What happened
Türkiye’s hydropower industry association, HESİAD, has endorsed the inclusion of pumped-storage hydropower in the country’s 2027–2029 Medium-Term Programme. The programme refers to preparations for legislation covering the technology, according to Enerji Günlüğü.
HESİAD issued a technical report on pumped-storage hydropower in August 2026. Its president, Elvan Tuğsuz Güven, said the association had highlighted the role such facilities could play in providing longer-duration storage and system flexibility as Türkiye adds solar and wind capacity.
The association estimates that the journey from pre-feasibility work to commercial operation can take eight to 10 years. On that basis, it argues that project preparation must begin promptly if pumped storage is to support Türkiye’s energy goals for 2035.
Why it matters
The Medium-Term Programme provides a policy signal, but HESİAD is seeking the practical rules and market arrangements needed to turn that direction into projects. Pumped storage uses water and elevation to store electricity, and HESİAD considers it relevant to managing a power system with a rising share of variable renewable generation.
For developers, investors and network planners, the association has identified several issues that need to be addressed after the legislative framework is established: selecting appropriate sites, speeding up feasibility assessments, planning grid connections, and creating an investment and income model with greater predictability.
Those topics will determine whether the policy preparation can support Türkiye’s first pumped-storage hydropower investments. The information reported does not specify technical requirements, a timetable for the rules, or financing terms.
What to watch next
HESİAD is calling for the programme’s policy intent to be followed by regulation, investment conditions and market mechanisms. Organisations assessing potential projects should watch for the resulting legal framework and for further detail on site development, connection planning and revenue arrangements.
The association also welcomed the programme’s references to greater digitalisation in water management and to an intelligent water-management system. HESİAD said these themes align with its emphasis on digital tools, measurement and calculating losses in water use for energy production.
