LANDFILLS AS AN ECONOMIC RESOURCE

Transcription

1 LANDFILLS AS AN ECONOMIC RESOURCE Chad Leatherwood, P.E. SCS Engineers Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) APWA Public Works Congress and Exhibition San Antonio, Texas. September 10, Agenda LMOP and LFG 101 Uses of LFG Applications of LFG for municipalities Benefits of LFG use How can LMOP provide assistance?

2 Why EPA is Concerned About Landfill Gas Methane is a potent heat-trapping gas Landfills are the largest human-made source of methane in the United States, accounting for 24% generated in 2005 There are many cost-effective options for reducing methane emissions while generating energy Projects reduce local air pollution and create jobs, revenues, and cost savings EPA s s Landfill Methane Outreach Program Established in 1994 Voluntary program that creates alliances among states, energy users/providers, the landfill gas industry, and communities Mission: To reduce methane emissions by lowering barriers and promoting the development of cost-effective and environmentally beneficial landfill gas energy (LFGE) projects.

3 Modern Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Source: Modern Landfills: A Far Cry From the Past, NSWMA 2006 Landfill Gas 101 Landfill gas (LFG) is a by-product of the decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW): ~ 50% methane (CH 4 ) ~ 50% carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) <1% non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) For every 1 million tons of MSW: ~ 0.8 MW of electricity ~ 432,000 cubic feet per day of LFG If uncontrolled, LFG contributes to smog and global warming, and may cause health and safety concerns

4 Landfill Gas and Green Power A Winning Combination Dual benefit destroys methane and other organic compounds in LFG Offsets use of nonrenewable resources (coal, oil, gas) reducing emissions of SO 2, NO X, PM, and CO 2 LFGE is a recognized renewable energy resource Green-e, EPA Green Power Partnership, 24 states, Sierra Club, NRDC LFG is generated 24/7 and projects have online reliability over 90% LFG can act as a long-term price and volatility hedge against fossil fuels

5 LFG Has Been Used to Help Produce Aluminum Alternative fuels (biodiesel, CNG, ethanol, and LNG) Aquaculture (e.g., tilapia) Arts & crafts (blacksmithing, ceramics, and glass) Biosolids (drying) Bricks and concrete Carpet Cars and trucks Chemicals Chocolate Consumer goods and containers Denim Electronics Fiberglass, nylon, and paper Furthering space exploration Garden plants Green power Ice cream, milk, and tea Infrared heat Juice (apple, cranberry, and orange) Pharmaceuticals Pierogies and snack food Soy-based products Steel Tomatoes (hydroponic) Taxpayer savings and increased sustainability! State of the National LFGE Industry (Apr 07) At least 424 operational projects in 42 states supplying: 10 billion kilowatt hours of electricity and 75 billion cubic feet of LFG to direct-use applications in 2006 Estimated Annual Environmental Benefits Planting ~20,000,000 acres of forest, or Preventing the use of ~170,000,000 barrels of oil, or Removing emissions equivalent to ~14,000,000 vehicles Estimated Annual Energy Benefit Powering over 780,000 homesand heating nearly 518,000 homes

6 Landfill Gas Energy Projects and Candidate Landfills * (*Landfill is accepting waste or has been closed for 5 years or less and has at least 1 mmtons of waste and does not have an operational/under construction LFGE project; or is designated based on actual interest/planning.) Technology Trends Electricity Projects Reciprocating Engine Gas Turbine Cogeneration Microturbine Steam Turbine Combined Cycle Organic Rankine Cycle Operational Projects Under Construction and Planned Projects Number of Projects

7 Diversity of Project Types Electricity Generation Internal Combustion Engine (range from 100 kw to 3 MW) Gas Turbine (range from 800 kw to 10.5 MW) Microturbine (range from 30 kw to 250 kw) Technology Trends Direct-Use Projects Boiler Direct Thermal Leachate Evaporation High Btu Greenhouse Alternative Fuel Medium Btu Liquefied Natural Gas Methanol Synthesis Operational Projects Under Construction and Planned Projects Number of Projects

8 Diversity of Project Types Direct-Use of LFG Direct-use projects are growing! Boiler applications replace natural gas, coal, fuel oil Combined heat & power (CHP) Direct thermal (dryers, kilns) Natural gas pipeline injection Medium & high Btu Greenhouse Leachate evaporation Vehicle fuel (LNG, CNG) Artist studio Hydroponics Aquaculture (fish farming) Pottery Studio Sugar Grove, NC Greenhouse Burlington, NJ LFG-fired Boiler Ft. Wayne, IN Municipalities use LFG for: Space heating at maintenance facilities Production of biofuels Supplying electrical and steam demand Sludge drying operations at WWTP s

9 Infrared Space Heaters Fairfax and Frederick Co. VA installed and operate LFG-fired space heaters Savings of >$5,000/year in heating costs. Emerging Technologies: LFG for Vehicle Fuel City of Denton, TX uses LFG to fuel a 3 million gal/yr biodiesel production facility Los Angeles, CA converts LFG into CNG to fuel landfill equipment (Puente Hills LF) Orange Co, CA 1 st commercial LFG-to-LNG facility online Jan. 07 used in county waste trucks (Frank R. BowermanLF)

