Türkiye’s Nuclear Expansion: Unlocking Europe’s Most Promising Energy Market
As much of Western Europe wrestles with nuclear phaseouts, project delays, and wavering policies, Türkiye is charting a very different path. At the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it is embarking on one of the most enterprising nuclear buildouts in the world — positioning itself as Europe’s most significant nuclear growth market. With bold targets, multi-billion-dollar projects, and an openness to both Eastern and Western partners, Türkiye is creating a dynamic ecosystem that offers global companies and investors a rare opportunity: the chance to participate in a large-scale nuclear expansion in a region where most such opportunities have already diminished.
This is not just about building power plants. With a national target of 20 GW of nuclear capacity by 2050, Türkiye is reshaping its energy mix, building supply chains, cultivating local expertise, and establishing itself as a regional hub for nuclear innovation. For international stakeholders, the question is not whether Türkiye’s nuclear future will materialize, but how — and who will secure a stake in shaping it.
Europe’s Changing Nuclear Landscape — Türkiye Steps Forward
Across Europe, the nuclear map is shifting. Germany completed its nuclear phaseout in April 2023, Italy remains disengaged, and even France — Europe’s nuclear stronghold with 57 reactors — faces aging infrastructure and delayed new-build projects. This has left a vacuum of expertise and investment opportunities in much of Western Europe.
Eastern Europe offers more activity. Poland has announced a major nuclear program with six large pressurized water reactors planned by 2040, alongside an ambitious Small Modular Reactor (SMR) rollout. Romania and Bulgaria are pursuing new builds as well. Yet even amid this growth, Türkiye stands apart. Unlike Poland, which relies primarily on Western vendors and private capital, Türkiye is engaging both East and West simultaneously, building with Russia at Akkuyu while negotiating with Chinese, Korean, and U.S. suppliers for future sites.
This dual-track strategy highlights Türkiye’s unique advantage: it is not just another European market, but one of the few places where large-scale nuclear projects are both immediate and expansive. For EPC contractors, fuel cycle providers, and investors, it represents one of the most tangible near-term opportunities in Europe.
Türkiye’s Nuclear Expansion: From Akkuyu to Thrace
Türkiye’s nuclear program rests on three large-scale projects and a future-oriented SMR initiative.
Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant: The flagship project, located on the Mediterranean coast, is a partnership with Russia’s Rosatom. It consists of four VVER-1200 reactors (Generation III+), delivering 4.8 GW under a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. Rosatom finances, builds, owns, and operates the plant for 60 years. This arrangement alleviates Türkiye’s upfront costs but ties it to long-term energy reliance on Moscow. Nevertheless, Akkuyu showcases Türkiye’s ability to execute complex megaprojects while simultaneously building domestic capacity — already, 56% of goods and services come from Turkish suppliers.
Sinop Nuclear Power Plant: Planned for the Black Sea coast, this 4.8 GW project remains open to multiple vendors. Russia is a contender, but Türkiye is also in discussions with other partners. This creates clear entry points for EPC firms and financiers looking to enter the Turkish nuclear market.
Thrace Nuclear Power Plant: In northwestern Türkiye, plans are advancing for a 5.6 GW facility in partnership with China’s State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), using CAP1400 reactor technology. If completed, it further diversifies Türkiye’s partnerships and reinforcing its multi-vendor strategy.
Combined, these three projects will deliver 14 GW of nuclear capacity — the backbone of Türkiye’s long-term energy mix.
SMRs and the Innovation Agenda: Beyond large reactors, Türkiye is moving decisively into SMRs. With a target of 5 GW of SMR capacity by 2050, the government sees them as vital for industrial decarbonization. Energy-intensive sectors such as steel, cement, and chemicals — currently reliant on fossil fuels — could use SMRs for both electricity and high-temperature process heat. The country’s fast-growing data center sector also represents a future market for SMRs. International developers such as Westinghouse and Rolls-Royce are already engaged in exploratory talks, while the Turkish Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) works to establish a modern framework for licensing next-generation reactors.
To support this vision, President Erdoğan has announced the launch of a Nuclear Technopark in March 2025 — a national hub for R&D, supply chain innovation, and workforce training. This initiative underscores Türkiye’s intent not only to host nuclear plants but to foster a competitive ecosystem around them.
Why Türkiye is a Magnet for Investors
Türkiye’s investment appeal is underpinned by demographics, economics, and energy security imperatives.
With a population of 85.5 million and electricity consumption rising by 5% in 2024 alone, Türkiye is experiencing growth far beyond that of most European markets. Its energy security challenge is equally urgent: imported oil accounts for 29% of supply, natural gas 26%, leaving its energy independence rate at just 33.5%. Nuclear energy is thus a strategic necessity, not just a policy choice.
For investors, this creates policy certainty. Nuclear power in Türkiye is not a passing government preference — it is embedded in the country’s long-term security and economic strategy. The creation of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NDK) in 2018 reflects this institutionalization, ensuring regulatory independence and long-term stability.
Türkiye’s supply chain integration adds another layer of opportunity. Akkuyu has already proven that Turkish firms can supply over half of the required goods and services. This creates immediate entry points for international EPC contractors, component manufacturers, and service providers to partner with local companies, access competitive manufacturing, and build long-term capacity in a growing market.
Geography is also an advantage. Türkiye’s location — bridging Europe, Asia, and the Middle East — makes it an energy hub. Nuclear investments here offer more than domestic returns; they create a base for broader regional influence.
The One-Off Opportunity
The scale and immediacy of Türkiye’s nuclear buildout make it a singular opportunity in the European context. While other countries in Eastern Europe are pursuing new builds, Türkiye’s approach is broader, faster, and more geopolitically balanced. Akkuyu has proven the ability to deliver megaprojects; Sinop and Thrace present open opportunities for new entrants; SMRs and the Nuclear Technopark provide a pathway for innovation and technology partnerships.
For global companies, this combination is rare. The risks — geopolitical exposure, financing complexity, long-term vendor ties — are real, but they are counterbalanced by a multi-decade growth trajectory, state-level commitment, and international openness. Few other markets can offer the same scale and strategic positioning.
Moving Ahead: Türkiye as Europe’s Nuclear Growth Frontier
Türkiye’s nuclear journey is not simply an energy program; it is a national project tied to economic growth, industrial strength, and energy sovereignty. As much of Western Europe contracts its nuclear footprint, Türkiye is stepping forward to offer one of the most compelling nuclear markets in Europe — a market characterized by urgency, diversity of partners, and government-level commitment.
For EPC firms, financiers, component suppliers, and SMR innovators, Türkiye represents Europe’s next great nuclear growth frontier. The opportunity is not abstract or distant — it is unfolding now, with tenders at Sinop and Thrace, the ongoing buildout at Akkuyu, and the opening of a Nuclear Technopark that will drive innovation and supply chain integration.
Adding further momentum, the upcoming third edition of the Türkiye Nuclear Business Platform (TNBP) 2025, scheduled for 26–27 November 2025 in Ankara, will convene policymakers, industry leaders, and investors in what has become the country’s premier nuclear energy forum. This milestone event will provide global stakeholders with a platform to align strategies, forge partnerships, and directly engage with Türkiye’s evolving nuclear ecosystem.
For investors, the decision is clear: engage early, establish partnerships, and secure a stake in a nuclear ecosystem that is poised to shape not only Türkiye’s energy future but also the trajectory of nuclear development across the wider region. Türkiye is not just building nuclear plants — it is building the foundation of Europe’s next major nuclear growth market.
