Saudi Arabia and Türkiye Sign Electricity Cooperation Deal Covering 5,000 MW of Renewable Energy

Saudi Arabia and Türkiye have signed an agreement to expand cooperation on electricity projects, advancing plans for 5,000 megawatts of renewable energy capacity in Türkiye.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on the sidelines of the 31st UN Climate Change Conference, known as COP31, in Antalya. It builds on a renewable energy cooperation agreement signed by the two governments on February 3, which entered into force on October 21, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Under the earlier agreement, Saudi investor ACWA Power will develop renewable energy projects with a combined installed capacity of 5,000 megawatts in two phases.

The first phase covers 2,000 megawatts, while the second will add a further 3,000 megawatts. Progress has been made on the initial projects, and preparations for the second phase have reached an advanced stage, according to the announcement.

The second phase will include wind power plants supported by high-voltage direct current transmission infrastructure and battery energy storage systems. These facilities are intended to improve the reliability and flexibility of Türkiye’s electricity network as renewable generation expands.

The agreement comes as Türkiye prepares for a substantial increase in electricity demand. The country’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources forecasts consumption will reach 510.5 terawatt-hours by 2035, compared with 364.8 terawatt-hours in 2025.

Türkiye’s installed electricity capacity stood at 127,355 megawatts at the end of September 2026. The government is also targeting 120 gigawatts of combined solar and wind capacity by 2035, up from around 30 gigawatts when the target was announced in 2024.

Achieving that goal will require significant investment in renewable power generation, transmission networks and energy storage facilities. The Saudi-Turkish agreement is expected to contribute to those plans while strengthening electricity infrastructure and improving the grid’s ability to manage variable renewable energy supplies.

ACWA Power already has an established presence in Türkiye through its 927-megawatt Kirikkale independent power plant, which was its first investment in the country.

The facility was valued at $930 million and is estimated by the company to offset approximately 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

The latest agreement reflects growing economic and energy cooperation between Riyadh and Ankara. It also gives Saudi Arabia a role in Türkiye’s efforts to expand renewable energy production and meet rising electricity requirements over the coming decade.