10 Emerging Technologies: LFG for Vehicle Fuel (cont) Central LF, CA plans to convert LFG to CNG to fuel Sonoma County school buses Franklin Co, OH is in the process of using LFG to produce methanol as a feedstock for biodiesel Waste Management in CA plans to produce 10-20K gal LNG per day for garbage trucks Direct-Use Case Study City of Denton Landfill, TX and Biodiesel Industries One renewable fuel fuels another LFG from city landfill used in industrial process to convert renewable feedstock, vegetable oils, and animal fats into 3 million gal/yr of biodiesel City garbage trucks and other utility vehicles are fueled by 80% diesel / 20% biodiesel (B20) Improves regional air quality Stimulates local economic development Reduces dependence on foreign oil 2005 LMOP Award Winner

11 Direct-Use Case Study Jackson County Green Energy Park Sylva, NC Antioch, IL Community High School CHP Project First school cogeneration (CHP) project using LFG ½ mile pipeline from HOD Landfill 12 Capstone MicroTurbines with 360 kw total electrical generation capacity Each microturbine exhausts 300,000 BTU/hr at 550 o F Exhaust used for space heating and/or additional electrical output School expects to save $100,000/yr

12 Potential LFG Revenue Electric projects Sale of electricity (4-6 cents/kwh) Sale of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) Premium pricing for renewables through RPS/RPG or voluntary green power markets Tax credits & incentives Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) Direct-use projects Sale of LFG (~$4.50 per MMBtu) Both Greenhouse gas emissions trading Energy cost savings Local economic growth Jobs and Revenue Creation A typical 3 MW LFG electricity project is estimated to have the following benefits (direct, indirect, and induced) during the construction year: Increase the output of the national economy by ~$14 million ($3 million of which is a local benefit and mostly employee earnings) Employ nearly 70 people nationally (expressed in full-time equivalents [FTE] per year)

13 Jobs and Revenue Creation (cont.) A typical 1,040 scfm LFG direct-use project is estimated to have the following benefits (direct, indirect, and induced) during the construction year: Increase output of national economy 5-mile pipeline $6 million 10-mile pipeline $12 million Portion of national benefit at local level People employed nationally (FTE) $2 million 43 $4 million 80

14 Look Who s s Talking About Landfill Gas! There Are Still Many Untapped LFG Resources Currently ~560 candidate landfills with a total gas generation potential of 700 million cubic feet per day (~14,800 MMBtu/hr) OR electric potential of 1,370 MW (~11 million MWh/yr) If projects were developed at all these landfills, estimated Annual Environmental Benefit = Planting ~16 million acres of forest OR removing the emissions from ~11 million vehicles on the road, and Annual Energy Benefit = Powering 870,000 homes OR heating 1.5 million homes per year

15 There Are Still Many Untapped LFG Resources (cont.) ~490 landfills have a gas collection system but no energy project Potential of 300,000 MMBtu/day or 1,000 MW ~100 landfills have an energy project and excess LFG available Potential of 68,000 MMBtu/day or 240 MW ~1,000 landfills do not have a gas collection system Potential of 240,000 MMBtu/day or 850 MW LMOP Partner Tools and Services Partnerships (over 620) and networking Newsletter and listserv Direct project assistance Feasibility studies, end user searches Technical assistance resource LFG advocate PR/Ribbon cuttings EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson Jenkins Brick LFGE Project Grand Opening Moody, Alabama October 2006

16 How Can We Work Together? Direct Project Assistance Analyze landfill resource gas modeling Identify potential matches LMOP Locator Assess landfill and end user facilities Look at project possibilities Direct-use (boiler, heating, cooling, direct thermal) Combined Heat & Power (engine, turbine, microturbine) Electric (engine, turbine, microturbine) Alternative Fuels (medium or high Btu, LNG, CNG) Initial feasibility analyses LFGcost Analyze Landfill Resource Indian River County Landfill LFG Production and Recovery (scfm) Production Recovery Year

17 Identify Potential Matches LMOP Partner Recruitment Tools and Services Project and Candidate Landfill Database Green Pricing Accreditation Involvement State Workshops/Conferences Working with State Partners & other key organizations Peer Matching Web Site (e.g., publications, software, database) LMOP 11 th Annual Conference, Project Expo & Partner Awards January 9-10, 2008 in Washington, DC

18 For More Information T2 North: Brian T3: Brian AK OR WA CA NV ID MT UT AZ WY CO NM ND SD NE KS OK TX MN IA MO AR LA WI IL MS MI PA OH IN WV KY VA TN NC SC AL GA FL VI NY MD PR DE NJ NH VT CT RI ME MA T1: Rachel T2 South: Victoria HI Brian Guzzone (202) Rachel Goldstein (202) Victoria Ludwig (202)