Europe's First and Only Carbon-Negative Biorefinery Opens

Europe's First and Only Carbon-Negative Biorefinery Opens Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank attended the opening of Europe's first and only carbon-negative biorefinery facility. At the opening, Minister Varank announced that algae-based biofuel would be produced at these facilities using Turkey's domestic and national capabilities. Minister Varank, together with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez, tested the operation of a turbo-jet engine by adding algae-based biofuel produced domestically.

''This Facility is Europe's First and Only Carbon-Negative Biorefinery''

Varank provided information about the project they inaugurated: "As a ministry, we provided approximately 6 million euros of support to this rare project developed in cooperation with Boğaziçi University and Boğaziçi Technopark. The project fully deserved this support. This facility we are inaugurating is one of the most important centers worldwide conducting work in the field of algae biotechnologies. It is a green facility not only through the products it produces, but also in its physical structure. All of the facility's electricity needs are met by the wind energy power plant located here. In this respect, it is Europe's first and only carbon-negative biorefinery" he said.

Biofuel Produced at the Facility Will Meet a Significant Portion of Our Energy Needs

Varank stated: "Many critical products that are a fundamental need of our country or that create a current account deficit will be developed and produced here through a bioeconomy-focused integrated production model. We are talking about a wide range of products from energy to agriculture, from health to food. These products will be obtained entirely from algae-based natural resources and domestic capabilities without relying on any fossil sources. For a country like Turkey that is dependent on imports for oil, biofuels represent a serious alternative. Thanks to biofuels produced in facilities such as this, we can meet a significant portion of our energy needs in a cost-effective and secure manner. When you also consider its environmentally friendly nature, the production and use of this product in our country has the potential to create a significant multiplier effect in our economy" he said.

Work Continues on the Use of Biofuel in Aircraft

At the opening, a test was conducted by adding biofuel to a small turbo-jet engine model. Varank also announced that the biofuel produced at these facilities would be used in actual flights, saying: "Work is continuing at full speed on the use of biofuel in aircraft. Turkish Airlines will carry out its first domestic flight using the domestic bio-jet fuel produced here, God willing, within this year. When we speak of our National Technology Vision, we mean projects like this, and believe me, as we see projects like this, we look to the future with greater hope" he said.