Turkey is targeting significant expansion of domestic biomethane capacity as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
A sector report estimates that upgrading existing biogas and landfill gas infrastructure could enable the country to produce up to 10 billion cubic metres of renewable biomethane annually by 2040.
Turkey currently operates 101 biogas facilities and 97 landfill gas plants. Industry association BİYOYATDER projects that systematic upgrades to these assets could deliver incremental production increases: 3 bcm by 2030, 5 bcm by 2035 and 10 bcm by 2040.
Cemil Direkci, chairman of BİYOYATDER, outlined the environmental imperative behind the strategy. Methane released from decomposing animal and agricultural waste stored openly or in lagoons is 27 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Channelling organic waste through biogas collection and processing systems prevents emissions generation at source and enables their productive conversion into renewable fuel.
The expansion would carry significant trade and logistics implications. Full-capacity operation of upgraded facilities could reduce annual emissions by up to 30 million metric tonnes whilst meaningfully lowering Turkey's fossil fuel import requirements for transportation and logistics sectors.
Direkci highlighted additional benefits, including mitigation of carbon-related customs duties arising from European Union trade compliance rules.
Current biogas plants already process approximately 10 million metric tonnes of organic waste annually and prevent roughly 18 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
Direkci called for policy support including 12-year purchase guarantees for biomethane production, a minimum floor price of €60 per megawatt-hour adjusted annually for eurozone inflation, and permission for licensed producers to sell directly to market or export subject to technical compliance.
