Distributed solar and flexibility can ease Türkiye’s soaring cooling demands

This report by Ember examines how distributed solar energy and flexibility solutions can address the increasing electricity demand for cooling in Türkiye. It highlights the alignment between solar peak output and midday cooling peaks, the need for a comprehensive air conditioner database to improve demand forecasting, and the role of energy storage and demand-side management in maintaining grid stability.

• Solar energy is highly effective for meeting cooling-related electricity demand because its peak output coincides with the hottest hours of the day, typically between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM. Between 2019 and 2024, the proportion of solar energy used to meet demand during these peak hours more than doubled. Türkiye has a rooftop solar potential exceeding 120 GW, which could reduce grid strain by meeting cooling needs on site.
• A significant data gap exists regarding the number, efficiency ratings, regional distribution, and capacities of air conditioners in Türkiye's residential and service sectors. This lack of information hinders the accuracy of demand forecasts, particularly at the distribution zone level, and undermines the effectiveness of energy efficiency and demand-side management policies.
• Energy storage systems, including grid-scale batteries and pumped-storage hydroelectric plants, can balance the grid by smoothing hourly mismatches and providing seasonal storage. Pumped-storage plants are specifically useful for managing the gap between midday solar generation and evening peak demand in summer, and can reduce reliance on fossil-fuel plants during seasonal transitions.
• Demand-side management and efficiency policies are recommended to maintain the equilibrium between supply and demand. By targeting consumption behavior and converting cooling loads into flexible resources, these measures can make the electricity system more resilient to fluctuations.

APA

Ember (2025). Distributed solar and flexibility can ease Türkiye’s soaring cooling demands. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/distributed-solar-and-flexibility-can-ease-turkiyes-soaring-cooling-demands/

Chicago

Ember. Distributed solar and flexibility can ease Türkiye’s soaring cooling demands. 2025. https://ember-energy.org/chapter/distributed-solar-and-flexibility-can-ease-turkiyes-soaring-cooling-demands/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Ember |title=Distributed solar and flexibility can ease Türkiye’s soaring cooling demands |date=21 August 2025 |url=https://ember-energy.org/chapter/distributed-solar-and-flexibility-can-ease-turkiyes-soaring-cooling-demands/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ember2025distributed, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Distributed solar and flexibility can ease Türkiye’s soaring cooling demands}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2025}, month = aug, url = {https://ember-energy.org/chapter/distributed-solar-and-flexibility-can-ease-turkiyes-soaring-cooling-demands/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }