Belarus plans to use energy of wind

Plans regarding the use of alternative energy sources are shaping up gradually as Belarus begins holding consultations with Polish companies regarding the supply of wind turbines. Scientists believe Belarus has sufficient natural potential for the economic utilisation of wind energy.

The Belarusian Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Mr. Leonty Khoruzhik, said that expert calculations had established the likely efficacy of installation of wind turbines in Belarus . There is potential capacity for construction of more than 2000 wind turbines that could generate up to 8 billion KWatt per hour.

 “We consider renewable sources of energy as highly promising and environmentally friendly, we will support developments in this direction in every possible way", promised Minister Khoruzhik at a recent meeting in the Ministry.

 Great potential 

A group of Belarusian scientists made a very optimistic presentation at the “Sakharov Readings”, held by the International Sakharov Environmental University in May 2007 concerning Belarusian potential in the area of wind energy generation.

 “Guaranteed production of energy from wind turbines from 7 per cent of the Belarusian territory will constitute 14.65 billion KWatt per hour. Windy areas could provide 6.5-7.5 billion KWatt per hour of energy with capital investment recovered within five to seven years”. At the same time scientists warned about certain problems.

 First of all, there are limited opportunities for the purchase of appropriate wind turbines from foreign suppliers, as the equipment has to exactly match the climatic conditions of Belarus .

 Secondly, the scientists are concerned about “strong resistance from the responsible officials in the energy sector”.

 Thirdly, there is currently a lack of infrastructure in Belarus for designing, installing and managing wind driven equipment and consequently also a lack of qualified research and operations staff. This problem will be hard to resolve without the cooperation of foreign experts.

 Negotiations with Polish companies

Mr. Sergey Zavialov, Head of the Special Inspectorate of State Control for Air, the Ozone Layer and Climate Protection of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Belarus, stated at a press conference that the Environment Ministry was negotiating with Polish companies regarding supply of wind turbines to Belarus .

 Mr. Zavialov said, that the parties were discussing the quantity and cost of such equipment in aggregate terms. He also revealed that the Ministry of Environment was taking part in the development of a Draft Strategy for Wind Energy Development in Belarus .

 He said that: “The document envisages utilisation of wind generated energy up to 1.5 GWatts by the year 2020”. “We have plans to exploit our natural potential. We are now in the process of preparing for the installation of such wind turbines. In the immediate future eleven turbines will be installed in Grodno oblast with generation capacity of 850 MWatt.

 Mr. Zavialov pointed out another issue of concern regarding the usage of wind energy: Belarus lacks a legal framework for the installation, connection, management and maintenance of wind turbines. It is planned that such a framework should be in place by 2010.

 “No-one has looked for an alternative!”

Mr. Valery Dranchuk, an ecology expert, proposes another argument in favour of the installation of wind turbines in Belarus , which is founded on prior international experience: “In the 90s a group of German businessmen came to Belarus with an investment proposal to construct wind turbines. German experts said that the country had favourable conditions for wind energy generation. However, they were disappointed by the reaction of government representatives to their projects. As a result the initiative never developed into a substantive programme. To date there has been no clearly defined strategy for the use of wind, water and solar energy. There is only a programme of Nuclear Power Plant construction. Officials say that there are no alternatives to nuclear energy, however no-one has researched such alternatives!”

 By Andrei Aliaksandrau

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