site.btaHeatwave Brings Electricity Consumption and Production in Turkiye to Record-High Levels in July

The heatwave which struck Turkiye caused electricity consumption and production in the country to reach record-high levels in July, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported on Sunday, quoting Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar.

Bayraktar said electricity production soared to an all-time high of 34.6 billion kWh, and electricity consumption reached a record-high of 34.5 billion kWh.

Domestic sources met 57% of peak consumption of electricity in the hottest days of the year. Bayraktar said Turkiye's electricity generating capacities totalled 112,999 MW as at the end of July. The share of solar power plants grew to an unprecedented 15.6%. Over the month in review, electricity from domestic sources amounted to 19.9 billion kWh.

Noting that last month was the hottest July in Turkiye in 53 years, the minister said the intense use of air conditioning systems pushed electricity consumption and production to unusually high levels.

"We should bear in mind that energy efficiency practices can help reduce energy consumption without negatively impacting the manufacturing of products, the provision of services and social well-being," Bayraktar said.