Plant Biomass Potential in Trabzon

Abstract

The growing energy demand and increasing environmental concerns have led to greater interest in renewable energy sources. In this context, biomass has come to the forefront due to its sustainable and eco-friendly nature. This study aims to determine the plant-based biomass potential of Trabzon province, located in Türkiye’s Black Sea Region. The primary objective is to provide a data foundation for the feasibility studies of biomass energy facilities planned at the local level and to contribute to the development of sustainable energy policies. The study used agricultural data for Trabzon province for the year 2023, obtained from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). The biomass potential was analyzed using established methods in the literature. The data were converted into energy equivalents (TEP and MW) using calorific value formulas. According to the results, a total of 218,465 tons of agricultural production was obtained from 928,914 decares of cultivated land across 18 districts. This corresponds to an estimated energy potential of approximately 1016.3 MW. Among the districts, Hayrat, Sürmene, and of showed the highest biomass energy potential. The findings reveal that Trabzon has significant potential for sustainable biomass energy production at the local level. They also show that converting agricultural waste into energy can support rural development, environmental sustainability, and energy supply security. In this regard, the study provides a scientific basis for strategic planning of local energy investments.