Regional prediction of long-term landfill gas to energy potential

    Authors

    H. R. Amini;D. R. Reinhart

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Waste Manage.

    Keywords

    Landfill gas to energy; Renewable energy; Waste diversion; Operation; optimization; METHANE GENERATION; CONSTANT; Engineering, Environmental; Environmental Sciences

    Abstract

    Quantifying landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) potential as a source of renewable energy is difficult due to the challenges involved in modeling landfill gas (LFG) generation. In this paper a methodology is presented to estimate LFGTE potential on a regional scale over a 25-year timeframe with consideration of modeling uncertainties. The methodology was demonstrated for the US state of Florida, as a case study, and showed that Florida could increase the annual LFGTE production by more than threefold by 2035 through installation of LFGTE facilities at all landfills. The estimated electricity production potential from Florida LFG is equivalent to removing some 70 million vehicles from highways or replacing over 800 million barrels of oil consumption during the 2010-2035 timeframe. Diverting food waste could significantly reduce fugitive LFG emissions, while having minimal effect on the LFGTE potential; whereas, achieving high diversion goals through increased recycling will result in reduced uncollected LFG and significant loss of energy production potential which may be offset by energy savings from material recovery and reuse. Estimates showed that the power density for Florida LFGTE production could reach as high as 10 W m(-2) with optimized landfill operation and energy production practices. The environmental benefits from increased lifetime LFG collection efficiencies magnify the value of LFGTE projects. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Waste Management

    Volume

    31

    Issue/Number

    9-10

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    2020

    Last Page

    2026

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000294573500014

    ISSN

    0956-053X

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