Green Hydrogen Production in South Marmara Region

The development process of the South Marmara Hydrogen ecosystem, which officially started in 2018 with the expert reports and regional strategy documents published by GMKA, paved the way for two hydrogen projects that will be considered as the most concrete steps for the region and Türkiye. While focusing on increasing the installed capacity in the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives, the Agency has given an important place in its policies to the development of domestic capacity in the critical equipments of green hydrogen technologies and has decided to support initiatives in this direction in order not to obligate Türkiye to new foreign dependencies. Among those two hydrogen projects, the contract for the Guided Project titled "South Marmara Hydrogen Shore Platform" was signed on March 15, 2023 and the implementation period started. When it comes to EU-funded "South Marmara Hydrogen Shore - HYSouthMarmara" Valley Project, which has been developed in integration with the Guided Project, has a much wider scope with 8 work packages and its grant agreement was signed on June 30, 2023. HYSouthMarmara Valley Project, which has a total budget of 37.8 MEUR, set a record for Türkiye in the history of Horizon Europe Framework Programs with 8 MEUR grant support.

In summary; when the Guided Project and the Hydrogen Valley Project are completed; it is possible to list Türkiye's firsts that will be realized as follows:

1-   Türkiye's first MW scale electrolyzer will be installed and the largest capacity green hydrogen plant of the Turkish industry will start production;

2-   Türkiye's first regional hydrogen roadmap will be created, including plans for new pipelines that can carry 100% hydrogen;

3-   Türkiye will have the first investment feasibilities for the green production of hydrogen derivatives such as Ammonia and Methanol, which the country is almost 100% dependent on imports;

4-   The first commercial production of a new boron chemical will start: Sodium BoroHydride, which stores hydrogen in the solid phase;

5-   A new power system based on Sodium BoroHydride will be developed;

6-   Türkiye's first domestic hybrid ceramic tile kiln that can use Hydrogen, will be developed