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Landfill Gas-to-Energy in California

Landfill Gas-to-Energy in California

Patrick S. SullivanPatrick S. SullivanSCS ENGINEERSSCS ENGINEERS

Sacramento, CaliforniaSacramento, California

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LANDFILLS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Landfills generate landfill gas (LFG) from the decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW)

LFG contains approximately ~55% Methane, ~45% Carbon Dioxide, and small amounts of Non-Methane Organic Compounds (NMOCs)

As such, landfills are major sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other pollutants

But also they have a significant potential for energy recovery and GHG reductions

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CONTRIBUTING GREENHOUSE GASESCONTRIBUTING GREENHOUSE GASES

COCO2266%66%

MethaneMethane18%18%

CFCsCFCs11%11%

NONO225%5%

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ANTHROPOGENIC METHANE EMISSIONSANTHROPOGENIC METHANE EMISSIONS

Global Sources United States Sources

Coal17%

rs

Other37%

Landfills 36%

Other68%

Coal10%

Landfills8%

Natural Gas 14%

Natural Gas 10%

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BREAKDOWN OF PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA

Over 60 operational facilitiesOver 60 operational facilities

Over 20 projects under construction or in Over 20 projects under construction or in the planning phasethe planning phase

Total of approximately 250 MW onTotal of approximately 250 MW on--lineline

Largest single state = about 20% of Largest single state = about 20% of national total national total

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BREAKDOWN (cont.)

Produce electricityProduce electricity ~65 %~65 %

Direct gas endDirect gas end--useuse ~25 %~25 %

Pipeline quality upgradePipeline quality upgrade ~2 %~2 %

Specialized applicationsSpecialized applications ~8% ~8% (e.g., leachate evaporation, vehicle fuel, (e.g., leachate evaporation, vehicle fuel, etc.)etc.)

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LFG COLLECTION AND CONTROL

Required due to air quality Required due to air quality regulations, odor concerns, and/or regulations, odor concerns, and/or LFG migrationLFG migration

Reduces greenhouse gas Reduces greenhouse gas emissionsemissions

LFGTE projects capture energy LFGTE projects capture energy from LFGfrom LFG

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OPTIONS FOR LFGTE PROJECTSOPTIONS FOR LFGTE PROJECTS

Fuel for I.C. engines, gas turbines, or Fuel for I.C. engines, gas turbines, or steam turbines to produce electricitysteam turbines to produce electricityDirect use as a fuel for industrial boilers, Direct use as a fuel for industrial boilers, heaters, etc. heaters, etc. Upgrade to pipeline quality gasUpgrade to pipeline quality gasAlternative usesAlternative uses

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Energy and Emission ReductionEstimates for Typical Landfills

Electric Generating Potential

(MW)

Landfill Size Waste in

Place (MM tons)

Estimated Energy

Available (MM BTU/yr)

Avoided CO2 Emissions (tons/yr)

Typical Technology

0.8-1.0 1.0 100,000 7,000 Reciprocating engines

2.5-5.0 3.0-6.0 300,000 21,000 Reciprocating engines or gas

turbines 5.0-10 6.0-12.0 428,145 42,000 Reciprocating

engines or gas turbines

10.0-20.0 12.0-25.0 856,290 65,700 Gas turbines or steam turbines

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DIRECT GAS SALESDIRECT GAS SALES

Simplest technologySimplest technologyMost costMost cost--effectiveeffectiveGas pumped to nearby customer for use Gas pumped to nearby customer for use in boiler or other industrial equipmentin boiler or other industrial equipmentPipelines up to 15 milesPipelines up to 15 milesBecoming more commonBecoming more common

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DIRECT LFG USE IN A BOILERDIRECT LFG USE IN A BOILER

Industrial Boiler

Industry Hills

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ELECTRICAL GENERATIONELECTRICAL GENERATION

Most prevalentMost prevalentElectricity sold to utility, nearby customer, Electricity sold to utility, nearby customer, or used onor used on--sitesiteSize: 500 kW Size: 500 kW -- 50 MW (microturbines = 50 MW (microturbines = 30 or 70 kW)30 or 70 kW)Capital: $800 Capital: $800 -- $1,200/kW$1,200/kWO&M: 0.9 O&M: 0.9 -- 1.5 cents/kW1.5 cents/kW--hrhr

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I.C. ENGINESI.C. ENGINES

CaterpillarIC Engine Genset

Sacramento

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COMBUSTION GAS TURBINECOMBUSTION GAS TURBINE

Solar Gas Turbine

San Diego

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STEAM TURBINESTEAM TURBINE

Steam Turbine

Whittier

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PIPELINE QUALITY GASPIPELINE QUALITY GAS

Inject into natural gas pipelineInject into natural gas pipelineHigh capital costsHigh capital costsExtensive gas treatment (sulfur, carbon Extensive gas treatment (sulfur, carbon dioxide, and organics removal)dioxide, and organics removal)Conform to strict quality specificationsConform to strict quality specifications

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Pipeline UpgradePipeline Upgrade

High BTU Plant

Los Angeles

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ALTERNATIVE USESALTERNATIVE USES

OnOn--site Use of Gassite Use of GasVehicle Fuel (CNG/LNG)Vehicle Fuel (CNG/LNG)Evaporation of Leachate/CondensateEvaporation of Leachate/CondensateMicroturbinesMicroturbinesFuel CellsFuel Cells

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ALTERNATIVE USE PROJECTSALTERNATIVE USE PROJECTS

CNG Vehicle FuelWhittier, CA

280 kW Microturbine PlantSan Diego

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POTENTIAL OBSTACLESPOTENTIAL OBSTACLESNo extension of Section 29 tax credits (expire No extension of Section 29 tax credits (expire 2002 or 2007)2002 or 2007)No new tax credit under Sections 29 or 45No new tax credit under Sections 29 or 45Bush Administration not signing Kyoto TreatyBush Administration not signing Kyoto TreatyInability to get longInability to get long--term energy contractsterm energy contractsAir quality permitting can be difficultAir quality permitting can be difficultLFG is a “dirty” fuelLFG is a “dirty” fuelLandfills have not always had the best Landfills have not always had the best reputationsreputations

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CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

LFGTE Industry in California has Long History LFGTE Industry in California has Long History of Successof SuccessSmall Size of Projects Makes Economic Small Size of Projects Makes Economic Viability Difficult without Incentives Viability Difficult without Incentives LFG will get Combusted Anyways Creating LFG will get Combusted Anyways Creating Emissions while Wasting MethaneEmissions while Wasting MethaneEven with Environmental Regulations, only a Even with Environmental Regulations, only a Small Quantity of Generated LFG is Being Small Quantity of Generated LFG is Being Collected Collected