Renewable energy use in metropolitan municipalities in Eastern Anatolia Region: The example of Malatya Metropolitan Municipality

Fossil fuels, which have been consumed excessively for years and are now on the verge of depletion, harm the environment with the gases they emit, and make the country's economy dependent on foreign sources in every aspect, are being replaced by environmentally friendly renewable energy sources obtained by utilizing natural resources, which are gaining importance today. Renewable energy is obtained by utilizing the energy flow created by constantly changing natural events and converting it into electrical energy through various methods. Turkey possesses significant potential for renewable energy sources due to its geopolitical location and diverse topography. Energy is one of the most important indicators of a country's economic development and social welfare. In developed societies, energy is of critical importance, and as countries' development indices increase, so does their energy demand due to population growth. Following oil crises caused by wars and embargoes, both a decrease in supply and problems with secure energy transportation have emerged. This has led countries to search for new, cheaper energy sources. Rapidly developing countries need to utilize renewable energy sources as much as possible. In Turkey, it is particularly important to increase the activities of metropolitan municipalities regarding the use of renewable energy sources. This study examines the activities of metropolitan municipalities in the Eastern Anatolia Region regarding the use of renewable energy sources The study examined investments in renewable energy sources, their usage levels, and activities aimed at increasing diversity in renewable energy sources. In this context, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality, located in the Eastern Anatolia Region, was chosen as a sample. Especially among renewable energy sources, solar energy has been given more emphasis due to the high number of sunny days in our country because of its geographical location and the angle of incidence of the sun's rays. The energy potential of the three major cities in the Eastern Anatolia Region, Erzurum, Van, and Malatya, has been examined, with the case of Malatya Metropolitan Municipality being analyzed in detail. The renewable energy investments of Malatya Metropolitan Municipality and the attitudes and perspectives of its employees regarding renewable energy have been investigated. Within this framework, an interview study was conducted with 21 senior managers working at Malatya Metropolitan Municipality. Within this framework, interviews were conducted with 21 senior managers working at Malatya Metropolitan Municipality. The findings revealed that Metropolitan Municipality employees are knowledgeable about renewable energy, that more investment is needed in this area, but that the desired level of investment cannot be achieved due to insufficient municipal budget, and that delays occur due to bureaucratic and legal processes.