On measures aimed at reducing emissions of pollutants into the air

In order to fulfill the plan of socio-economic development of the Vitebsk region and the State Program “Environmental Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources” for 2016–2020 in the direction of air protection, the work was carried out to promote the development of a green economy in terms of reducing emissions and low carbon technologies.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the region is achieved by reducing the use of fossil fuels, increasing the share of electricity and heat production using renewable energy sources.

In the Vitebsk region, the total gross emission of pollutants into the atmospheric air from industrial facilities and vehicles in 2017 amounted to 190.55 thousand tons, which is less by 10.85 thousand tons or 5.4% compared to 2016.

Emission reductions in 2017 were achieved as a result of measures taken for technical re-equipment, improvement and optimization of technological processes at 76 production facilities of 41 enterprises, upgrading the vehicle fleet with vehicles of high environmental classes and improving fuel quality.

For the heating period 2018-2019 In 8 districts of the Vitebsk region, technical re-equipment of boiler installations of agro-towns was carried out: Androny, Budilovo, Ivansk, Iody, Kovali, Krapivno, Lukoml, Mezhevo, Novaya Zarya, Olshanka, Opsa, Prozemle, Smolyany and Ulla.

As a result of modernization of heat sources and the use of wood chips and pellets, reduced fuel consumption, increased efficiency of boiler plants, ensured an optimal combustion process and a reduction of emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air to 74.2 t / year.

In general, for 11.5 months of the current year, at 49 production facilities of 34 enterprises, measures have been taken for technical re-equipment, improvement and optimization of technological processes, including construction, reconstruction, and modernization of gas-cleaning installations. The implemented measures ensured the reduction of annual pollutant emissions by 957.3 tons.

The Vitebsk region is a leader in the republic in engaging renewable energy sources in economic circulation through the use of water flows.

In order to maximize the hydropower potential of the rivers of the Vitebsk region, since 1993, work has been carried out to restore “small” hydroelectric power plants, some of which were built in the 50s of the last century.

At the moment, the movement of water flows into electrical energy is converted by 11 hydroelectric power plants with a total installed capacity of 63.3 MW, which allows saving up to 75 thousand tons of standard fuel annually, while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases and other harmful substances.

At landfills of municipal solid waste Orsha, Vitebsk and Novopolotsk 3 biogas plants with a total electrical capacity of 1.8 MW annually utilize more than 5.5 million cubic meters of landfill gas, thereby not only preventing methane emissions of greenhouse gas and air pollution, but also generating electricity energy.

The technologies of using solar energy and heat of the earth are being introduced. Over the past five years, in the Vitebsk region, individuals and legal entities have installed 65 solar water heaters, heat pumps, photovoltaic complexes.

Work on the involvement of renewable energy sources in the economic turnover continues in the current year.

GU “1st Military Hospital of the Border Guard Service” (Postavy) and GUO “Secondary School No. 2 of the city of Verkhnedvinsk” introduced solar water heating installations.

A solar mini-power plant and a solar water heating plant have been installed at JSC Alyansplast (Vitebsk).

In GUO “Begomlskaya auxiliary boarding school of the Dokshytsky district” installed a solar panel, which provides energy for the laundry and showers.

The enterprise of housing and communal services of the Lepel district of KUPP “Borovka” has introduced an innovative technology – a mobile line for the production of straw briquettes. By the heating period, measures have been completed for the introduction of renewable energy sources at the boiler houses of the agro-towns of Staraya Lyadno and Kamen of the Lepel District by installing the latest boilers operating on straw briquettes.

In the Senno district of CJSC “REAG Vitebsk”, exploratory and design work is underway to build a solar power station.

Preparatory work is underway to build a wind farm with a capacity of 25–30 MW in the area of ag. Veleshkovichi Liozno district.

Involvement of renewable energy sources into economic circulation will reduce the burning of traditional fuels and will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.

Zavalov S.A., Deputy Head of Department