Samsun Metropolitan Municipality

    Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (SMM) manages the municipal affairs of Samsun, a major city located in the Central Black Sea Region of Turkey. With a population of over 1.3 million, Samsun is the most populous province in the Black Sea Region and the sixteenth most populous in the country.
SMM prioritizes sustainability and climate change mitigation, focusing on transforming the city into a cleaner, greener space. Its initiatives include improving green spaces, promoting sustainable transport, and reducing fossil fuel usage. The municipality is committed to responsible natural resource management and enhancing biodiversity.
SMM is also working towards achieving significant climate goals, including a 55% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2053, as part of its membership in the Covenant of Mayors.

Key Areas of Interest:

Sustainability and Combating Climate Change
- Increasing Green Areas
- Promoting Sustainable Transportation Systems
- Reducing Fossil Fuel Use
- Responsible Management of Natural Resources
- Increasing Biodiversity
- Reducing Carbon Emissions and Achieving Net Zero Emissions
- Developing Projects and Action Plans

Projects Involved:

    The key initiatives and projects undertaken by Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (SMM) related to sustainability and renewable energy include:

1. Climate Change Adaptation Strategy: Samsun has been selected as a pilot city for developing a climate change adaptation strategy and action plan within the "Enhancing Adaptation Action in Türkiye Project," launched on 9 October 2019, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
2. Covenant of Mayors Membership: SMM has become a member of the Covenant of Mayors, committing to ambitious climate and energy targets.
3. Energy-Efficient Public Transport: SMM has begun replacing fossil fuel-powered public transport vehicles with energy-efficient alternatives and has purchased 20 electric vehicles for this purpose. The total budget for this project is €12 million.
4. Electric Scooters for Transport: To support sustainable transport, 450 electric scooters have been purchased for short-distance urban mobility, helping reduce air pollution. These scooters are powered by rechargeable batteries.
5. Circular Economy Awareness: Efforts are being made to raise awareness about the circular economy model in the region.
6. Samsun Sustainable Energy Action Plan: SMM is preparing a Sustainable Energy Action Plan for Samsun, focusing on enhancing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy.
7. Samsun SPP Project: The Samsun Metropolitan Municipality (SMM) has completed the largest solar panel farm in the Black Sea Region, with a total budget of €47.7 million, financed through its own resources. The 57 MWp Solar Power Plant, making it the largest of its kind in the region, is a significant achievement. This project now supplies renewable energy to the municipality's medium voltage subscriptions, covering the entire electricity demand for Samsun Metropolitan Municipality's operations, the energy consumption of the tram lines, and half of the electricity needs of the Samsun Water and Sewerage Administration's medium voltage subscriptions. The plant became fully operational in 2024, significantly contributing to the region's sustainable energy goals.
8. Foreigners Bazaar SPP Project: The 2.59 MWp Solar Power Plant installed on the roof of the Foreigners Bazaar business center in Samsun's İlkadım district provides all of the electricity required for the low-voltage subscribers of Samsun Metropolitan Municipality. Since its commissioning in 2024, the plant has successfully generated 2,700,000 kWh of electricity, contributing to the municipality's sustainable energy efforts.
9. Our Waste Turns into Flowers Project: Methane gas extracted from the municipal waste stored at Samsun Metropolitan Municipality's Central Solid Waste Landfill is captured to generate electricity. The waste heat produced during this process is efficiently utilized without being released into the atmosphere, contributing to the creation of a new product. This initiative not only helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also supports the natural production of flowers, which are essential for beautifying our city and enhancing recreational areas. Spanning 3.5 decares with a production area of 2,880 m², the greenhouse boasts a seedling production capacity of 2,800,000. Seedling production is fully automated, utilizing advanced technology to control the process. The indoor temperature is maintained between 20-25°C and the humidity levels are kept at 50-55%, tailored to the type of plant being cultivated. Fertilization, spraying, and irrigation processes are all automated, with real-time monitoring of EC, pH, and humidity levels by sensors linked to the automation system. This ensures that the seedlings are produced in optimal conditions, promoting healthy growth for future flower formation. With the We Transform Our Waste into Flowers Project, both summer and winter flower production has been successfully underway since 2021. During the first trial production in 2021, a total of 147,000 seedlings were produced. By May 1, 2021, six flower varieties—Petunia, Snapdragon, Velvet, Fire Flower, Steamer Smoke, and Rooster Ibis—had been cultivated. In the second production phase, 810,000 seedlings were produced, including varieties such as Orange Daffodil, Pansies, Evening Primrose, Sugar Plates, and Ornamental Cabbage. As supply and demand continued to grow, the variety of flowers produced has been adjusted accordingly. The project features an environmentally friendly greenhouse, where the waste heat from energy engines used to generate electricity is fully utilized to heat the greenhouse, eliminating the need for additional energy sources. This approach adheres to the Zero Waste principle, contributing to the economy while preserving natural resources. Additionally, the project saves 2,000,000 kWh of energy annually. In recognition of its environmental and community impact, the Our Waste Turns into Flowers Project was awarded the “Metropolitan Municipalities Healthy Environment Category Award” in 2022 at the “Healthy Cities Best Practice Competition,” organized by the Union of Healthy Cities of Turkey.
10. Cycling Infrastructure: SMM is promoting cycling as an alternative to fossil fuel vehicles by expanding the city’s bicycle network. The current 31.75 km of bike lanes is planned to be expanded to 137 km by 2024. The allocated budget for this project is €2 million.
11. Circular Economy Project: SMM has secured €87,510 for the "KNOWING CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN BLACK SEA BASIN" project under the Cross-Border Cooperation in the Black Sea Basin Programme 2014-2020. The project began in 2021 and has been completed in mid-2023.
12. Air Quality Improvement Project: As part of the Air Quality Improvement Project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, the conversion of 215 residences from coal to natural gas has been successfully completed to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Additionally, natural gas conversion works are ongoing under the project, aiming to further enhance air quality and reduce carbon emissions.

    These initiatives reflect SMM's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and promoting sustainable urban development through renewable energy and efficient transportation solutions.