**1. Introduction**

24 Renewable Energy – Trends and Applications

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Nowadays, a radical change is taking place in global energy policies. A new energy paradigm consistent with the goal of sustainable development is evolving. The World is in the midst of paradigm shift towards non-carbon based economy. In nature of things, the new energy paradigm has emerged in and is taking root in developed countries. It is however spreading from them to developing countries. Renewable energy constitutes one of the three essential pillars of the new energy paradigm, due to its potentially important role in improving energy security and the decarbonization of global economy. One of the most important implications of this paradigm change is that technological leapfrogging opportunity appears for developing countries having sufficient renewable energy potential. Implementation of the new energy paradigm in developing countries can provide them to develop by avoiding from a repetition of the mistakes of the industrialized countries (Saygn & Çetin, 2010).

Turkey with huge renewable energy potential is one of these countries having a strong chance of leapfrogging in energy technologies. Although concerns about energy supply security dominates because of rapidly rising energy demand, decision-makers in Turkey are striving to set up secure, environment-friendly and sustainable energy policies parallel to contemporary global energy policies. In this context, it has been made important progress with regard to especially, renewable energy and energy efficiency regulations in the recent years (Saygn & Çetin, 2010). Present status and potential of renewable energy of Turkey and recent developments in its renewable energy policies are reviewed in the following sections.
