Title

Regional prediction of long-term landfill gas to energy potential

Authors

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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