TCDD Will Become the Locomotive of Clean Energy with Environmental Projects

Both the results of the 12th Transport and Communication Council and the approval of the Paris Climate Agreement once again drew attention to the importance of environmental projects. Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, said, “The Republic of Turkey State Railways aims to meet more than 2025 percent of the energy it consumes from renewable energy sources until 50. TCDD will be the locomotive of clean energy with environmental projects.

In his written statement, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu drew attention to the fact that the Republic of Turkey State Railways (TCDD) focuses on environmental investments. Karaismailoğlu stated that the electric operation provides up to 50 percent fuel savings compared to the diesel operation.

“Due to the fact that it provides more traction power and ease of maintenance with less energy, the low emission emissions during electric operation and similar factors, the efforts to electrify existing conventional lines have gained momentum. In this context, as of 2021, a total of 4 kilometers of conventional lines, existing within TCDD and currently in operation, have been electrified. This corresponds to 540 percent of the TCDD network with a conventional line length of 11 thousand 590 kilometers. In addition, 40 km of high-speed train lines, which are all electric, were added. As of today, 213 thousand 12 kilometers of all TCDD lines with a total line length of 803 thousand 5 kilometers, ie 753 percent, have been electrified. With the completion of the electrification projects on the conventional lines, which are under construction and project design, it is aimed to electrify 45 percent of the existing conventional lines within the body of TCDD by the end of 2023.

MORE THAN 50% OF THE ENERGY CONSUMED BY TCDD WILL BE PROVIDED FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY

Noting that TCDD's electricity consumption will continue to increase in the coming years, with the increase in both line lengths and electrified lines, Karaismailoğlu emphasized renewable energy. Expressing that fixed buildings and facilities with intense consumption will be determined, Karaismailoğlu stated that those who can meet their own energy with solar energy systems are determined and feasibility studies are carried out. Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport; “It is aimed to start the construction works immediately for the profitable points whose feasibility and project design studies have been completed, and to meet more than 2025 percent of the energy consumed by TCDD from renewable energy sources, primarily solar and wind, by 50. TCDD, by including local governments in these works, which is at the implementation stage, establishes cooperation with them and will take the locomotive role in the transportation and use of renewable energy resources by taking the 'green road' to every place where the railway passes. Thus, TCDD will be the locomotive of clean energy with environmental projects.

850 THOUSAND 528 KG OF WASTE COLLECTED WITH THE ZERO WASTE PROJECT

Explaining that TCDD pressed the button for the "Zero Waste Project", Karaismailoğlu said, "TCDD "Zero Waste" Project collected 27 thousand 227 kilograms of waste in 850 workplaces across the institution in 528 months. With the collected wastes, 2 million 374 thousand 577,6 kWh of energy saving and 7 thousand 803 m3 of water were saved, while 66 thousand 296 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions were prevented.

WE AIM TO REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM RAILWAYS 75%

Underlining that they attach importance to environmental projects as the Ministry, Karaismailoğlu noted that they aim to contribute to the Turkish economy by increasing energy efficiency, and to reduce environmental damage and emissions. Karaismailoğlu said, “We have also published the National Green Reconciliation Action Plan for the Green Reconciliation, which aims to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050”.

“In our transportation ecosystem, which we have designed as an integrated, we integrate all modes with each other on the basis of efficiency. We started an investment mobilization in railways for a multimodal and balanced transportation infrastructure. In addition to the urban rail system lines, we are building new high-speed train lines and continuing the renovation works of our existing lines. Thus, we both increase efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions and move to a more environmentally friendly business. In 2035, we aim to reduce emissions from railways by at least 1990 percent compared to 75.”