TÜPRAŞ Takes an Innovative Step in Renewable Fuel Production with the SUNFUSION Project
Tüpraş will produce biofuel from bio-based sources such as microalgae and oleaginous yeasts using the hydrothermal liquefaction method, as part of the SUNFUSION R&D project under the European Commission's Horizon Europe Programme.
As part of its "Strategic Transformation Plan," Tüpraş continues to invest on the projects that support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Within the SUNFUSION project, supported by the European Commission's Horizon Europe Programme, the company aims to develop biofuels by utilizing wet biomass sources suitable forthe production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and marine fuel. In this context, purified microalgae and oleaginous yeasts will be converted into biofuel through hydrothermal liquefaction. The energy required for the process will be supplied by solar power. The project, which began in January 2025 and will last for four years, includes 10 partners from Turkey (Tüpraş and METU), Greece, France, Germany, Norway, and Serbia.
In the final two years of the project, Tüpraş will be responsible for the analysis and improvement processes of the bio-oil obtained through hydrothermal liquefaction, ensuring that these products are ready for industrial use. Murat Şimşek, Tüpraş Deputy General Manager of Technical Affairs, emphasized the strategic importance of the project with the following statement:
"As Tüpraş, we continue our Strategic Transformation Journey with determination under the motto 'Our Energy is for the Future.' In 2024, we invested a total of TRY 229.3 million in R&D, accelerating our innovation and sustainability-focused efforts. We successfully completed 17 projects supported under Horizon 2020, and 7 projects supported under Horizon Europe are currently ongoing. As part of our updated Strategic Transformation Plan in April 2025, we are focusing on sustainable refining, SAF, zero-carbon electricity, and green hydrogen.
We believe that the SUNFUSION project will make a significant contribution to the development of alternative raw materials and technologies for SAF and sustainable marine fuel production. The steps we are taking on our path to becoming a carbon-neutral leading energy company by 2050 are the most concrete indicators that we see R&D and innovation as fundamental pillars."
With the goal of achieving over 50% energy conversion efficiency from solar energy to biofuel, SUNFUSION aims to set new standards in renewable energy technologies. The project supports the European Union's 2030 target of 45% renewable energy usage and seeks to accelerate the green transformation in the transportation sector.
