Historic bathhouse in Istanbul, Türkiye now running on geothermal power
The Hürrem Sultan bathhouse in Istanbul, Türkiye (source: Wikimedia, Yair Haklai, CC-BY-SA-4.0)
Carlo Cariaga
24 Nov 2025
The iconic Hürrem Sultan bathhouse in Istanbul, Türkiye now generates its electricity from a geothermal power plant based on an I-REC certificate.
As part of its energy transition effort, the iconic Hürrem Sultan Bathhouse in Istanbul, Türkiye is now operating using 100% renewable energy from a geothermal power plant. This has been validated with the awarding of an International Renewable Energy Certificate (I-REC) under the consultancy of CK Enerji Bogazici Elektrik.
Located between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the Hürrem Sultan Bathhouse is a historic building built by Mimar Sinan in 1556 and has now been operating now for nearly 500 years. Thanks to its use of geothermal energy, it now also stands as a symbol of sustainable energy transformation.
Thanks to its use of geothermal energy, the bathhouse stands out not only as a cultural heritage site but also as a symbol of sustainable energy transformation. Having operated for nearly 500 years, the structure has earned the title of the oldest and most established structure in Europe with a sustainability certificate by opting for 100% renewable, geothermal energy instead of conventional electricity. This transformation significantly reduces the carbon footprint of its operating processes, making it a model of sustainability and efficiency.
This development set a remarkable example, both in demonstrating that renewable energy investments can meet cultural heritage and in promoting the widespread use of geothermal electricity in the tourism and service sectors.
RELATED: Nakao geothermal plant unites energy and hot springs
Source: Enerji Gunlugu via our Turkish language platform JeotermalHaberler
