Why This Model Matters for Public Universities

In Türkiye, public universities are legally required to comply with national energy efficiency targets established under Law No. 5627 on Energy Efficiency. According to Presidential Circular No. 2023/15, all public buildings with a total floor area exceeding 10,000 m² must achieve at least 30% energy savings by the end of 2029. Achieving this target requires not only technical intervention but also financially sustainable strategies.

As a response to this policy framework, the Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) model has been formally introduced by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources as a key mechanism that enables public institutions to implement energy-saving projects without any initial capital expenditure. EPC projects are financed by future energy savings, guaranteed by private sector implementers. The Ministry has developed comprehensive legal and technical guidance, including contract templates, savings verification procedures, and a list of certified measurement and verification experts to ensure legal compliance and transparency.

ALKU as a National Pioneer in EPC-Based Sustainability

Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University (ALKU) is the first and only public university in Türkiye to implement a fully compliant EPC project recognized at the national level. In 2024, ALKU’s Kestel Campus Solar Power Plant, built under the EPC model, was awarded third place in the Public Sector Category of the National Energy Efficiency Project Awards organized by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. The award recognized the university’s technical and financial innovation among 613 competing projects, making ALKU’s GES initiative one of the most impactful public-sector sustainability models in the country.

This successful implementation laid the groundwork for a broader Integrated Sustainability Model, extending the EPC framework into a campus-wide system. This includes:

• Solar-powered Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations,

• Organic waste valorization units for compost and pet food production,

• An ISO 50001-certified energy management system,

• I-REC certification ensuring international traceability of renewable electricity production.

Thanks to this approach, ALKU has achieved verifiable reductions in both energy costs and CO₂ emissions, while maintaining full financial independence from public capital budgets.

Capacity Building and National Dissemination

Importantly, ALKU’s mission extends beyond implementation. The university has actively contributed to the national dissemination of EPC as a sustainable public financing tool. As highlighted in the EEPA application, ALKU has delivered technical trainings and knowledge-sharing sessions for both public and private sector stakeholders.

A notable example of this outreach was ALKU’s expert presentation during the national webinar "Success Stories in Building Energy Transformation – 2," organized by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in March 2025, where ALKU’s Energy Management Coordinator presented the model to an audience of over 1000 professionals. Participants included representatives from universities, municipalities, and industry, enhancing the replicability of the model across Türkiye.

Integrated Evidence Supporting the EEPA Submission

This holistic model—combining legal compliance, financial innovation, climate action, and national dissemination—constitutes a robust and verifiable data set supporting the EEPA 2025 application under the category Supporting the Sustainable Transition. ALKU’s achievement is not limited to environmental metrics; it also showcases policy alignment, institutional innovation, and scalable knowledge transfer mechanisms aligned with EU Green Deal objectives and Sustainable Development Goals.

The entire project framework and its outcomes represent an integrated evidence base, reinforcing the credibility, impact, and replicability of ALKU’s public sector-led energy transition model.