Landfills Turn Trash into Power

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized eight landfill methane capture projects for their innovation in generating renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The winners include one of the largest landfill gas (LFG) to liquefied natural gas facilities in the world, located in Livermore, California.

“We are proud to recognize Landfill Methane Outreach Program partners who are turning trash into a clean and profitable source of energy,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “These projects, and others like them, are helping us transition into a clean energy economy and make important greenhouse gas reductions.”

The projects were recognized by EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), a voluntary assistance and partnership program that reduces GHG emissions by supporting landfill gas energy project development. By joining LMOP, companies, state agencies, organizations, landfills, and communities gain access to a vast network of industry experts and practitioners, as well as to various technical and marketing resources that can help with LFG energy project development. LMOP recognized the winning Partners for excellence in innovation and creativity, success in promoting project development, and achieving environmental and economic benefits.

Methane, a primary component of LFG, is a greenhouse gas (GHG) with more than 20 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Using LFG provides a significant energy resource, prevents GHG emissions, and reduces odors and other hazards associated with emissions. This year’s LMOP winning projects will prevent the emissions of 546,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year, the equivalent of annual GHG emissions from nearly 100,000 passenger vehicles.

The awards went to six projects that creatively use landfill gas in four types of renewable energy projects: high Btu, cogeneration, electricity, and direct use. The direct-use projects provide 304 million standard cubic feet of LFG per day--the energy equivalent of heating more than 715,000 homes annually. Direct-use LFG energy projects do not produce electricity, but instead use LFG as an alternative to replace another fuel such as natural gas or coal.

The EPA’s LMOP has assisted with more than 450 LFG energy projects over the past 15 years. The United States currently has about 509 operational LFG energy projects. The LFG electricity generation projects have a capacity of 1,563 megawatts (MW) and provide the energy equivalent of powering more than 920,000 homes annually.

Project of the Year awards were given to:

• University of New Hampshire's EcoLine Project, Rochester, NH — A diverse team developed EcoLine, an integrated system that cleans and burns LFG in a cogeneration plant. The plant provides up to 85 percent of the five million square-foot campus’ electricity and heating needs.

• Jefferson City Renewable Energy Project, Jefferson City, MO — Project developer Ameresco changed the originally planned location of the 3.2-megawatt LFG electricity project to enable the capture of waste heat. The cogeneration project earned White House recognition for creating an estimated 80 jobs and expanding renewable energy for the nation.

• Altamont Landfill Resource and Recovery Facility, Livermore, CA — Following nearly 10 years of research and development, a high-tech high Btu fuel plant converts LFG into liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will fuel 300 garbage trucks.

• Ox Mountain Landfill Gas Energy, Half Moon Bay, CA — At 11.4 megawatts, one of the largest LFG electricity projects in the country helps two municipal utilities meet renewable energy goals and powers as many as 10,000 homes in the cities of Palo Alto and Alameda.

• Sioux Falls Landfill and POET Ethanol Direct Use Project, Sioux Falls, SD — The city captures, cleans, and pipes LFG for energy utilization at an ethanol plant, where LFG initially displaces about 10 percent of the plant’s natural gas consumption in a wood waste-fuel boiler.

• Oak Grove Landfill Renewable Methane Project, Winder, GA — In a high Btu project that produces enough gas to heat over 8,000 homes, a public/private partnership overcame barriers and applied innovative technologies that could lead to application at other high Btu projects.

State Partner of the Year: Kansas Department of Health and Environment (DHE), Topeka, KS — Through extensive outreach and networking, Kansas DHE and the Bureau of Waste Management successfully fueled interest in LFG utilization for energy in Kansas and beyond.

Community Partner of the Year: South Kent Generating Station, Byron Center, MI — Kent County demonstrated its strong desire to serve the community and implement a long-term LFG energy strategy when it was approached by Granger to generate electricity using LFG from the South Kent Landfill.

Image courtesy of Flickr