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Türkiye to Play a Key Role in Europe’s Clean Energy Security
The 16th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit, which brings together leading global energy executives shaping the future of clean energy, was held in Istanbul, hosted by YEO Technology as the country host. The summit highlighted Türkiye’s potential to contribute to Europe’s clean energy security through its renewable energy resources, industrial strength and regional connectivity.
Held in Istanbul under the hosting of YEO Technology, the 16th Dii Desert Energy Summit brought together senior executives from the energy sector, investors and representatives of international organizations. Key topics discussed included energy security, renewable energy investments, grid infrastructure, battery storage, green hydrogen and cross-border energy interconnections.
Speakers included Dii Desert Energy President Paul van Son, Dii Desert Energy CEO Cornelius Matthes, YEO Technology Chairman and CEO Tolunay Yıldız, and Dii Desert Energy Research Director Chiara Aruffo. They highlighted Türkiye’s potential to become a clean energy hub connecting Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
Discussions at the summit emphasized that Türkiye’s geographical position can be translated into lasting economic value only if its renewable energy capacity is supported by robust grids, energy storage systems, technology investments and cross-border interconnections.
Türkiye Can Play a Greater Role
Dii Desert Energy CEO Cornelius Matthes described Türkiye as an important partner for Europe’s energy security. He highlighted potential interconnections through Central Asia, the Caspian Sea and Azerbaijan, as well as hydrogen infrastructure initiatives in the Eastern Mediterranean. He emphasized the need to consider electricity, hydrogen and energy storage solutions together.
Matthes noted that cooperation between Türkiye and Europe extends beyond energy generation, pointing to the contribution of Turkish manufacturing facilities to Europe’s wind energy sector. He added that expanding manufacturing capacity for battery systems and other critical components of the energy transition could further strengthen this relationship.
Dii Desert Energy President Paul van Son also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in connecting continents and energy systems. Access to secure and affordable energy, together with stronger interconnections between regions, was among the summit’s shared priorities.
Energy Security Has Become a Matter of National Security
Tolunay Yıldız, Chairman and CEO of YEO Technology, said the energy transition must be considered alongside industrial competitiveness and households’ access to energy.
“Energy security has now become a national security issue. We need secure, clean and affordable energy,” Yıldız said.
He noted that domestic clean energy generation could reduce dependence on imported fuels, while stronger interconnections with neighboring countries could provide more options during periods of supply pressure. He added that Türkiye has a significant opportunity to contribute to the transition through its renewable energy resources, strong industrial infrastructure and trading experience.
Yıldız said Türkiye could play a role across the entire value chain, from clean energy generation to equipment manufacturing and engineering services. He also highlighted the need to develop infrastructure, standards and long-term offtake agreements to realize the country’s potential as a green hydrogen hub.
Energy Storage Investments Will Determine the Pace of the Transition
One of the key themes at the summit was the need to support the expansion of renewable energy capacity with robust grid infrastructure. Yıldız noted that energy projects in many markets are waiting for grid connection capacity, emphasizing the need to invest in stronger grids, faster connection processes and intelligent digital control systems.
He highlighted the importance of combining clean energy generation close to factories and residential areas with battery storage systems. Connecting these systems to the main grid and managing them intelligently, he said, could improve the reliability of the overall energy system.
Yıldız added that battery storage enables renewable electricity to be used when it is needed and provides greater flexibility to the grid.
Dii Desert Energy Research Director Chiara Aruffo also presented the findings of the Türkiye 2035: Strategic Roadmap for a 120+ GW Solar and Wind Future study introduced at the summit.
Assessing Türkiye’s target of reaching a combined installed solar and wind capacity of 120 GW by 2035, Aruffo stated that an additional capacity potential of approximately 50 GW above the baseline scenario could be unlocked through storage-integrated generation, hybrid projects and self-consumption investments. She emphasized that grid investments would be decisive in determining how quickly this potential could be realized.
An Integrated Energy Approach From Generation to Technology
Yıldız explained that YEO approaches clean energy generation, battery systems, digital control solutions, grids and substations as interconnected components of a single energy ecosystem. He said the company brings these capabilities together across projects in 40 countries, spanning Europe, Africa and Central Asia.
He added that the same expertise could contribute to the electrical infrastructure required for future green hydrogen projects.
Emphasizing that the energy transition must move beyond targets and translate into implementable projects, Yıldız described the Istanbul summit as an important gathering for turning shared goals into concrete action.
Yıldız also noted that Türkiye’s role as host of COP31 presents an important opportunity to strengthen its position in the energy transition, calling for partnerships established in Istanbul to be carried forward through new projects.
Participants Visit the REAP Battery Factory
The three-day summit program concluded with a visit to YEO Technology’s REAP Battery factory in Tuzla. Representatives of the global energy sector toured the facility, which has an annual production capacity of 5 GWh, to examine battery energy storage system manufacturing processes, battery management systems, software solutions and local engineering activities.
During the visit, participants discussed how energy storage, once viewed as an additional solution supporting renewable energy projects, has become a fundamental component of modern energy systems. They examined how battery systems help balance supply and demand, support grid stability and enable renewable electricity to be used when needed.
The REAP Battery factory was presented as a tangible example of how the clean energy, storage, grid and digital control topics discussed throughout the summit are being translated into manufacturing and technology.
Participants left Istanbul with the shared message that the energy transition will advance through real-world projects, reliable technology, skilled talent and international cooperation.
Successfully hosted by YEO Technology, the 16th Dii Desert Energy Summit highlighted how Türkiye could assume a greater role in Europe’s energy security by combining its clean energy resources with its industrial, technological and engineering capabilities. Discussions emphasized that realizing this potential will require strengthening grid capacity, energy storage infrastructure and cross-border interconnections alongside investments in generation.
About the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit
Since 2010, the Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summits have worked to advance the supply of climate-neutral, low-cost and secure energy from the deserts of the MENA region to local markets and export destinations.
Held annually, the summit brings together industry leaders, project developers, energy companies and investors operating across the zero-emission energy value chain. It stands out as a distinctive high-level gathering focused on the shared goal of initiating and developing zero-emission energy markets.
About Dii Desert Energy
Dii Desert Energy is an independent international think tank and industry network based in Dubai. With a strong presence in the MENA region, the organization connects people, countries and clean energy markets worldwide, aiming to facilitate the delivery of secure, affordable, net-zero or negative-emission energy from desert regions.
Its platform brings together more than 100 companies and organizations from 35 countries, engaging senior executives, public-sector decision-makers, research and development organizations, and academic institutions.
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