ADB's $75m loan targets Türkiye's data centres, energy storage.

Loan to Boost Türkiye's Infrastructure

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Rönesans Holding A.Ş. (Rönesans) formalised a $75 million loan agreement on 22 October 2026, targeting the expansion of renewable energy investments and the development of digital infrastructure in Türkiye. This financing marks the ADB's first loan engagement with Rönesans and its initial investment in digital infrastructure within Türkiye.

The partnership aims to advance the country's energy security while supporting its expanding digital economy, according to statements from the ADB. This initiative is designed to provide capital for projects deemed central to Türkiye's long-term economic competitiveness.

Expanding Renewable Energy Capacity

A significant portion of the ADB's financing will support Rönesans’s renewable energy platform. This includes the installation of additional battery energy storage capacity, with completion anticipated by 2029. Such investments are intended to bolster decarbonisation efforts across Türkiye and enhance the flexibility and reliability of its energy system.

Leah Gutierrez, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, noted that the bank's involvement extends beyond capital provision, assisting in mobilising long-term funds and promoting international environmental, social, and governance standards in complex infrastructure projects where sustained financing can be limited.

Developing Digital Infrastructure

The loan also allocates funds for the establishment of a hyperscale data centre in Türkiye. This facility is planned to operate using hybrid renewable energy sources, combining clean power with energy-efficient digital infrastructure.

The objective of this data centre is to provide secure, high-capacity digital services, designed to accommodate the increasing demand from businesses, public institutions, and digital service providers.

This includes supporting requirements for cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and other data-intensive services, thereby expanding the country’s secure and scalable data infrastructure.

Strategic Alignment and Partnership

This project aligns with the ADB's interim country partnership strategy for Türkiye, covering the period 2025–2027. This strategy prioritises private sector investment, resilient infrastructure development, and digital transformation initiatives.

Rönesans Chair of the Board of Directors, İpek Ilıcak Kayaalp, stated that the financing accelerates investments in renewable energy and digital infrastructure, identifying these as two sectors critical for Türkiye's sustainable economic growth.

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to sustainable infrastructure development, with both parties expressing interest in further partnerships to fund diverse infrastructure projects.

Implications for Türkiye's Economic Outlook

The $75 million investment from the ADB is expected to directly contribute to Türkiye's renewable energy capacity expansion and enhance its secure, scalable data infrastructure.

Decision-makers in Türkiye's energy and technology sectors will observe the progress of the battery energy storage installations, which are scheduled for completion by 2029, and the operationalisation of the new hyperscale data centre.

This financing could serve as a model for further private sector engagement in Türkiye's strategic infrastructure development, particularly as the country pursues its digital transformation goals outlined in the ADB's 2025–2027 country partnership strategy.

The success of these projects may influence future investment trends in similar hybrid energy and digital infrastructure initiatives across the region.