Selen Zeynep Yıldırım
Energy security · Critical minerals · EU–Türkiye

Energy, minerals and the rules that connect Türkiye and Europe.

I research how EU energy and industrial regulation, critical raw material supply chains and energy security shape cooperation between Türkiye, Germany and the European Union.

Four numbers to watch

Updated November 2026
1 Feb 2027

CBAM certificates go on sale, covering emissions in goods imported into the EU in 2026.

Source: EU CBAM Regulation, as amended
30 Sep 2027

Deadline for the first annual CBAM declaration and certificate surrender.

Source: EU CBAM Regulation, as amended
50,000 t

Annual CO₂e above which Turkish installations fall under the national emissions trading system.

Source: TR ETS Regulation, 27 Aug 2026
22%

Share of wind and solar in Türkiye's electricity generation in 2025.

Source: Ember, Türkiye Electricity Review 2026
01Analysis

Analysis

A monthly monitor, short analyses and occasional long reports on EU energy and climate regulation, critical minerals and Türkiye's energy partnerships.

Monthly monitor

Ore & Power
Issue 01 · Dec 2026MonthlyEN · DE · TR

Each issue has a theme, the month's five key developments with commentary, a Türkiye–EU data box and the dates to watch next month.

  1. No. 01Dec 2026

    After COP31: what Antalya means for EU–Türkiye energy relations

    Outcomes of the summit and what they change for cooperation on gas, power and clean energy.

  2. No. 02Jan 2027

    CBAM moves from reporting to paying

    Certificate sales open on 1 February. What Turkish exporters to the EU should have ready.

  3. No. 03Feb 2027

    Critical minerals and Türkiye

    The first month of CBAM certificate sales, and Türkiye's place in Europe's raw materials plans.

Short analyses

800 to 1,200 words, each opening with a three-sentence summary and three key figures.

Does a Turkish carbon price reduce CBAM costs? TR ETS and CBAM compared

Jan 2027

How Türkiye's emissions trading pilot relates to the EU's border carbon levy, and where the carbon revenue ends up.

Türkiye in Europe's critical raw materials supply chains

Feb 2027

Nickel, cobalt and rare earths in Türkiye, read against the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and Battery Regulation.

Reports

Long-form work, published as downloadable PDFs with an executive summary.

Is Türkiye a strategic energy partner for the EU? A five-criteria assessment

Summary · Dec 2026

A two-page summary of my CETEUS research paper (see Research).

02Factsheets

Factsheets

One-page explainers on the rules and instruments that shape the EU–Türkiye energy relationship. Key facts below; full factsheets follow with the monitor.

Carbon pricing · Türkiye

What is the TR ETS?

Legal basis
Climate Law No. 7552; ETS Regulation published 27 August 2026.
Coverage
Installations emitting more than 50,000 t CO₂e a year, starting with cement, fertilisers, iron and steel, and power.
Timeline
Pilot phase 2026–2027; first implementation period 2028–2035.
Allowances
Free allocation in the pilot, based on benchmarks; auctions planned later.
Full factsheet · Dec 2026
Carbon pricing · EU

What is CBAM?

Purpose
Puts a carbon price on emissions embedded in imports of iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity.
Status
Definitive period since 1 January 2026.
Threshold
Importers below 50 tonnes a year of covered goods are exempt (not for hydrogen or electricity).
Key dates
Certificate sales from 1 February 2027; first declaration and surrender by 30 September 2027.
Full factsheet · Jan 2027
Raw materials · EU

The Critical Raw Materials Act in one page

Adopted
2024, as Regulation (EU) 2024/1252.
2030 benchmarks
10% of the EU's annual needs extracted, 40% processed and 25% recycled in the EU.
Diversification
No more than 65% of any strategic raw material from a single third country.
Why it matters for Türkiye
Strategic projects and partnerships open a route for third-country suppliers.
Full factsheet · Feb 2027
03Research

Research

Research paper · CETEUS, University of Cologne · 2026

EU energy security after 2022 and Türkiye's role as a strategic energy partner

A 30-page paper linking European integration theory, EU external energy policy and Türkiye–EU energy relations, written during a research stay under Prof. Wolfgang Wessels (CETEUS) and Prof. Marc Oliver Bettzüge (EWI). It assesses Türkiye's potential as a partner against five criteria:

  • Reliability and trust
  • Institutionalisation
  • Resilience
  • Regulatory compatibility
  • Decarbonisation compatibility
5criteria for assessing a strategic energy partner
HİDRONİKO · METU Scientific Research Projects (BAP) · 2026–present

More sustainable nickel and cobalt production in Türkiye

An interdisciplinary METU team led by Prof. Dr. İskender Gökalp, bringing together mechanical engineering, geology, economics and international relations. The project explores using olive-oil production waste in nickel and cobalt processing to reduce reliance on sulfuric acid. My work covers critical-mineral supply security, battery value chains, Türkiye's strategic position and EU rules on critical raw materials and battery sustainability.

28Ni58.693
27Co58.933
04Agenda

Agenda

Dates that matter for EU–Türkiye energy and climate policy, and when this site covers them.

  1. Dec 2026

    Ore & Power No. 01: after COP31

    First issue of the monthly monitor.

    On this site
  2. 1 Feb 2027

    CBAM certificate sales open

    Sales on the EU common central platform, covering 2026 imports at quarterly average prices.

    EU
  3. 30 Sep 2027

    First annual CBAM declaration and surrender

    For goods imported into the EU during 2026.

    EU
  4. End of 2027

    TR ETS pilot phase ends

    The pilot covers emissions for 2026 and 2027.

    Türkiye
  5. 2028

    TR ETS first implementation period begins

    Runs from 2028 to 2035.

    Türkiye
05About

About

I am a final-year International Relations student at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, working on energy security, critical minerals and the sustainable energy transition.

Alongside my studies I work on the alignment of EU energy-related regulation with Turkish industry, and I take part in research on Türkiye's nickel and cobalt resources. I have also worked with the Directorate for EU Affairs at Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assisted courses on Turkish and German foreign policy at METU.

I read and write in Turkish, German and English, which lets me follow the debate in Ankara, Berlin and Brussels in its own language.

Türkçe · nativeDeutsch · C1English
  1. 2026 – now
    Part-time, German-Turkish Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Türkiye)
  2. 2026 – now
    Undergraduate researcher, HİDRONİKO, METU
  3. 2026
    Research fellow, CETEUS, University of Cologne
  4. 2026
    Intern, Directorate for EU Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  5. 2022 – 2027
    B.Sc. International Relations, METU
selenzeynepyildirim@gmail.com

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