How to Apply for an Unlicensed Solar Power Plant in Türkiye: 2026 Guide

You apply by submitting a connection application to the electricity distribution company (EDAŞ) that serves your region, provided the solar power plant (SPP) has an installed capacity of up to 5 MW. Since October 1, 2023, these applications have been accepted only electronically; paper submissions are no longer valid. In short, the process has five steps: (1) connection application, (2) a call letter if the application is approved, (3) approval of the generation facility design, (4) signing the connection agreement, and (5) construction, provisional acceptance and commissioning.

The main advantage of the unlicensed route is that it is much faster and less costly than licensed generation: it requires no generation license from EMRA and no long-term on-site solar measurement. Whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA, known locally as ÇED) process applies does not depend on license status but on the type and area of the plant: rooftop and facade systems are exempt, while larger ground-mounted sites may need one. Plants connected at the same metering point as the applicant's own consumption receive priority, and their output is offset against that consumption under the netting principle. A well-prepared application file can shorten the process by months, while missing or incorrect documents can lead to rejection or a lower position in the queue.

The sections below explain the regulatory framework, the 5 MW threshold, the step-by-step application flow, the required documents and the hourly netting rule that took effect in 2026, all from an engineering contractor's perspective. For international investors and EPC contractors, we also clarify the Turkish terms you will encounter along the way.

The difference comes down to capacity and regulatory route: plants with an installed capacity of up to 5 MW can be built without a license and are processed by the distribution company, while plants above 5 MW need a generation license from the Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EMRA, known in Turkish as EPDK). Unlicensed generation typically covers facilities built mainly to meet the owner's own electricity consumption. Under this model there is no obligation to obtain an EMRA generation license or to set up a dedicated project company; the process runs through the distribution company and the regulatory path is far simpler.

Licensed generation applies to capacities above 5 MW and involves additional obligations: an EMRA license, a pre-license phase, an EIA process where the project area requires it and, typically, a period of on-site solar measurement. Investment size and administrative workload rise considerably as a result. This guide focuses on the unlicensed model, the most common route for SMEs, industrial plants, companies located in Organized Industrial Zones (OIZs, known in Turkish as OSB) and businesses that want to put their rooftops to work.

The core logic of the unlicensed model is self-consumption: the energy you generate is netted against the energy you draw from the grid, which noticeably lowers your electricity bills. For manufacturers that want to stabilize their energy costs, an unlicensed SPP is therefore a strategic investment in cost control.

The 5 MW limit is the defining threshold of unlicensed generation: plants with an installed capacity of up to 5 MW are treated as unlicensed, while plants above 5 MW must obtain a license. Because this threshold directly determines which regulatory track the application will follow, it should be fixed clearly during the initial feasibility stage of the project.

Rooftop solar installations are the most practical application of the unlicensed model, since they use existing building and factory roofs, require no additional land and are usually located close to the point of consumption. For ground-mounted plants, site suitability, zoning status and available grid connection capacity become the key technical criteria.

Applications are prioritized based on criteria such as whether generation and consumption share the same metering point, annual consumption volume and contracted power. For this reason, plant capacity should be sized to the facility's actual consumption profile. An oversized system puts the application at a disadvantage in the queue and, once it runs into the netting rules, fails to deliver the expected return.

The application is filed with the regional distribution company and moves through five steps: connection application, call letter, design approval, connection agreement, then installation, provisional acceptance and commissioning. 1) Connection application: The process starts with a connection application submitted through the distribution company's electronic application system. Plant capacity, location and consumption data are declared at this stage, and the application is assessed against the technical capacity of the grid.

2) Call letter: If the application is approved, the distribution company issues a call letter (çağrı mektubu). For unlicensed projects, obtaining the call letter is the first critical milestone; no subsequent step can begin without it. If the outcome is negative, the reasons are stated and the applicant can revise the file or submit a new application.

3) Design approval: Once the call letter is served, the applicant has a 180-day period to complete design approval and sign the connection agreement. Within the first 90 days of that period, the generation facility design and, if applicable, the interconnection line design must be submitted for approval to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources or the institution it authorizes.

4) Connection agreement: After the design is approved and the application documents are complete, the connection agreement between the individual or legal entity and the distribution company is generally signed within about a month. This agreement defines the point and the conditions under which the plant will connect to the grid.

5) Installation, provisional acceptance and commissioning: The plant is then built in line with the approved design. When installation is complete, a 'Ready for Provisional Acceptance' report is issued, acceptance procedures are carried out and the plant is commissioned.

The core file consists of equipment datasheets with conformity certificates, a site suitability document and copies of the approved designs, although exact requirements differ slightly between distribution companies. In practice this means datasheets for the PV modules, cables and inverters together with documents proving their compliance with standards and certification bodies such as TSE (the Turkish Standards Institution), IEC and TÜV; a site suitability document issued by the relevant municipality or the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change; and copies of the approved generation facility design and, if applicable, the connection line design.

In addition, distribution companies request an authorization document for the individual or legal entity, a certified signature circular or signature declaration, and the applicant's identity or company details. Subscription data and contracted power for the consuming facility also matter in the assessment, because the plant capacity is evaluated against these figures.

The quality of the technical file directly affects how quickly an application is accepted. Single-line diagrams, protection coordination, and grounding and cabling calculations that are consistent and prepared in line with the applicable standards eliminate resubmissions caused by missing datasheets or conformity documents. A file that has passed an engineering review shortens approval times and prevents surprise revisions during commissioning.

From May 1, 2026, netting for all unlicensed generation facilities except residential subscriptions is calculated on an hourly basis instead of the monthly basis used for many years. The change was introduced by a decision of the EMRA Board. In practice, the value of your generation is now matched against your consumption in the same hour in which it was produced.

This makes designing the system around the facility's consumption profile more critical than ever. Industrial and commercial businesses that generate and consume during daytime hours benefit from hourly netting, while facilities whose generation and consumption hours do not overlap need to choose capacity carefully and, where necessary, consider options such as battery energy storage. Residential subscribers are excluded from this rule and continue to be assessed under monthly netting and the protections for individual generation.

While the technical infrastructure for the rule is being phased in, an hourly analysis of your consumption data before applying is decisive for a sound investment decision. Because regulations and implementing procedures are updated from time to time, applicants should rely on the latest announcements from their regional distribution company and EMRA at the time of application.

The most common problems in unlicensed solar applications are missing or non-compliant conformity documents, incorrectly sized plant capacity, designs that do not match the consumption profile, inconsistencies in single-line diagrams and protection coordination, and failing to obtain the site suitability document on time. These mistakes lead to rejection, longer timelines or delayed commissioning.

At Miratek Elektrik, our SPP Design and SPP Installation and Commissioning services cover the entire process from feasibility to turnkey delivery: consumption analysis and capacity sizing, preparation of the application file, DC/AC cabling and inverter installation in line with the approved design, grid connection and provisional acceptance. On licensed and unlicensed, rooftop and ground-mounted projects alike, we deliver engineering under our ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 management systems, in compliance with the applicable IEC standards and the specifications of TEDAŞ (Turkish Electricity Distribution Company).

With 15+ years of field experience, 1,300+ completed projects and 50 MW of installed solar capacity, we manage both the administrative and technical sides of the application through a single point of contact and keep resubmissions to a minimum. We work on projects across Türkiye and act as the local electrical engineering and contracting partner for international investors and EPC contractors. Contact our team to review your consumption profile together before you plan your unlicensed SPP investment.