Tüpraş Takes an Innovative Step in Renewable Fuel Production with the SUNFUSION Project

Tüpraş will produce biofuels from bio-resources such as microalgae and oleaginous yeasts using the hydrothermal liquefaction method through the SUNFUSION R&D project, supported by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Program.

According to the company, as part of its “Strategic Transformation Plan,” Tüpraş is implementing investments and projects that support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Within the scope of the SUNFUSION project, supported by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Program, Tüpraş aims to develop biofuels by evaluating wet biomass sources suitable for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and maritime fuel production.

Purified microalgae and oleaginous yeasts will be converted into biofuel using the hydrothermal liquefaction method. The energy required for this process will be supplied by solar power. The project, which began in January 2025 and will last for four years, involves a total of 10 partners from Turkey (Tüpraş and METU), Greece, France, Germany, Norway, and Serbia.

In the final two years of the project, Tüpraş will take responsibility for analyzing and improving the bio-oil obtained via hydrothermal liquefaction to ensure these products are ready for industrial use.

Murat Şimşek, Tüpraş Deputy General Manager Responsible for Technical Affairs, commented:
“As Tüpraş, we are continuing our Strategic Transformation Journey, launched under the slogan ‘Our Energy for the Future,’ with determination. In 2024, we invested a total of 229.3 million Turkish Lira in R&D, accelerating our innovation and sustainability-focused initiatives. Seventeen projects supported under Horizon 2020 were successfully completed, and seven projects under Horizon Europe are ongoing. In our updated Strategic Transformation Plan as of April 2025, we are focusing on sustainable refining, SAF, zero-carbon electricity, and green hydrogen. We believe the SUNFUSION project will make significant contributions to the development of alternative raw materials and technologies for SAF and sustainable maritime fuel production. The steps we are taking as we advance toward becoming a carbon-neutral leading energy company by 2050 clearly demonstrate that we consider R&D and innovation as one of our cornerstone strategies.”

SUNFUSION aims to achieve over 50% energy conversion efficiency from solar power to biofuel, setting new standards in renewable energy technologies. The project also supports the European Union’s 2030 target of 45% renewable energy use and seeks to accelerate the green transition in the transportation sector.

AA