Türkiye just published the draft rules for its first gigawatt-scale offshore wind auction.
The Energy Ministry’s YEKA OWPP-2026 specification puts a 1 GW project up for bid across four candidate sea areas: Saros Bay, Gökçeada, Bozcaada, and waters off Edremit. The reverse auction sets a $0.07 to $0.11 per kWh price band, awards a 49-year operating right, and requires 25 percent domestic content backed by $5 million penalties per percentage-point shortfall. Bidders post $50 million at application and $250 million on contract signing. Early commissioning within seven years earns a $0.12 per kWh tariff for the first phase. Public consultation runs to August 17, 2026. TÜREB cites a World Bank scenario in which 7 GW of Türkiye offshore by 2040 would mean $16 billion of investment and 110,000 jobs.
Why it matters
We know of no earlier auction in the wider region that puts a price band, bid bond, and seven-year delivery clock against offshore wind. The 25 percent domestic content rule attaches a manufacturing requirement to the megawatts.
What it means for MENA
Every MENA developer with offshore ambition now has a procurement template within driving distance. My expectation is that the first MENA offshore tender will be benchmarked against the price band, bond structure, and local-content rules Türkiye just put on paper.
