A hydraulic structure is being erected at the construction site of the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station

The use of renewable energy sources is a pressing issue worldwide. This refers to solar, wind, and water energy. It is environmentally friendly and less costly. In the context of saving resources and caring for the environment, these are perhaps two key factors. And while many countries have already made significant progress in this direction, Belarus is taking its first steps.

According to statistics, hydroelectric power plants provide 16% of the world's electricity production. Among the leading countries in water power utilization are China, Norway, Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Venezuela, and others. China is the most active in hydropower construction, for which the potential of its rivers is the main source of energy. This country hosts up to half of the world's small hydropower plants and the largest one, the "Three Gorges" Dam, on the Yangtze River. Currently, stations are being built in Iran, Pakistan, Colombia, and Tajikistan.

What are the advantages of hydropower compared to thermal power plants? Firstly, there are no harmful emissions into the atmosphere, and environmentally friendly energy is produced using modern technologies. Secondly, the cost of electricity generated by hydropower plants is significantly lower. Furthermore, it replaces imported fuel and energy resources and guarantees electricity supply regardless of world market prices, ensuring energy independence.

As of today, Belarus has over three dozen small hydropower plants with a total capacity of just over 30 MW. The first large-scale power plants will be the Vitebsk and Polotsk HPPs, currently under construction on the Western Dvina River. The main goal of implementing projects envisaged by the program documents approved in the Republic of Belarus is to reduce the energy intensity of the gross domestic product and enhance the country's energy security by incorporating local and renewable energy resources into the fuel and energy balance.

Thus, the Vitebsk HPP will allow generating an average of 138 million kWh of electricity per year, which means the needs of the Vitebsk region will be met. In general, the facility will enhance the reliability of the industrial and energy complexes of the northern region, as in the event of an emergency related to a gas supply disruption or a breakdown at a thermal power plant, the hydroelectric station will ensure power supply to first-category facilities. The capacity of the future station will be 40 MW. As a result of the project implementation, it is expected to achieve savings of organic fuel amounting to 42.6 thousand tons of conventional fuel per year, or 7.6 million dollars.

Recently, "VV" correspondents visited the construction site of the Vitebsk HPP, the customer of which is RUP "Vitebskenergo", and the general contractor for turnkey construction is the Chinese electric power engineering company "CNEEC", which has extensive experience in this field. The construction of the facility began in April 2013. During this time, a diversion channel was created, through which the Western Dvina temporarily carries its waters. Currently, as noted by Ivan Pugachev, Head of the Construction Department of the Vitebsk HPP Branch of Vitebsk Electric Networks of RUP Vitebskenergo, the construction of the facility has entered a decisive stage: the construction of the hydraulic structure is underway. Spillway dam and section gates are being erected, which will be raised or lowered depending on the water level in the river; turbine generator units will be installed in the near future. The concrete and mortar plant is located within the construction site, producing at least 110 cubic meters of concrete per hour.

– By the end of this year, according to the Chinese company's plan, the diversion channel should be closed, and the river will return to its original course. A lock for the passage of ships and fish will be built in place of the diversion channel, – Ivan Ivanovich reported. – Currently, about 300 Chinese workers and about 50 Belarusian builders are involved at the site. Local organizations, in particular, PMS from different regions of Vitebsk Oblast, are engaged in the arrangement of the reservoir bed and bank reinforcement, and the foreign company has very high requirements for the quality of their work. In general, multi-stage quality control is provided at the facility. Construction is carried out in three shifts without days off.

Bank reinforcement is necessary to prevent bank erosion with rising water levels, as the water level before the dam will rise by 12.5 meters. To date, relevant work has been completed in the areas of Rubа, Zheleznyaki, and Zdravnevo.

It should be noted that the project provides for a water level in the Dvina River downstream of the dam, which must be observed without fail.

Recently, one of the ecologists' requirements has also been fulfilled: the transplanting of the "red book" species – the aquatic moss Cinclidotus danubicus – from the territory where the water level will rise, which we reported on in the previous issue of "VV".

The commissioning of the facility is planned for January 2017. However, even today, future specialists of the plant – employees of the "Vitebsk Electric Networks" branch of RUP "Vitebskenergo" – are undergoing training in China, as stipulated by the contract. It should be noted that the creation of the facility also involves the associated development of territories, in particular, the arrangement of recreation areas on the reservoir, the total area of which will be 822 hectares, and prospects for fish farming will also open up.

However, despite the obvious advantages of using water energy, there are people whose interests have been affected by the construction of the HPP – members of gardening associations, whose plots are located on the river banks and may subsequently be flooded. According to the project, such houses are subject to demolition, for which their owners are provided with compensation payments. This work has been partially completed.

In addition, in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory legal acts of the Republic of Belarus, additional engineering and geological surveys were carried out at the construction project stage for all protected settlements, clarifications of the water and physical properties of soils were made, based on the results of which it became necessary to adjust previously adopted design decisions. The most significant changes concerned the demolition of structures and the flooding of territories in the village of Barvin and the gardening association "Sudostroitel".

"We thank everyone who showed understanding of the situation. To resolve this issue, RUP "Vitebskenergo" is conducting a repeat public discussion, based on the results of which a meeting of interested parties will be held on August 31," said Ivan Pugachev.

One way or another, we cannot escape modern technologies; they represent the future, especially if they benefit people and the environment. And water, as is known, has always been a source of energy for humans; our task is to use it competently.

Competent comment

Head of the State Environmental Expertise Department of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Irina Kogalenok:

– The project documentation for this facility is subject to mandatory state environmental review. Initially, at the investment justification stage for the Vitebsk Hydroelectric Power Station in 2010, a conclusion was issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. In 2013, the architectural design for the construction of the HPP was submitted for environmental review to our committee, and we issued a conclusion under certain conditions. One of these conditions was to conduct a survey and transplant plants listed in the Red Book of Belarus, in particular, the moss Cinclidotus danubicus, with the involvement of specialists from the Institute of Experimental Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. In general, the main issues that were considered were: how the hydrological regime of the water body would change, how the construction of the station would affect the fish population, and how the habitat would change in the territories that would be flooded due to the rise in water level before the dam. A conclusion is issued for each commissioned construction phase. If the work is performed with deviations from the project, the conclusion is not issued until the non-compliance is rectified. Changes were made to the project and estimate documentation during the process. Together with the materials from public discussions and the environmental impact assessment report, it must be submitted to us for review.

Olga MASLOVSKAYA, "Vitebskiye Vesti". Photo by Anton STEPANISHCHEV, "Vitebskiye Vesti".