Abstract
With heightening global concerns about the impacts of climate change, the debate around different carbon mitigation options is gaining momentum. A widespread argument is between those for and against utilizing nuclear energy as a low-carbon energy source. This debate is also relevant for Turkey, a country that is set to introduce nuclear energy to its electricity generation mix over the coming years. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential merits and drawbacks of the utilization of nuclear energy in the country versus the increased utilization of renewable energy sources. A fundamental merit order model is used for modeling the Turkish electricity market until 2025 under three scenarios. The comparative effects of renewable energy sources and nuclear energy are evaluated in terms of their impact on electricity generation costs, CO2 emissions and energy security. The results of the study show that the increased utilization of renewable energy has a more effective role in achieving the country’s energy targets in comparison to nuclear energy.
Highlights
The comparative effects of renewable energy sources and nuclear energy are evaluated in terms of their impact on electricity generation costs, CO2 emissions and energy security
The results indicate that there is a higher correlation between decreasing emissions and nuclear energy utilization compared to an increased usage of renewable energy [36]
This study is important as the first merit order-based model that aims to quantify the impact of different policy options for the Turkish electricity market with a focus on nuclear energy and renewables
Summary
The Turkish energy market experienced rapid growth and underwent a significant reform process in the past two decades following the liberalization of the market with the adoption of the Electricity Market Law No 4628 in 2001. As a result of this process, the total installed capacity in the country increased to almost 96 GW by the end of 2020 up from 27 GW in 2000 and the sources of electricity generation became greatly diversified [1]. The electricity consumption in the country rose rapidly from 128 TWh in 2000 to almost. Despite the recent slow-down in the electricity demand growth mostly because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the data from the first half of 2021 point to a significant recovery and the demand growth rate is expected to pick up following the end of the pandemic
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