Türkiye could produce up to 10 billion cubic meters (bcm) of domestic and renewable biomethane annually by 2040 if existing biogas and landfill gas facilities are upgraded, according to a sector report.

Biomethane is a renewable gas produced by upgrading biogas generated from organic waste and removing impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and moisture. The resulting gas has properties similar to natural gas, The Caspian Post reports, citing Anadolu Agency.

Türkiye currently has 101 biogas plants and 97 landfill gas plants. BİYOYATDER estimates that upgrading these facilities could increase biomethane production to 3 bcm by 2030, 5 bcm by 2035 and 10 bcm by 2040.

Greater use of renewable gas could also reduce emissions from organic waste and decrease dependence on fossil fuel imports, particularly in the transport and logistics sectors. If the facilities operate at full capacity, the reduction could reach 30 million metric tons of emissions per year.

Cemil Direkci, chairman of the Board of BİYOYATDER, told Anadolu that methane gas, which is 27 times more potent than carbon dioxide, is released uncontrollably into the atmosphere when animal and agricultural waste is stored in open areas or lagoons.

Directing this waste to biogas plants through collection systems would prevent emissions from being generated at the source, Direkci said.

“It is technically possible to produce 3 bcm of domestic and renewable biomethane, including Bio-CNG and Bio-LNG, by 2030, 5 bcm by 2035 and 10 bcm by 2040 if Türkiye's facilities operate at their optimal capacities,” he explained.

Direkci said this infrastructure would help Türkiye reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports for transportation and logistics. He added that it could also have a multiplier effect by eliminating new carbon-related customs costs in trade with the European Union.

Noting that the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry has made rapid progress in the sector through the Renewable Energy Resources Support Mechanism (YEKDEM), Direkci said biogas plants using agricultural and animal waste should be provided with a purchase guarantee of at least 12 years for the biomethane, or renewable natural gas, they produce.

“Starting the purchase price at a floor of €60 per megawatt-hour and increasing it annually in line with eurozone inflation would also be positive for the sector,” he added.

He stated that the 101 biogas plants licensed by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority in Türkiye currently process 10 million metric tons of organic waste annually and prevent 18 million metric tons of carbon emissions.

“It would also be important for the development of the sector to allow plants that obtain biomethane production licenses to sell the gas directly into the market or export it, provided they comply with the relevant technical regulations,” he concluded.