Cargill Turkey earns Low Carbon Hero award for eco-friendly solution supporting green energy

Cargill Turkey was recognized with a “Low Carbon Hero” award for its vegetable-based transformer oil at the 7th Istanbul Carbon Summit, organized by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, Istanbul Technical University and the Sustainable Production and Consumption Association (SPCA).
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The virtual summit held September 28 with the theme of "Green Recovery for a Climate Resilient Turkey: The Role of Waste and Energy Management", brought together top government officials, representatives from academia and private sector participants from Turkey and abroad. As part of the event, organizers acknowledged products and programs that support a carbon-conscious economy through the Low Carbon Hero award program.

Cargill Turkey’s entry for its FR3^® transformer oil earned top honors in the summit’s Sustainable Product Category. The oil, which is manufactured domestically from 98% renewable vegetable oils, serves as an environmentally friendly alternative to the petroleum-based mineral oils traditionally used in transformer production.

“We are making progress toward our climate commitment to reduce our absolute operational emissions 10% by 2025. This award recognizes that commitment and challenges us to continue to invest here in Turkey, as we work to expand our portfolio with vegetable-based alternatives to petroleum-derived intermediates used in many fields such as paint, furniture, construction and textile’’ said Murat Tarakçıoğlu, Cargill Foods Middle East, Turkey and Africa Managing Director.

Cargill’s FR3® transformer fluid exemplifies how the company is using vegetable-based solutions to supplant older technology. Transformer oil is used as a coolant and insulator in  electrical transformers. For decades, mineral oil has been the dominate fluid used in transformers, however it is nonrenewable, flammable and harmful to the environment.

FR3® fluid represents a significant step forward, providing an eco-friendly alternative with a carbon footprint that is 98% lower than traditional petroleum-based alternatives. In addition, the bio-based product is fire resistant, with a flashpoint of 360º C – more than two times higher than the mineral oil it replaces.

Over 30 years, FR3® validated, tested and proven in more than 2.5 millions of installations worldwide. Further, FR3® fluid biodegrades easily, is sourced from renewable plants and offers superior performance over mineral oil, extending transformer life and enhancing load capacity. When the oil of transformers used in crowded cities is replaced with FR3®, the transformer can meet higher electricity consumption while increasing fire safety.

“Turkey is among the world’s largest manufacturers of transformers, so having a local source for this critical component helps these companies compete on the global stage,” said Tarakçıoğlu. “Equally important, as climate change spurs heightened interest in green solutions, our vegetable-based transformer oil highlights how we can leverage renewable resources to usher in a new era of sustainable, low-carbon products.”