Ankara: Solar energy has become Trkiye's most affordable way to generate electricity, as rapidly falling installation costs push it below all other power sources.

According to Anadolu Agency, the installation cost of building solar power plants in Trkiye has decreased by 77% in recent years, while wind project costs have fallen by 40%.

With these declines, the lifetime cost of producing electricity from solar has dropped by 69%, making solar energy the country's cheapest source of electricity generation. A new solar plant in Trkiye produces power for about $43 per megawatt-hour. By comparison, the government's latest decision to grant $75/MWh price guarantees for domestic coal plants means coal power will cost 36% more than the average generation price over the past year.

Ember estimated that coal incentives could cost Trkiye $8.7 billion over the next four years. The energy think tank suggested that redirecting funding toward grid upgrades and easing barriers for new solar projects could help the country reach its 2035 goal of 120 gigawatts of renewable capacity.

Ember analyst Caglar Celikoz noted that while Trkiye has made significant progress in solar energy, "there is still a long way to go before the country can fully realise its potential."