Babil Biogas Electricity Generation Plant Manager Ahmet Aslan stated that to fill their installed generation capacity, they have started to accept fresh fruit and vegetable waste in addition to animal waste. “Two years ago, we could access 150 tons of organic waste per day; with the decline in livestock numbers, this amount has dropped to 40 tons. Accordingly, we are expanding our waste collection areas to maintain the plant’s production capacity. However, high operating expenses and falling profitability are pushing our biogas investment away from being viable,” he said.
MEHMET NABİ BATUK / ŞANLIURFA
High production costs, unstable market conditions and the impact of the Eid al-Adha period have caused a rapid decline in livestock numbers, threatening biogas plants across Türkiye. As access to organic waste becomes more difficult, companies are unable to find sufficient feedstock for their digesters and are shifting to solar investments to preserve electricity generation capacity. With ancillary cost items constantly rising, growth investments in the sector have stalled. Companies are calling for new support mechanisms to improve access to organic waste.
Aslan said that although they started taking fresh fruit and vegetable waste in addition to animal waste to fill their installed capacity at the Specialized Livestock OIZ in Şanlıurfa, idle capacity continues to increase. “Two years ago, we could access 150 tons of organic waste per day; with the decline in livestock numbers, this amount dropped to 40 tons. We are expanding our collection zones to maintain output, but high expenses and lower profitability are making the investment non-viable,” he noted.
“Municipalities should play an active role in waste collection”
Aslan emphasized that biogas power plants, by their process nature, must be fed continuously with organic waste: “If you cannot feed enough organic waste, the methanogenic bacteria die. Once we lose the bacteria, it takes 25 days to bring the plant back to generation mode. Keeping the plant idle for 25 days means a major loss. This negatively affects our energy efficiency. The feeding and performance of our bacteria have declined. Therefore, we are trying to work with waste stockpiles; however, the constant decrease in incoming waste ties our hands.”
He added that they have started accepting spoiled corn silage, slaughterhouse waste, whey, and expired food products: “But this seriously increases production costs. Biogas plants lack the financial resources to collect waste across wide areas. We especially need active support from municipalities. Organic waste should be collected from wild dumping sites by local governments and swiftly sent to licensed biogas plants. We have initiatives with the metropolitan municipality and district municipalities, but due to a lack of legal framework, we cannot achieve meaningful progress.”
Capacity expansion investments shelved
Aslan stated that due to the decline in organic waste, many biogas plants across various cities have shelved their capacity expansion investments: “As Babil Energy, we have ready projects that would double our electricity and fertilizer production capacities. However, for the investment to materialize, the number of animals in the Şanlıurfa Specialized OIZ must reach at least 30,000. Under current market conditions, this does not seem possible.”
Türkiye’s 2023 livestock numbers (TurkStat)
Cattle:
Total head: 16,583,000
YoY change: −2.6%
Cattle (bovine): 16,421,000
Water buffalo: 161,749
Small ruminants:
Total head: 52,363,000
YoY change: −6.9%
Sheep: 42,060,000
Goats: 10,303,000
