Turkey needs to further enhance performance of energy efficiency programs: World Bank

ANKARA

Though the Turkish government has placed energy efficiency as a key component of both its energy strategy, critical institutional and functional gaps remain that prevent Turkey from realizing its stated energy efficiency goals, said a new World Bank report. 

“Energy efficiency is among the least expensive and cleanest ‘energy resources’ and Turkey needs to do more to exploit this critical and abundant resource,” Jas Singh, World Bank senior energy specialist and main author of the report, said at the report launch Oct. 8. With energy efficiency, Turkey could “enhance its energy security, sustain economic growth, and help protect the environment,” Singh added.

Though Turkey has a strong energy policy framework, more coordinated efforts are required, along with better leverage, greater scale, and measurable, national-level impact indicators as Turkey strives to meet its goal of 10 percent energy savings by 2023, Sign said. “There is need to shift from free-standing, one-off, pilot investments to national-level programs with strong institutions, dedicated, sustainable financing mechanisms and an able private sector,” added Singh. 

The report assessed Turkey’s institutional roles and functions by reviewing existing laws and documents, interviewing key public and private sector stakeholders and comparing Turkey’s programs with international best practices, said the World Bank. 

The report analyzed four major areas (policies and regulations, data and information, incentives and technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation) to identify current responsibilities, gaps in relation to international best practices, and perceived overlaps and gaps across the main energy-using sectors of industry, banks, public, residential and commercial.