Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Sign 3,000-Megawatt Renewable Energy Deal at COP31 in Antalya

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held back-to-back bilateral talks at the COP31 climate summit in Antalya, covering strategic energy agreements and global crises including Iran-US tensions, the Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza, Cyprus, and Libya.

The most prominent agreement signed in Erdogan's presence was the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Electricity Projects between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Selman Al-Saud signed the document after being received by the president.

“We are deepening our strategic energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia.”

The deal builds on a government-to-government agreement signed in Riyadh on February 3 and entered into force on October 21. Under that framework, ACWA Power will develop total renewable energy projects of 5,000 megawatts in Turkey in two stages.

The first stage comprises 2,000 megawatts of solar energy projects already underway in Sivas and Karaman. Bayraktar said he was pleased with the progress recorded in those projects.

The second stage targets an additional 3,000 megawatts of capacity. It will include wind power plants, high-voltage direct-current transmission infrastructure, and battery energy storage systems to strengthen the national grid and increase system flexibility.

Bayraktar said the investments will convert confidence in Turkey's energy transformation and investment environment into concrete projects, while deepening strategic energy cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

In other summit meetings, Erdogan discussed COP31 preparations and global hotspots with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. He also met with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on trade and investment, and with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, marking the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027.