expected that this study will fill knowledge gaps pertaining to energy efficiency potential in Turkish energy intensive industries and help stakeholders in energy intensive industries to realize the potential for energy efficiency and GHG mitigation.

Abstract Turkey is currently in the middle of its sixth attempt over the last 60 years to introduce nuclear power. This paper analyzes Turkey’s past and present motivation, capacity and strategies to identify the factors which influence deployment of nuclear power and draw lessons for other nuclear newcomer countries. While existing literature points to a correlation between nuclear power, strong state involvement, centralized energy planning and the rhetoric linking energy to national prestige and security, we show that these factors are not sufficient for a successful nuclear program. We also show that autocratic rule and nuclear weapons aspirations can undermine rather than support the development of civilian nuclear power as it is often presumed in the literature. Turkey’s current strategy based on intergovernmental agreements with Russia and Japan is laced with irony since it is motivated by energy security considerations and yet relies on foreign entities for construction, ownership and operation of nuclear power plants as well as the development of human capacity. Although Ankara intends to build the third nuclear power plant with own resources this seems unlikely based on the South Korean and Japanese experience, both of which needed much more time and effort to localize the industry.

This paper presents a comparison of the LCC of five heating systems in four climate zones in Turkey. While being a country with huge renewable energy potential, Turkey's energy demand is met to a great extent by imported energy sources which constitute a substantial economic burden for Turkey. In this study, we analyzed the most common heating technologies, namely geothermal district heating systems (GDHS), natural gas-fired boilers, pellet-fired boilers, ground coupled heat pumps (GCHP) and coal-fired boiler technologies in terms of various criteria including life cycle cost (LCC), accessibility, initial investment cost, technical infrastructure, resource cost and annual heat cost. This study is vital to determine the shortcomings and strengths of the renewable heating (REH) technologies, both economically and technologically against non-REH technologies. The outcomes of the study may eventually assist home owners, property developers and policy makers in taking informed decisions in case of new construction or renovation, or proposing new policy mechanisms to promote the REH technologies. This study revealed that, due to the high labor intensity, inadequate supply chain of energy sources and structural constrains; REH technologies are not cost competitive against non-REH technologies in Turkey. Turkey is expected to revisit its medium-term energy policy to ensure wide application of REH technologies, introduce encouraging support mechanisms, and prioritize REH technologies on the basis of Turkey's resource mix and policy goals. If appropriate policies are in place and obstacles are eliminated, the potential of renewable energy can be exploited and market expansion of REH technologies can be realized.