Revolution in geothermal energy: Target zero emissions

Zorlu Energy, one of Turkey's leading companies in the field of domestic and renewable energy, has been among the partners of the GECO (Geothermal Gas Emmisson Control) Project carried out by the European Union within the scope of the Horizon 2020 Program. The project, which will be carried out by a total of 18 institutions from countries such as France, England, Italy, Iceland and Germany, in which only Zorlu Energy and Middle East Technical University are located from Turkey, aims to carry out international field applications, knowledge and experience transfer in the field of reducing emissions to zero by eliminating carbon dioxide and similar gases in order to ensure sustainability in geothermal fields. Zorlu Energy, which continues to be the gateway of our country to the outside world not only with its investments but also by carrying its know-how to projects based on international collaborations, has become a partner in the GECO project, which aims at the sustainable management of natural mineral resources. Zorlu Energy will contribute to the GECO project with its experience and R&D resources in the field of geothermal. The Horizon 2020 program, which is the largest Research and Innovation program of the European Union, which was established to support the transfer of great discoveries, creative ideas and inventions from the laboratory to the world markets for a more sustainable world and has the opportunity to fund 80 billion Euros in a 7-year period, will provide grant support to Zorlu Energy for its participation in the GECO project, taking into account the successful studies in this field. Various institutions and organizations from countries such as France, England, Italy, Iceland and Germany are involved in the GECO project. The project aims to carry out inter-country field applications for "Reduction of Geothermal Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Emissions" within the scope of the "Reduction of Electricity Generation Costs from Renewable Energy Sources" sub-title of "Reducing Electricity Generation Costs from Renewable Energy Sources" included in the Horizon 2020 program, testing new equipment and technologies, and providing knowledge and experience transfer. "We are working with the goal of zero emissions in geothermal energy" Expressing his feelings and thoughts on the subject, Zorlu Energy Investments, General Manager in Charge of Operation and Maintenance Ali Ksindep said that he believes that they are entitled to receive this grant support thanks to their experience in the geothermal sector and the R&D investments they have made. Stating that Zorlu Energy is working for sustainable production with its leading position in the field of geothermal, Ksindep said; "Internationally, we are proud to be a part of the GECO Project, which includes companies and reputable institutions from different countries of Europe. We will work together at Zorlu Enerji's geothermal power plants in the Kızıldere field in Turkey and other power plants in Italy, Iceland and Germany. At the end of the R & D studies we will carry out, we will produce energy with zero waste by using the heat coming from underground in our plants and fields that we operate and will establish under the current conditions and reinject all wastes, including carbon dioxide (sending back to the ground). We want to make a worldwide contribution to this issue by turning the results into a report and sharing them with other geothermal power plant operators in different countries of the world. We are ready to transfer all our knowledge and experience to this project, which we believe will make significant contributions to the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide and similar gases, to benefit from geothermal fluid with higher efficiency and to protect the sustainability of the resource. As Zorlu Energy, we are proud to represent Turkey successfully in the geothermal field as well as in many areas of energy with the investments we have made and with our knowledge and experience." Zorlu Energy, the only company in the international arena from Turkey , will receive a grant support of approximately 15 million Euros in total within the scope of the project that will start with the "Grant Agreement" planned to be signed on August 20, 2018 and will be used for R&D studies in the field of sustainable production in geothermal energy. In the GECO Project, a large part of the total project budget will be financed by the Commission of the European Communities; In addition to the leading companies in the energy sector, 18 institutions and organizations from Turkey, including METU, are working together.