In recent years, the rapid increase in energy production capacity has reduced the status of coal in these energy systems. According to Ember, between 2022 and 2023, clean energy production capacity increased by 9% in Germany, 21.4% in Poland, 21% in the Netherlands, 9.6% in Italy, and 8% in Spain. This increase was partly due to large government subsidies designed to help with the transition from fossil fuels. In contrast, increasing budget deficits limited clean energy production capacity growth by 4.5% in Turkey between 2022 and 2023. Growth remained limited at 1.1% in the Czech Republic, 1.4% in Romania, and 3.6% in Serbia in 2023. This situation highlights the growing gap in clean energy development among wealthier and developing countries in Europe. In addition to slow growth in clean energy production capacity, Turkey, the Czech Republic, and Serbia continued to be highly dependent on coal in their energy systems. In the first four months of 2024, coal accounted for an average of 34% of total electricity production in Turkey, 35% in the Czech Republic, approximately 30% in Bulgaria, and 59% in Serbia. These averages were 21% in Germany and 13% across Europe. The report also notes that Turkey's dependence on coal has increased parallel to its economic growth rate. According to International Monetary Fund data, it is estimated that Turkey's real GDP will grow at an average annual rate of 4.5% between 2019 and 2024. This growth rate is three times the European average and about 1.6 times the global average. Moreover, the decrease in local hydroelectric production in recent years has also increased the need for coal-based energy.
