Part 3: Conventional andEm erging TechnologyApplications for UtilizingLandfill GasPresented by:

Linda Nutting

SCS Engineers

June 25, 2001

Training W orkshop

Sao Paulo, Brazil

22

Presentation Outline

Direct Gas Use/Sale

Electricity Generation

Pipeline Upgrades

Leachate Evaporation

M icro Turbines

Vehicle Fuel

Fuel Cells

Greenhouses

Other Technologies

Conclusions

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W hy Use Landfill Gas?

Local, available fuel source

Easy to capture and use

Source of renewable energy

Constant supply, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Reliable technologies exist for using landfill gas

Uses a source of energy that otherwise wouldhave been wasted

Helps the environm ent by reducing uncontrolledem issions of landfill gas

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Direct Gas Utilization

Gas piped to a nearbycustom er for use inboiler

118 projects in the US

Pipeline length rangefrom .6 - 5 kilom eters

less than 3km is m ostfeasible

G as used on-site

Cleaver Brooks 20,000 lb/hr Boiler

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Advantages andDisadvantages

AdvantagesSim ple technology

M inim al processing requirem ents

M ost cost effective

DisadvantagesRequires locating a custom erwithin close proxim ity of the landfill

Right of way perm its

Local terrain not conducive topipeline installation

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Costs

US$1.50 (3.57 Real) to $3.50(8.33 Real) per M M Btu,depending on:Pipeline length

Collection system in-place atlandfill

O ther costsBoiler retrofit

Operation and M aintenance

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Electricity GenerationM ost prevalent in the US

In US, 900 M W from over 200operational projects

Electricity sold to utilityor nearby custom er

Average project size:500 kW - 50 M W

TechnologiesInternal Com bustion (IC)Engine, 1-3M W

Gas Turbine, 3-10M W 50 MW Steam Turbine, Peunta Hills LF, CA

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Advantages, Disadvantagesand Costs: IC Engine

Advantageslow costHigh efficiencym ost com m on technology

DisadvantagesProblem s due toparticulate m atter buildup

Corrosion of engine partsand catalystsHigh NOx em issions

CostsUS$1,100-1,300 ($/kW )(2600 - 3100 Real per kW )

Caterpillar 3516 800 kW gensetCaterpillar 3516 800 kW genset

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Advantages, Disadvantagesand Costs: Gas Turbine

AdvantagesCorrosion resistant

Low O&M costs

sm all physical size

Low NOx em issions

DisadvantagesInefficient at part load

High parasitic loads, due to high gascom pression requirem ents

CostsUS$1,200-1,700 ($/kW )

($2800 - 4000 Real per kW )

Solar 3 MW Gas TurbineSolar 3 MW Gas Turbine

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Pipeline Quality GasUpgrade

Gas is upgraded toa m edium or highquality gas product

Injected into anatural gaspipeline

Generally atlandfills withgreater gas flows

11 operationalprojects in the US 0.2 Million m3/day Selexol Plant

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Advantages,Disadvantages and Costs

AdvantagesAll gas recovered from the landfill is usedCost effective for landfills with high volum es of gasBeneficial in areas where natural gas prices are high

DisadvantagesExtensive treatm ent of landfill gas

Additional quality control requirem entsHigher capital costsHigher com pression of gas is required

CostsUS$3.60 to $4.15 per M M Btu ($8.60 to 9.90 Real perM M Btu)

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Leachate Evaporation

Utilize LFG totreat leachate

Com m erciallyavailabletechnology

Units operatingin the US andinternationally

1313

Advantages andDisadvantagesAdvantages

Applicable to landfills thathave lim ited leachatetreatm ent options and highleachate disposal costsProven technologyM eets local air qualityrequirem ents

DisadvantagesM ore expensive thantraditional landfill leachatetreatm ent optionsGenerally applicable tolarger landfill sites

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CostsCapital Cost

10,000 gpd facility:US$295,000 (702,100Real)

20,000 gpd facility:US$485,000 (1,154,000Real)

O&M Cost

10,000 gpd facility:US$70,000 (166,600 Real)

20,000 gpd facility:US$95,000 (226,100 Real)

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Vehicle Fuel

Com pressedlandfill gas (CNG)

Liquefied landfillgas (LNG) -CryoFuels®

Early stages ofcom m ercialdevelopm ent

1616

Advantages andDisadvantagesAdvantages

LNG/CNG price lowerthan diesel fuel costReduction in use offossil fuels

Reduce local ozonepollution

DisadvantagesVery sm all percentage ofalternative-fuel vehiclesVehicle conversion costsLim ited track record ofperform ance

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CostsRetrofit vehicles= $3,500 to$4,000 (8,300 to9500 Real) pervehicle

Fueling station =$1,000,000(2,380,000 Real)

Fuel price = $.48to $1.26 (1.15 to3.50 Real) pergallon

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M icro Turbines

A high speed turbo-charged generatorthat producesstationary power

Has been used inaviation for som etim e

Available in sizesranging between25kW to 75 kW

Allied Signal Parallon 75

1919

Advantages andDisadvantages

AdvantagesLow em issionsM ultiple fuel capabilityLight weight/sm all sizeDoes not require any pretreatm ent of the fuelLower m aintenance costs

DisadvantagesLow efficiencies

Has been tested m ostly for natural gasapplications

Lim ited track record of perform ance

2020

Costs

Capital Cost$700 to $1200 (1660 to 3350Real) per kW

Cost is expected to reduceto half in the next five years

O &M Cost< $0.01 (0.02 Real) per kW h

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Fuel Cells

Chem icallyconvert gas toelectricity

Dem onstrationphasetechnology

Northeast Utilities 200 kW Fuel Cell

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Advantages

AdvantagesLow em issions

Reduction in use of fossil fuels

DisadvantagesHigh cost

Lim ited track record of perform ance

2323

Costs

Approxim ately $3,000 (7140 Real)per kW

200 kW dem onstration unit atCalifornia landfill = US$1.5 m illion(3,500,000 Real)

2424

Greenhouses

Applicable tosm aller landfills

Produce highpurity carbondioxide

Greenhouse

2525

Advantages andDisadvantages

AdvantagesM eets energy needs of greenhouse

Increasing com petition and shrinking profitm argins shifts focus to energy efficiency

Cost effective production of warm weathercrops in otherwise cost-prohibitive growingseasons

DisadvantagesRequires locating a greenhouse in closeproxim ity of a landfill

Seasonal variability

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Costs

A project in the U.S. estim ated thatit costs US$4.80 (11.40 Real) perM M Btu

Lim ited cost inform ation isavailable

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Technologies of the Future

Therm al HybridElectric (THE)Sun Dish

Dual “fuel”Stirling-cycleengineCom bines solarand LFG powerResearch anddevelopm entscale technology

2828

Advantages andDisadvantages

AdvantagesHigh-efficiency solar system

Low em issions

Reduction in use of fossil fuels

DisadvantagesHigh cost

Lim ited track record ofperform ance

Only suitable for certain locations

Sm all output capacity

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Costs

Notcom m erciallyavailable atthis tim e

3030

Sum m ary

M any ways to beneficially utilize LFG

Available niche technologies range fromresearch and developm ent stage units tocom m ercially available system s

Technologies exist for low and highvolum es of LFG production

Selection of technology is projectspecific

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Sum m ary, continued… .

Key SelectionConsiderationsInclude:

Environm entalperform ance

Reliability

Accuracy ofassum ptions

Perm itting issues– em issions

Cost