Data-centre investments in Türkiye: energy supply of data centres

Overview

This legal briefing of 10 February 2026, by Mustafa Durakoğlu, Nazlı Başak Ayık and Zeynep Ayça Şenol of Çakmak Avukatlık Bürosu, examines how Turkish data centres can secure electricity: long-term power purchase agreements, on-site or remote self-generation under the Unlicensed Electricity Generation Regulation, storage, and ESCO or energy performance contracts. It also summarises the IEA's global context.

According to the global-situation section, data centres use about 1.5% of global electricity (of that, the US accounts for 45% and China 25%), and about 20% of planned data centre projects risk delay from grid constraints (IEA). PPAs are typically 10-20 years; in Türkiye price volatility pushes parties toward shorter terms.

Two models stand out in the self-generation section. Model 5(1)[c] covers renewable plants up to 5 MW; surplus is bought for 10 years at the active-energy price, but the model is too small for full data centre demand. Model 5(1)[h] allows a renewable plant at the same or a different metering point, limited to the contract power in the connection agreement, and is judged the most suitable model for data centres.

On storage, from 1 January 2026 unlicensed plants with net-metering may add storage; equipment must be standard-compliant, under warranty and produced within the last five years. The Climate Law in force since 9 July 2025 introduces an emissions trading system, raising the value of renewable electricity. As a limitation, this is a legal briefing and does not replace legal advice.

Key points

1. Data centres use about 1.5% of global electricity (US 45%, China 25% of that); about 20% of planned projects risk delay from grid constraints (IEA).
2. PPAs are typically 10-20 years; in Türkiye price volatility pushes parties to shorter terms.
3. Model 5(1)[c]: renewable plants up to 5 MW; surplus bought for 10 years at the active-energy price, but too small for full data centre demand.
4. Model 5(1)[h]: renewable plant at the same or a different metering point, limited to contract power; judged the most suitable for data centres.
5. From 1 January 2026, unlicensed plants with net-metering may add storage.
6. Storage equipment must be standard-compliant, under warranty and produced within the last five years.
7. The Climate Law in force from 9 July 2025 introduces an emissions trading system.

Using it in design

• In the site and energy module for Turkish projects, let users model PPA versus unlicensed self-generation (5(1)[h], with the 5 MW cap for 5(1)[c]) and storage.
• Flag grid-connection capacity as a schedule risk.
• Consider the effect of the emissions trading system as a scenario in the renewable supply strategy.

Who should read it

Investors, energy procurement managers and legal counsel planning data centre investments in Türkiye.

Publication details

Authors

Mustafa Durakoğlu; Nazlı Başak Ayık; Zeynep Ayça Şenol

Publisher

Çakmak Avukatlık Bürosu

Year

2026

Document language

English

Source type

Expert / community

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation