The inauguration of Europe's First and Only Carbon Negative Biorefinery Plant, where jet fuel will be obtained from algae-based microorganisms (algae), was held at the Sarıtepe Campus of Boğaziçi University in Kilyos.
Europe's First and Only Carbon Negative Biorefinery Plant was implemented within the scope of the “Integrated Biorefinery Concept Project for Bioeconomy-Oriented Development (INDEPENDENT)”, which is financed within the framework of the financial cooperation between the European Union and Turkey and supported by the Competitive Sectors Programme of the Ministry of Industry and Technology. With the project, jet fuel will be obtained from algae-based microorganisms (algae).
The facility was inaugurated at Boğaziçi University's Sarıtepe Campus in Kilyos with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci.
Biojet and Biodiesel Fuel Production
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez stated that an important R&D project has been realised on behalf of Turkey and said, “We will produce algae-based natural resources, which we call algae, without being dependent on fossil fuels. A significant progress has been made in the R&D project carried out for the production of biojet and biodiesel fuels. R&D studies of the jet fuel project have been completed. With the facility we will open today, large-scale production is being initiated. All tests and certification procedures will be completed in the second quarter of 2022. Hopefully, we plan to make our first demo flight this year. When you board a plane using biofuel, you will travel with 80 per cent less greenhouse gas without harming the balance of the world.’.
Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Fatih Dönmez, Head of the EU Delegation to Turkey Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut and Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci also gave information about the facility. After their speeches, the opening ribbon of the facility was cut, while Ministers Varank and Dönmez inspected the facility. During their inspection of the facility, Ministers Varank and Dönmez offered journalists food such as cake, cake and chocolate made from seaweed.
Biojet Fuelled Jet Engine Tested
The jet engine was tested using biojet fuel obtained from algae. Minister Varank said, “This is the biojet fuel obtained from algae. Normally, international aviation allows you to use 50 per cent fuel and 50 per cent biojet fuel. After we certify our biojet fuel produced in these facilities within the year, THY will start using it. It will provide Turkey with a significant advantage in both economic and environmental terms.”.
INDEPENDENT Project What is it?
With the INDEPENDENT Project, it is aimed to obtain products and technologies based on a bioeconomy-oriented growth model for the fields of health and energy from algae-based natural resources without depending on fossil resources with an integrated production model.
Started in 2021 at Boğaziçi University Sarıtepe Campus, which has been carbon-neutral since 2015, the INDEPENDENT project is Europe's first carbon-negative biorefinery, providing an annual carbon dioxide capture and utilisation capacity of approximately 1200 tonnes.
With the introduction of algae-based alternative products in the energy, food, health, environment, agriculture and livestock sectors, double-win sustainability is achieved by saving all resources that consume fossil energy in production.
