Top 10 Geothermal Problems: Why a 24/7 Resource Still Struggles to Scale Image credit : Fida, C.E.O Geosilica... This is what scaling looks like downhole in geothermal pipes Intelligence; Strategy for the Geothermal Decade Geothermal energy is often presented as the clean firm resource that can support a renewable electricity system around the clock. It does not depend on sunshine, it can operate through calm weather, and it can provide heat and power for decades. Kenya already relies heavily on geothermal generation , Iceland uses geothermal heat across its economy, and next generation developers are now signing large power contracts with technology companies seeking reliable carbon free electricity. Yet the global geothermal sector remains small compared with solar and wind, with installed electricity capacity still near 16 GW. That gap is not caused by one obstacle. It is produced by a chain of interlocking problems involving geology, drilling, finance, permitting, public acce...
Turkey’s Geothermal Sector Wants a Faster Path to Growth
Image: A Turkish Geothermal Power Plant
Turkey’s geothermal industry is asking for a simpler permitting system that could speed up investment, cut delays, and help the country reach its 2035 energy targets more efficiently. With installed geothermal power already at 1,800 MW, the sector says it is ready to scale to 4,500 MW and beyond if approval processes are streamlined without weakening environmental safeguards.
A $10 Billion Expansion Is on the Table
The industry’s growth plans are tied to roughly $10 billion in projected investment over the next decade. That capital would support new geothermal plants, drilling, land acquisition, environmental approvals, licensing, and grid-connected generation assets. For investors, the opportunity is significant: geothermal offers firm, dispatchable renewable power, which makes it strategically valuable in a system that increasingly needs stable clean energy.
The Case for a “Super Permit” Model
At the center of the debate is the sector’s request for a streamlined approval framework similar to the “super permit” approach used in wind and solar. Industry leaders are not asking for exemptions from environmental law; they are asking for overlapping approvals to be coordinated so that companies do not have to repeat the same process across multiple institutions. That distinction matters, because the proposed reform is about efficiency, not deregulation.
For geothermal developers, the current path often means moving through several ministries and agencies at different stages of the project. These include energy, environment, agriculture, industry, zoning, land acquisition, and drilling-related procedures. Each step adds time, and in a capital-intensive business, time directly affects cost, financing, and project viability.
Why Geothermal Projects Take So Long
According to sector representatives, a licensed geothermal investor in Turkey may need 3.5 to 4 years in the best-case scenario to bring a plant online. That timeline is long enough to discourage capital deployment, especially when compared with the faster execution seen in more standardized energy projects. The industry argues that a more coordinated system could reduce this to 2 to 3 years.
That difference is not minor. In energy infrastructure, shortening development time improves cash flow, lowers uncertainty, and makes projects easier to finance. It can also accelerate national capacity growth, helping Turkey move more quickly toward its 2035 targets while keeping project pipelines active and bankable.
Geothermal’s Strategic Advantage
Geothermal has one advantage that many other renewables cannot match: it provides baseload power. That means it can generate electricity continuously, unlike wind and solar, which depend on weather conditions and daylight. For power systems that need reliability, geothermal is not just another renewable option; it is a stabilizing asset.
This is why the sector sees itself as essential to Turkey’s long-term energy security. As demand for clean electricity grows, dispatchable renewable generation becomes more valuable. Geothermal can fill that role while also supporting industrial growth, regional development, and energy diversification.
Support Policies Matter
The recent extension of YEKDEM support from 10 years to 15 years was a major positive for the industry. Longer incentive periods improve revenue visibility and strengthen project economics, especially for capital-heavy developments like geothermal plants. For investors and lenders, policy stability is often as important as resource quality.
That said, support mechanisms alone are not enough if projects remain stuck in permitting bottlenecks. The industry’s message is simple: finance and incentives can unlock growth, but only if administrative procedures are fast enough to match them. In other words, the system needs to reward investment and execution at the same time.
The Bigger Net-Zero Picture
Turkey’s geothermal leaders say the country will need at least 10,000 MW of geothermal capacity to make a serious contribution to its 2053 net-zero vision. That is a much larger ambition than the current 4,500 MW target, but it reflects the sector’s belief that geothermal can play a far bigger role in the national energy mix. If the policy environment improves, the technical and resource potential may be enough to support that expansion.
For policymakers, the real question is not whether geothermal matters, but how quickly it can be deployed. If Turkey wants more clean power, less import dependence, and stronger industrial resilience, geothermal deserves a faster track. The industry is signaling that the resource is ready, the capital is available, and the only missing piece is a smarter approval process.
What Investors Should Watch
Investors following Turkey’s geothermal market should focus on three signals. First, whether permitting reform actually reduces project timelines. Second, whether support mechanisms remain stable long enough to attract long-term capital. Third, whether public agencies can coordinate approvals without adding new uncertainty.
If those conditions align, geothermal could move from a niche segment to a larger strategic pillar of Turkey’s energy transition. If they do not, the sector may continue to grow, but at a slower pace than its resource base and policy goals would otherwise allow.
Related: Strategic Public Sector Cooperation Launches Geothermal Agriculture OIZ Feasibility in Erzurum
Source: Enerji dunyasi
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