Policy-driven geothermal expansion in Türkiye: Technological and regulatory insights from the Kızıldere field

Geothermal energy is a promising renewable energy source that provides sustainable, reliable electricity and heat. This study explores the development of geothermal energy in Türkiye, with a particular focus on the Kızıldere geothermal field located in the Büyük Menderes Basin. Despite Türkiye's significant geothermal potential, its utilization remains limited compared to other renewable energy sources. The paper examines the historical development of geothermal energy in Türkiye, highlighting the rapid growth in installed capacity driven by favorable government policies such as feed-in tariffs and tax incentives. The Kızıldere geothermal field—Türkiye's first and most developed geothermal site—serves as a case study to analyze technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and challenges in geothermal energy production. The field's evolution from a modest 0.5 MW pilot plant in 1975 to a combined installed capacity of over 245 MW across three power plants demonstrates the effectiveness of supportive policies and advanced technologies, such as the triple-flash and binary combined-cycle systems. An econometric analysis further quantifies the impact of these policies, indicating that the introduction of a feed-in tariff in 2007 significantly accelerated geothermal capacity growth. However, challenges such as high upfront costs, scaling issues, and market volatility persist. The study concludes with recommendations to improve regulatory frameworks, enhance financial incentives, and invest in research and development to unlock Türkiye's full geothermal potential and advance its renewable energy goals.