Turkey turns to solar power to cut rail manufacturing emissions, costs

By Hyacinth Estrada

Turkey is integrating solar power into its rail vehicle manufacturing, aiming to drastically cut carbon emissions and reduce energy costs in the sector, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu has announced.

The country’s largest rail system manufacturer, Turkey Rail System Vehicles Inc. (TURASAS), is nearing completion of a major rooftop solar power installation at its Sakarya Regional Directorate.

The plant will supply 2,310 kilowatts of electricity – enough to meet at least 90 percent of the facility’s energy demand.

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A boost to competitiveness and sustainability

According to Uraloglu, the solar project will boost the industry’s competitiveness and sustainability in addition to promoting the manufacturing of commuter cars, high-speed trains and electric trains.

“This will allow us to reduce energy costs, which comprise a significant portion of production expenses, thereby increasing competitiveness and ensuring energy supply security,” the Daily Sabah quoted him as saying.

Over a decade, the savings could reach TRY500 million, while the environmental benefit will include avoiding 1,739 tons of carbon dioxide emissions – equivalent to the yearly electricity use of 670 households, Uraloglu noted.

Positioning TURASAS as a regional leader, Uraloğlu emphasised that renewable energy investments like this are part of a broader strategy to make Turkey’s transport infrastructure more sustainable.

The solar energy generated will power all stages of rail vehicle production, as well as maintenance and repair operations at the Sakarya site.

With rail manufacturing representing a significant portion of Turkey’s industrial output, the shift to clean energy is seen as a key step toward achieving national climate targets while promoting energy security and long-term economic resilience.

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