01.02.2025 15:20
An important development has occurred in the fuel sector. A new alternative has emerged that is 70% cheaper than gasoline prices. It is also stated that this new fuel is less harmful to the environment. This development is seen as a step that will not only ease the burden on consumers but also reduce environmental pollution.
Spain, one of the world's largest olive producers, is leading the biofuel revolution. The country derives 20 to 25 percent of its annual energy needs from discarded olive pits.
This method, used in various fields from heating homes to jet fuel, offers a 70 percent more economical option compared to gasoline. So, can Turkey also produce energy from olive pits? In a news article in Milliyet, Prof. Dr. İlhan Kocaarslan, Dean of the Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Istanbul Technical University, answered this question.
WILL OLIVE PITS BE THE FUEL OF THE FUTURE?
Spain is the world leader in olive production, with an annual output of 8 million 256 thousand tons. Nearly 6 million tons of fuel are consumed in the country each year, and a significant portion of this need is met by biofuels. Olive pits stand out as a critical component in biofuel production.
Olive pits make up about 15 percent of the weight of the fruit, which translates to 206 thousand tons of olive pits each year. Spain's biofuel consumption reached approximately 1.45 million tons of oil equivalent in 2022. This amount indicates that biofuels play a critical role in meeting the country's energy needs.
CAN BE USED FOR HEATING AS WELL
Spain, which develops innovative solutions for biofuel production, has started using fuels obtained from olive pits in home heating systems and jet engines. In response to the energy crisis in Europe following the Russia-Ukraine War, the country launched jet fuel produced from olive pits at the end of 2022.
The liquid fuel produced from olive pits provides savings of up to 70 percent compared to gasoline and diesel fuel. However, there are also disadvantages such as collection costs, advanced technology requirements, and fluctuations in olive production due to drought. Kocaarslan, who reminded that Turkey ranks fourth in the world with an annual olive production of 3 million 750 thousand tons, stated that biofuel production could also be implemented in Turkey.
Spain is a pioneer in biofuel production from olive pits with more than 30 biomass companies. So, can Turkey take a similar step? According to Kocaarslan, if biomass energy facilities are established in regions where olive production is intensive in Turkey, this system could be implemented.