The world fossil fuel reserves are being depleting every year, leading to price increases. Consequently, using alternative renewable sources is the main way to develop the global energy. This progressive tendency was followed by NIBULON in 2016, when the company started to install the first solid fuel boilers with unconventional fuels at its facilities. The company then decided to generate energy from 3rd class grain waste from grain cleaning and drying process, as well as to make a briquette production line at its Kolosivskyi Elevator Ltd. Implementing its program, NIBULON has processed more than 353 tons of grain waste, which has enabled the company to produce about 307.4 tons of briquettes and 5.6 tons of vegetable technical oil. The use of alternative solid fuel to heat administrative and production buildings at the company’s facilities has enabled NIBULON to save 166,827 cubic meters of natural gas, which is more than UAH 1.6 million in monetary terms.“The grain waste processing into fuel briquettes to generate energy not only reduces the company’s dependence on traditional fuels and minimizes expenses, but also has a positive environmental impact. One of the components of these wastes is weed seeds, in particular ragweed. Its processing into fuel briquettes solves the problem of quarantine weed utilization. This contributes to the reduction of field pollution and the number of dumps where this waste was buried”, states Alla Izmesteva, a head of the environmental protection department. During 2016-2019, the company installed solid fuel boilers at its seven facilities. It uses alternative solid fuel to heat the administrative and production buildings at Kolosivskyi Elevator Ltd, Starobilskyi Elevator Ltd, Novoodeska, Prybuzhanivska, Kamianets-Podilska, Teteriv, and Marianivska branches. NIBULON will soon install modular solid fuel boilers at Kozatska, Denykhivska, and Skorokhodivska branches. In addition, NIBULON uses waste oils (hydraulic, transmission, gear, motor, crankcase, compressor oil) and fuel oil residues created from cleaning fuel oil storage tanks. In 2017, NIBULON installed a furnace with two up-to-date CLEAN BURN liquid-fuel water heating boilers with a capacity of 75 kW each (the USA) in its transport department (Mykolaiv). The used fuel oil products are classed as hazardous waste; a special permit from the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine is required to utilize them. NIBULON received it. The company has already processed about 11.1 tons of used oils and fuel oil residues. These energy-saving and environmentally friendly activities save energy product usage and reduce the volume of hazardous wastes. At present, the company has invested more than UAH 4.5 million in energy-saving projects. NIBULON is experienced in implementing “green” projects. The company successfully mounts solar systems to heat water at NIBULON’s facilities. It has already installed 11 Vaillant auro Flow 135/2 solar systems. This equipment will be installed at the new facility in Dnipropetrovsk region. The company’s specialists are developing the possibility to use geothermal energy. They are currently carrying out engineering surveys to install and operate geothermal heat energy pumps with a total capacity of about 200 kWH.
