Abstract
The geographical location of Turkey in the Asia Minor places the country in a delicate geostrategic position determined by its history, ideological structure, politics and energy economy. The Turkish government has defined its main energy strategies with the goal of reaching 30% renewables by 2023. Key strategies declared are the prioritization of energy supply security, the consideration of environmental concerns, and an increase in efficiency and productivity through the establishment of transparent and competitive market conditions through reform and liberalization. This article analyses the renewable energy (RE) transition of Turkey from a fully centralised energy management model towards a system of partially centralization through the unbundling of utility companies. Analysis will utilize Michael Mann’s theory on the four sources of social power as an alternative organizational means of social control and the interrelations of ideological, economic, political and military power. The recent history of Turkey’s RE transition and government plans for sector development will be investigated from a socio-spatial and organizational perspective. Furthermore, the way in which these socio-spatial relations have been shaping electricity market liberalization and the preparedness of the state to share its power with non-state actors is discussed. The potential of a centralised RE management model to inspire ‘decentralised’ RE management in other geographies is considered. In conclusion, key factors in the organisation of the (de)centralised electricity transitions are found to be dependent on history, geography, and overlapping relations of social power.
Highlights
Scheer (2007, p. 231) states that in the long run, all these dimensions of energy autonomy are only possible if renewable energy (RE) resources are utilized
As a result, starting from 1945, Turkey has participated in the United Nations, and has since joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Central Treaty Organization, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the G-20 as well as regional organizations such as Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Co-Operation (BSEC), the Organization for Islamic CoOperation (IOC), and made an application to become a member of the European Union (EU)
Through the use of the combination of these social power sources and their interrelations and intersections, a greater benefit occurs for the governing power
Summary
Energy autonomy (or dependency) shapes both the trajectory of a country’s socio-economic development as well as the nature of its international relations. Scheer (2007, p. 231) describes the guiding concept of energy autonomy as the goal of making energy available in a way that is self-determined, not heteronomous; free and independent of external constraints, and outside intervention. Scheer (2007, p. 231) states that in the long run, all these dimensions of energy autonomy are only possible if renewable energy (RE) resources are utilized. Sozen (2009, p. 4827) defines energy dependency as the extent to which an economy relies upon imports to meet its energy needs. As a result, starting from 1945, Turkey has participated in the United Nations, and has since joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the Central Treaty Organization, the World Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), the G-20 as well as regional organizations such as Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Co-Operation (BSEC), the Organization for Islamic CoOperation (IOC), and made an application to become a member of the European Union (EU) These memberships have provided a worldwide network and consolidated Turkey’s geostrategic relevance in world affairs
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