06 November 2025
Turning Old Coal Mines into Solar Fields: A Chance for People and the Planet
By Duygu Kutluay, Campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels
Türkiye’s Ministry of Energy’s recent announcement about turning former coal mining sites into solar fields is a promising but cautious step toward a cleaner future. On paper, it signals a shift away from costly, polluting fossil fuels, something Türkiye urgently needs to plan for. But the true test will be in how this transformation is implemented, and who truly benefits from it.
For years, we have been advocating for a planned and fair coal phase-out that protects both workers and local communities. Türkiye has enormous renewable energy potential, yet without careful planning, the transitions risk repeating the same patterns of exclusion and inequality that shaped the fossil fuel era, concentrating profits while leaving people and places behind.
Repurposing coal sites for solar energy makes both economic and environmental sense. These areas are already connected to the grid, and their vast open spaces are ideal for solar installations. A 2022 study by Solar3GW, prepared for a coalition of environmental organizations including Europe Beyond Coal, CAN Europe, Ekosfer, WWF-Türkiye, Greenpeace Mediterranean, 350.org, the Climate Change Policy and Research Association, and Yuva Association, found that equipping Türkiye’s open-pit coal mines with solar panels could meet the annual electricity needs of 6.9 million households.
That is an incredible potential but we must make sure it translates into public benefit and community ownership, not just private profit.
Across Europe, we’ve seen that when coal regions are transformed into renewable energy hubs, the most successful projects are those that include and empower local people.
In Kozani, Greece, for instance, a region once dominated by coal now hosts 3 GW of solar investments, including a 204 MW solar park that provides clean energy for 75,000 homes while cutting 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year. Crucially, energy communities there play a key role to help residents participate in and share the economic gains and social benefit from the transition.
In Germany, the Göttelborn and Espenhain solar parks were built on former lignite mines, but the transformation went beyond power generation. The projects brought new public spaces such as bike and walking paths, restored forests and lakes, and new learning spaces, all shaped with community input. These sites became symbols of renewal, places where people could see and feel the real benefits of change.
Türkiye now stands at a similar crossroads. If new solar projects on former coal sites are developed with public participation, community ownership, and fair benefit-sharing, they can deliver far more than clean power. They can revitalize local economies,strengthen energy resilience, build public trust, and give communities a real stake in the transition
The move from coal to solar should not only be about changing the source of energy, it should be about changing the way energy works for people.
Coal defined the past of many regions in Türkiye. If we get this right, solar power can define their future, one that is fairer, cleaner, and truly owned by the people.