Introduction to Landfill GasUse and the U.S. Landfill GasIndustry

Presented By:

Shelley CohenU.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Landfill M ethane Outreach Program (LM OP)

June 25, 2001

Training W orkshop

Sao Paulo, Brazil

22

Presentation Outline

Global W aste M anagem ent Trends

Overview of Landfill Gas

Benefits of Utilizing Landfill Gas

US Policies and Program s Affecting theLandfill Gas Industry

Future of the LFG industry

The US EPA’ s Landfill M ethane OutreachProgram

33

Global W aste M anagem entTrends...

Global TrendsIncrease in per capita wastegeneration rates

Increase in total waste quantities

44

… and problem s

Lack of waste collection and m anagem entinfrastructure

Lack of available andsuitable disposalfacilities

Lack of basicinform ation onsolid waste

55

Im pacts of Increasing W aste

Hum an HealthDisease

Fum es

Environm entAir Quality

W ater Quality

Land Use

VegetativeDistress

66

Solutions for Dealing withW aste

Integrated Solid W aste M anagem entReduce waste produced

Reuse/Recycle

Determ ine DisposalM ethods

Landfilling

Com posting

Other

Be aware: creating m anaged landfill sites willincrease landfill gas em issions

77

W hat is Landfill Gas?

hLandfill Gas (LFG) is created when wastein a landfill decomposes under anaerobic-- or oxygen free -- conditions

hLFG is approximately:50% methane45% carbon dioxide5% Non-methaneOrganic Compounds(NMOCs)

Carbon Dioxide

45%

Air toxins5%

Methane50%

88

Uncontrolled Landfill GasConcerns

SafetyFire

Explosion

Asphyxiation

Air QualityNM OC em issionscontribute to sm og

Odor

Greenhouse gasem issions

99

Landfill Gas Generation

Generated for years, depending oncertain factors:waste com position

waste quantity

m oisture content

pH

m anagem ent of waste

others

After a landfill stops receiving waste,m ethane generation will decline

01020304050607080

Time

MethaneGenerationCurve

Landfill Closes

1010

Clim ate Change:Contributing Gases

CO 2

66%

M ethane18%

NO 2

5%

Source: IPCC (1990)

CFCs/PFCs11%

1111

W hy Reduce LFG Em issions

Using landfill gas reduces em issions ofm ethane, a potent green house gas, andbenefits the environm ent

M ethane is 21 tim es m ore potent than carbondioxide (CO 2)

G lobal em issions will increase as developingcountries im prove landfilling practices

1212

W ays to Reduce Landfill GasEm issions

Flaring

Using Landfill Gas for Energy

Landfill Gas, when used forenergy, actually rem ovespollution from the air

1313

W hat can you do withLandfill Gas?W hat can you do withLandfill Gas?

Landfill Gas UsesElectric generationDirect useEmerging technologies

GreenhousesVehicle FuelMicroturbinesHigh Btu UpgradesLeachate TreatmentOn-site uses

1414

Environm ental and Econom icBenefits of Using Landfill Gash Reduce air toxins which contribute to local airpollution

h Im prove overall m anagem ent of the landfill site

h Reduce Odor

h Reduce explosions and fires at the landfill

h Im prove safety in the surrounding areas

h Lower em issions from displacing coal or oil

h Revenue m ay be generated from the sale of the gas

h Source of “Renewable” or “Green” Energy

h Projects are able to be replicated internationally

1515

State of the US Landfill GasIndustry

LFG project developm ent started in the US in the1970s

86 operational projects in 1990

142 operational in 1995

The LFG Industry is thriving330 Operational Projects57 Projects Under Construction153 Planned Projects

G reat potential for future project developm entApproxim ately 550 landfills could econom ically developa landfill gas recovery project

1616

State of the US Landfill GasIndustry

The industry has thrived since 1990

If all planned projects m ove forward, theLM OP expects410-430 operational projects by 2002

480-500 operational projects by 2005

1717

Growth in LFG UtilizationProjects in the US

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999

NSPS/EG

Non-NSPS/EG

Pre-NSPS/EG

1818

New LFG Projects Per Yearin the US

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

43 in2000

1919

Technology Trends at USLandfill Gas Projects

Count Capacity (MW) Count Capacity (MW) Count Capacity (MW)Reciprocating Engine 173 536 35 118 58 168Gas Turbine 27 157 1 15 - -Steam Turbine 8 125 - - - -Combined Cycle 6 67 - - - -Cogeneration 2 8 - - 1 1Fuel Cell 1 <1 - - - -Microturbine 1 <1 - - - -

TOTALS 218 893 36 133 59 169

Operating Projects Projects Under Construction Planned ProjectsUtilization Technology

& Currently 2/3 of operational project generate electricity& Operation projects represent alm ost 900 M W& Potential for 95 projects

