Turkey Aims for 10 Billion Cubic Meters of Biomethane Production by 2040
Turkey is aiming to expand its domestic biomethane production capacity as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease dependence on imported fossil fuels. The country currently operates 101 biogas facilities and 97 landfill gas plants, with industry association BİYOYATDER projecting that systematic upgrades could deliver incremental production increases: 3 bcm by 2030, 5 bcm by 2035, and 10 bcm by 2040.
BİYOYATDER chairman Cemil Direkci emphasized the environmental imperative behind the strategy. Methane released from decomposing animal and agricultural waste 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, with full-capacity operation of upgraded facilities reducing annual emissions by up to 30 million metric tonnes while 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.