PhosAgro plans to introduce renewable energy sources

PhosAgro has launched a project aimed at the use of renewable energy sources (RES) at industrial and social facilities. Sanatory and hotel complex Izumrud in the city of Balakovo (Saratov region) became the first experimental site. The first stage of the project for the installation of a solar power plant has already been completed here. Panels able to generate up to 25 kW per hour have appeared on the roof of a medical building.

“The implementation of modern energy-efficient technologies is another sign that PhosAgro keeps in step with the times and strives to comply with the UN Sustainable Development Principles,” said Semyon Yakovlev, Director of Izumrud. “Solar panels will allow us to almost completely meet the complex’s needs for electricity. There are no similar projects in Balakovo. The system is currently in test mode.”

As the Chief Power Engineer of the Balakovo branch of Apatit (part of PhosAgro) reported, the company has chosen the city of Balakovo to launch the project, since the savings from the use of RES will be the most significant and noticeable here.

The work on the project began a year ago when the energy consumption of Izumrud and the required power of the solar station were determined.

“We decided to implement a solar power plant without storage batteries. Therefore, we simply install solar panels on the roofs of buildings, which will provide the complex with electricity during the day. The Izumrud company will continue to use the usual electrical network when the weather is not sunny enough,” explained Vyacheslav Kovalenok, Chief Power Engineer of the Balakovo branch of Apatit.

The total capacity of the solar battery system will amount to 40 kW per hour. PhosAgro’s initiative to use renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies fully correspond to its commitment to the UN’s sustainable development goals. The implementation of measures aimed at reducing the environmental impact and improving the environmental safety of production processes is one of the most important directions in PhosAgro’s sustainable development strategy until 2025.”

In 2003, the Balakovo branch of Apatit JSC began implementing a program to improve energy efficiency. The enterprise began to actively use heat from the production to generate electricity. Today, all steam is directed to power generation units. Thus, the plant is 80% self-sufficient in electricity.

Since 2015, the company has been showing a sustainable increase in output of all types of products, including fertilizers, fodder monocalcium phosphate, sulfuric and phosphoric acids. However, the indicators of emission of greenhouse gases are reduced and remain below the limits. This was achieved through the modernization of production facilities and the introduction of the best available technologies.

Besides solar energy, the company is also considering using wind turbines to generate electricity.