Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team

Transcription

1 Northwest Clean Energy Resource Team Landfill Gas Utilization Energy & Environmental Research Center Grand Forks, North Dakota April 27, 2006

2 Benefits of LFG Energy Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are the largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States. In 2001, MSW landfills released an estimated 55 MMTCE to the atmosphere. Approximately 2500 currently operating or recently closed MSW landfills in the United States and fewer than 400 have landfill gas (LFG) utilization projects.

3 LFG Energy Projects Directly reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and offsets the use of nonrenewable resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Many cost-effective options for reducing methane emissions while generating energy. A typical LFG project will capture roughly 60% 90% of the methane emitted from the landfill. Indirectly reduces air pollution by offsetting the use of nonrenewable resources. Benefits the local economy by creating jobs and revenues and reducing environmental compliance costs.

4 LFG Energy Projects There are hundreds of MSW landfills with between 1 and 3 million tons of waste in place across the nation. These smaller landfills are often overlooked as candidates for landfill gas-to-energy, yet they offer tremendous energy potential. Less than 200 of the nation s operating LFGTE projects are small landfill sites that have captured this energy potential through innovative project design.

5 LFG Energy Project Development Steps 1. Estimate LFG recovery potential perform feasibility study 2. Evaluate project economics 3. Establish project structure 4. Draft development contract 5. Assess financing options 6. Negotiate energy sales contract 7. Secure permits and approvals 8. Contract for engineering, procurement and construction, and operation and maintenance services 9. Install project and start-up commercial operation

6 LFG Energy Project Development Steps 1. Estimate LFG Recovery Potential Feasibility Study A feasibility study looks at gas collection, gas quality testing, gas volume simulations, treatment, and use technologies. Desired Landfill Characteristics: Landfill must contain MSW. Landfill has at least 1 million tons of MSW in place. Landfill is at least 30 feet deep. Site receives greater than 25 inches of rainfall annually.

7 LFG Energy Project Development Steps 2. Evaluate Project Economics Identify End Users/Sales On-site use (for gas and electricity). Nearby direct gas use (sale to industrial end users, such as boilers and kilns). Electricity use potential. Sales to nearby customers or gas utility. Specialty use (vehicle fuel).

8 Capital Cost of a 1 3-MW LFG Utilization Project Item Range Typical Percent Collection system $200,000 $1,000,000 $ 200, Administrative $30,000 $1,000,000 $ 30,000 2 Interconnect Cost $20,000 $500,000 $ 75,000 5 Generating Equipment $500,000 $2,000,000 $ 970, Contingency $ 225, TOTAL $850,000 $4,500,000 $1,500, LFG recovery projects have an estimated economic life of 10 or 20 years (dry climate projects). Typical contracts with the landfill owners range from 10 to 30 years. The economic life for debt service is often estimated at 10 years for the return on investment (ROI).

9 Grand Forks Landfill Site Funded jointly by the EERC s Center for Biomass Utilization and the city of Grand Forks. The city of Grand Forks Landfill site has potential benefits to the community, including turning the landfill into a good neighbor, helping the environment, and utilizing a local low-cost energy source that would otherwise be wasted.

10 Project Partners Current City of Grand Forks, ND Providing access to the landfill site and all the biogas we need. Applied Filter Technology, Inc. Partner in development of new biogas cleanup technology and power generation package.

11 Project Goals Evaluate the Grand Forks landfill site for gas production, and determine the most costeffective and efficient method to prepare the gas for combined heat/power (microturbine) use.

12 Project Objectives Develop the Basic Landfill Site Parameters Conduct a preliminary assessment (feasibility study) of the landfill site for gas production, and determine if the proposed gas recovery project will work at this site. Develop the Basic LFG Characteristics Use the existing passive well network to develop the gas extraction site plan, sample the gas, and develop a gas quantity and quality profile for the landfill site.

13 Project Objectives Investigate Gas Treatment Systems Investigate current technologies to clean and prepare the gas for microturbine use by removal of moisture, siloxane, CO 2, and other gases. Determine the most cost-effective and efficient technologies for this site. Develop the Microturbine Power Generation Plan Develop and deliver an overall ROI for a power or a combined heat/power (CHP) system, including the potential environmental, economic, and energy benefits to the city.

14 Current Project Status Preliminary gas analysis indicates: 52% methane 47% CO Btu/scf Preliminary site profile indicates: million tons of waste in place scfm/day gas production potential 1 2-MW gross power generation potential

15 Work in Progress Detailed LFG analyses will be conducted within the next month on three of the five closed phases. Analyses will include: Complete siloxane compound determination Total biogas volatile organic compound (VOC) scan Major fuel components Work closely with the city of Grand Forks to develop this site as a demonstration site for a new gas cleanup technology that will more efficiently remove siloxanes and VOCs from the gas stream for more economical power generation.

16 New Gas Cleanup Technology AFT, Inc., SWOP process is a very new technology which combines gas chilling with an in-place regenerable fluidization concept to clean LFG using the gas itself. Traditional technology (filters and chilling) has high initial capital, operations, and maintenance costs $145 $225 per scfm. The new SWOP technology, with gas chilling, will be about $115 per scfm.

17 Introduction of SWOP Technology In 2004, AFT introduced SWOP regenerable technology for lower-cost landfill gas processing. The process uses its own gas to process at a very low parasitic load.

18 Biogas Treatment Cost Reduction Strategies KNOCKOUT GAS CONDITIONING PURIFIED GAS PARTICULATE FILTER BOOSTER BOOSTER SWOP PROCESS SAG VESSEL GAS REHEAT

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20 New Gas Cleanup Technology The new SWOP process is targeting the energy potential from the 0.5- to 3-MW LFG sites. Pollutants are reduced from methane and CO 2 release almost to zero because the gas is captured and reused. Trace VOCs are reinjected to the landfill site. Local municipal agencies, private solid waste companies, and engine/turbine developers are looking at the SWOP process to lower LFG use costs and shorten the ROI period.