May 09, 2025

Turkish universities are playing an active role in the HYSouthMarmara Project, Türkiye's first hydrogen valley and the first domestic green hydrogen plant. Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Sabancı University and Turkish-German University are among the executors of the project. The project's 15-partner consortium also includes South Marmara Development Agency, Enerjisa Üretim, KALE, ŞİŞECAM, Eti Maden, TÜBİTAK MAM, Linde Gaz A.Ş., Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, University of Bologna, HPAS, TENMAK and Software GmbH. The HYSouthMarmara Project, supported by the European Union's Horizon Europe Program, draws attention as a pioneering initiative that integrates green hydrogen production in the South Marmara region and aims to create a regional hydrogen economy.

Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, stated that they emphasize the green transformation process meticulously. Stating that they are in a comprehensive preparation on the steps that can be taken in higher education to train the qualified human resources needed in the green transformation, Özvar said that they plan to open associate, undergraduate and graduate programs in related fields at universities to train the experts needed for the green economy.

Türkiye's largest green hydrogen production facility, which will produce 500 tons of green hydrogen annually, will provide resources to many sectors from industry to agriculture, automotive to energy. The Sodium Boron Hydride Plant planned to be established in Balıkesir within the scope of the project aims to utilize Türkiye's rich boron reserves in hydrogen storage technologies. Thanks to these investments, it is aimed to create a model not only for Türkiye but also for Mediterranean countries.

The main objective of the project is to make South Marmara Türkiye's first carbon neutral region and pave the way for sustainable and environmentally friendly practices across the country with the contribution of higher education institutions in line with the 2053 net zero emission target.

Within the scope of the project, the “Green Marine Industry R&D Test and Training Center” will be established at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sabri Alkan, a faculty member at the Faculty of Maritime Studies, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, stated that the Green Marine Industry R&D Test and Training Center, the feasibility of which has been made within the scope of the HYSouthMarmara Project, is a critical investment that will strengthen the region's information and technology infrastructure, and that the center will provide hands-on learning opportunities for students, researchers and engineers. He emphasized that it will also contribute to the formation of a network that increases inter-university cooperation.