2020

Technology Trends at USLandfill Gas Projects

Trend toward m ore direct-use projects21 operational in 1990112 operational in 2001Projects slated to double to 225

Utilization Technology

Operating Projects

Projects Under Construction

Planned Projects

Direct Thermal 31 7 26Boiler 26 1 5Leachate Evaporation 19 3 4High Btu 15 6 7Medium Btu 9 3 2Greenhouse 5 - 4Liquefied Natural Gas 1 - -Vehicle Fuel 1 - 1Methanol Synthesis - - 1Unknow n 5 1 44

TOTALS 112 21 94

2121

Technology Trends:1991 Through 2000

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1991-1992 1993-1994 1995-1996 1997-1998 1999-2000

Year

Recip. Engine - ElectricityGas Turbine - ElectricityOther - ElectricityDirect - Therm alBoiler - Therm alOther - Therm al

19 27 30 86 80Num ber of Projects

Percent

2222

Sum m ary of TechnologyTrends

Growth in Direct Use Projects

Greater Diversity in Project Types

LFG utilization is proven, cost effective, andsuccessful

Selection of technology is site specific

Technologies exist for low and high volum es ofLFG production

Niche technologies are gaining popularity, butare slow to em erge

2323

Trends Affecting the USLandfill Gas Industry

2424

Energy Supply

The current US energy situation is likely toincrease the com petitiveness of LFGRecent energy shortages

Rising natural gas prices

Growing awareness that renewable energycould be an econom ically viable alternative toconventional fuel

2525

WA MT

IDOR

NV

CA

AK

WY

UT CO

NMAZ

ND

TX

OK

KS

NE

SD

MN

IA

MO

IL

WI

MI

IN OH

KY

TNAR

LAMS AL

GA

SC

NC

WV

PA

NY

ME

FL

MDVADE

NJCT RI

MA

VTNH

HI

DC

Utility Restructuring

11 restructured states include renewableportfolio standards (RPS) as part of theirpower portfolioRPS m ay increasedem and forrenewable sources,including LFGTexas: 2000 M W

by 2009Reliant: 44 M W

2626

Green Power/Green Pricing

A recognized renewable resource

Am ong the m ost cost-com petitiveof renewable resource options

Green pricing opportunitiesAt least 80 utilities have developedor plan to develop green pricingprogram s

Custom ers are willing to payfor green power

2727

Alternative Financing Options

New state/local econom ic incentives haveem erged to help offset project costs

GrantsLow-interest loansTax credits

Project partners have diversified their fundingsources and rely less on direct project revenues

Som e federal program are still offeringgrants/loans

2828

Em issions Credits

In the US, projects are reporting em issionsreductions from their projectscreate record of reductions

prepare for trading possibilities

International Trades for Em issionsReductions CreditsZAPCO/Ontario Power

New Jersey/Netherlands

2929

Innovative Ideas

Renewable energy parksLFG developers considering the co-locating PVpanels, fuel cells, and wind turbines at landfills

Photos courtesy of NREL

3030

Innovative Ideas

New technologies and applications m akelandfill gas projects at sm aller landfillsm ore feasibleM icroturbines

Greenhouses

GreenhouseBurlington, NJ

M icroturbineCourtesy of Capstone M icroturbines

3131

Innovative Ideas

Project EfficiencyExam ine ways to extract gas m ore effectivelyfrom the landfill

M ore gas extraction, greater profitsAdditional wells

Replacing wells

W ell cleaning

3232

The US EPA ’ s LandfillM ethane Outreach Program

W hat is the LM OP?Voluntary Partnership Program

W hat do we do?Help overcom e barriers to project developm ent

W ork hand-in-hand with regulations

Provide products and services

Create partnership and networking opportunities

3333

Let the LM OP Help

Technical informationProject Development HandbookTechnical Fact Sheets

Technical AssistanceAssistance tailored toindividual landfill needs

Networking OpportunitiesWorkshopsNewsletters

Marketing Assistance

3434

Dom estic Activities

LM OP assisted indevelopm ent of over170 LFGTE projects

Currently LFGTEprojects haveprevented m ethaneem ission equivalent to:

Planting 3 m illion acres offorest

Rem oving 2 m illion carsfrom the road

3535

International Activities

Bangkok,Thailand

M anila, thePhilippines

Anshan, China

Other CountriesM exico

Russia

Brazil

3636

International Assistance

hThree types of Support:h Training and on-site technical support:

h Assist with project identification, assessment, design, end-user identification, and development

h Financing:h Work with international agencies and the private sector to

locate appropriate financing

h Outreach:h Work with project partners to communicate project benefits

on local and national levels

3737

Contact Inform ation

Shelley Cohen202.564.9797, cohen.shelley@epa.gov

5th Annual LMOP Conference &Project Expo-- December 12-14, 2001-- Washington, DCWatch the web site for more information

www.epa.gov/lmop