PEAT AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF ENERGY

Purpose. Determining the current state of peat stocks and the overall energy potential in Ukraine. Drawing attention of the scientific community, authorities and the public to the problem of intensive development of peat production in Ukraine as the basis of economic growth of certain regions, significant improvement of the ecological state. Methods. Analytical methods for processing published sources, selection and systematisation of stock materials and reports on peat topics are applied in the work. Results. Information on the current state of reserves, availability of peat resources in administrative regions is provided, and the current state of the peat mining industry in Ukraine is analysed. The expediency of expanding the peat fuel base and potential opportunities for the development of the industry, which allow increasing the volume of peat production to 10 million tons per year in the shortest possible time, which will provide raw materials for more than 70 years, are substantiated, in addition, the development of new peat enterprises is carried out in a shorter time terms than the construction of coal mines. The production of a wide range of peat products, including peat fuel, opens the prospect of meeting the need for energy carriers at the expense of local resources, which will lead to a decrease in budgetary costs for the purchase of fuel in the regions and will improve the supply of peat for export, which is especially important in modern energy, social economic and environmental conditions of Ukraine. Scientific novelty. For the first time, attention was drawn to the importance of peat resources for socio-economic development in the conditions of the war and after the reconstruction of the country. Practical value. This study is aimed at clarifying modern peat reserves in Ukraine and their technological potential, conclusions are drawn that the balance peat reserves are sufficient and appropriate in their condition for their further development. The main areas of development of peat potential in Ukraine have been developed. It is equally important to inform the scientific community and the public about the state of peat resources in the country, since the extraction of peat as a fuel, raw material for various industries and agriculture is becoming truly relevant and important.