Organised by the DEİK/Türkiye–United Kingdom Business Council in cooperation with the British Embassy in Ankara, the Türkiye–United Kingdom Clean Energy and Sustainable Finance Conference 2026 took place in İstanbul on 22 October 2026. The conference was attended by Ahmet Berat Çonkar, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye; Daniel Zeichner MP, the United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to Türkiye; Nail Olpak, President of DEİK; David Reed MBE, British Consul General to İstanbul and His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Murathan Kalyoncu, Chairperson of the DEİK/Türkiye–United Kingdom Business Council; alongside nearly 200 representatives from the business communities of both countries. Discussions focused on advancing investment in clean energy, improving access to finance and exploring partnerships in new technologies in the context of COP31.
Ahmet Berat Çonkar, Deputy Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Türkiye, said that Türkiye aims to achieve an energy transition that supports economic growth and industrial competitiveness. Highlighting Türkiye's position as a link between electricity markets in Europe, the Caucasus and the Middle East, Çonkar noted that cross-border energy projects could enhance energy security.
"This creates opportunities for cooperation with the United Kingdom in grid technologies, battery storage, digitalisation and the financing of major infrastructure projects. Investment in transmission and storage is just as important as investment in generation if we are to unlock the full potential of renewable energy sources. Investors need predictable regulatory frameworks, transparent tendering processes, well-prepared projects and a clear understanding of risks and returns. To turn investment opportunities into viable projects, we must strengthen cooperation among our governments, financial institutions, project developers and technology providers. Türkiye and the United Kingdom can work together to connect long-term capital with these investment opportunities. British financial expertise, technology and project development capabilities can complement Türkiye's expanding energy and infrastructure investment portfolio," he said.
Çonkar added that bilateral cooperation could be expanded in renewable energy, storage, electricity grids and energy efficiency, industrial decarbonisation, nuclear technologies and critical minerals.
"We invite investors, financial institutions and companies from the United Kingdom to explore these opportunities in Türkiye. Our aim is to build partnerships that bring together finance, technology and expertise to deliver tangible benefits for both countries," he said.
Zeichner: "Clean energy is one of the areas where we can achieve much more together"
Daniel Zeichner MP, the United Kingdom's Trade Envoy to Türkiye, said: "The United Kingdom and Türkiye share a strong economic partnership. Clean energy is one of the areas where we can achieve much more together. The United Kingdom's expertise in finance, engineering and technology, combined with Türkiye's strong manufacturing base and international contracting experience, provides a solid foundation for delivering large-scale projects in Türkiye and in third countries. As COP31 approaches, our objective is clear: to move beyond targets and commitments, secure financing for projects, deliver them and achieve tangible results."
Olpak: "We are determined to increase bilateral trade between Türkiye and the United Kingdom to USD 40 billion"
Nail Olpak, President of DEİK, described the energy transition as one of the most significant forces shaping today's investment agenda. Noting that the United Kingdom and Türkiye are natural partners in energy, Olpak said:
"Türkiye's strong manufacturing base and private sector, which leads the way in energy investment, complement the United Kingdom's expertise in finance, engineering and project structuring. Opportunities for cooperation spanning renewable energy, grid modernisation, storage, hydrogen and offshore wind require long-term investment. Capital and trust are the foundations of these investments. Accelerating green investment in Türkiye requires new models of cooperation that bring together companies, development banks, export credit agencies and private financial institutions. The United Kingdom's expertise in sustainable finance, combined with Türkiye's project pipeline and delivery capabilities, can mobilise capital both in our country and in third markets.
"Businesses invest where they find reliable partners, predictable rules and a proven ability to deliver. Türkiye has demonstrated that it is a reliable partner and will continue to uphold that reputation. We are determined to increase our bilateral trade volume, which reached USD 24 billion last year, to USD 40 billion. Clean energy and sustainable finance will be key drivers in achieving this goal."
Reed: "The United Kingdom is already helping turn clean energy ambitions into reality"
David Reed MBE, British Consul General to İstanbul and His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said: "Türkiye has ambitious clean energy goals, and the United Kingdom is already helping turn these ambitions into reality. Through UK Export Finance (UKEF), we have supported major projects, including the Karapınar and Anka solar power plants. From offshore wind and energy storage to grid modernisation and new technologies, there is much more we can achieve together.
"Hosting COP31 in Antalya offers an important opportunity to build on what we have already accomplished. Our priority is clear: to bring the United Kingdom's expertise and financial capabilities together with Türkiye's energy ambitions to deliver more projects. We want to be a long-term partner in Türkiye's energy transition—one that goes beyond discussing targets to help turn them into reality."
Kalyoncu: "We want to foster partnerships that develop into long-term cooperation"
Murathan Kalyoncu, Chairperson of the DEİK/Türkiye–United Kingdom Business Council, said: "Our countries share a strong economic partnership. Energy is one of the areas where we see significant opportunities to deepen this partnership. Both Türkiye and the United Kingdom have valuable capabilities to offer. More importantly, our business communities have a strong desire to work together.
"As COP31 approaches, we have an important opportunity to take our cooperation to the next level. However, the energy transition cannot be delivered by the public sector alone. The private sector plays a critical role through its investments, innovative solutions and new projects. For our Business Council, the priority is to establish the right connections among companies, investors and institutions. We want to move beyond discussions and foster partnerships that develop into long-term cooperation."
Focusing on the investment, technology and financing dimensions of the energy transition, the conference featured four panel discussions: "From Vision to Delivery: Sharing Best Practices"; "Strengthening United Kingdom–Türkiye Offshore Wind Cooperation"; "Scaling Up Solar Energy and Energy Storage for Türkiye's Clean Energy Future"; and "From Source to Application: Hydrogen and Alternative Clean Energy Technologies".
The conference was sponsored by Kalyon PV and INOGEN.
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