Vitebsk railway workers tame solar energy

July 17, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Solar energy has begun to be used at the Vitebsk station of the Vitebsk branch of Belarusian Railways, the branch informed a BELTA correspondent. Work on the installation of domestically produced vacuum solar collectors at the Vitebsk station, in the locomotive and car depot, has been completed. As noted in the branch, the implementation of solar systems has been underway here since 2008. A total of 12 solar collectors have been installed at the structural units. All of them are designed to heat water during the inter-heating period, meet modern environmental requirements, and allow for an annual saving of more than 200 tons of conventional fuel. Over the past five years, the Vitebsk branch has reduced its consumption of fuel and energy resources under comparable conditions by 20%. According to the results of 2011, the energy saving indicator with a target of minus 8% was achieved at the level of minus 8.3%. In 2011, over 100 energy-saving measures were implemented at the branch's enterprises, saving more than 1.6 thousand tons of conventional fuel. This year, work will continue on optimizing technological processes and implementing modern energy-efficient technologies. Belarusian Railways takes a direct part in the implementation of the National Program for the Development of Local and Renewable Energy Sources for 2011-2015. The railway uses a comprehensive approach to solving energy saving issues. During 2012, it is planned to install solar water heating systems and heat pumps at the enterprises of all branches of the railway, the use of LED lighting will be expanded, and worn-out equipment and heat pipelines will be replaced. -0-