Landfill Gas UtilizationLandfill Gas UtilizationMinnesota Closed Landfill Program PerspectiveMinnesota Closed Landfill Program Perspective

Tom Newman Tom Newman ---- April 27, 2006April 27, 2006

Components of Landfill GasComponents of Landfill Gasnn 1% of LFG = 1% of LFG = Volatile Volatile

Organic Compounds Organic Compounds (VOC).(VOC).

nn Methane is:Methane is:* Odorless.* Odorless.* Major Component of * Major Component of

Natural Gas.Natural Gas.* Formed by Anaerobic* Formed by Anaerobic

Digestion of Organics.Digestion of Organics.

Landfills are Landfills are thethe Major Source of Major Source of Methane Emissions in U.S.Methane Emissions in U.S.

nn Methane (a greenhouse gas) Methane (a greenhouse gas) has 23 times Atmospherichas 23 times AtmosphericHeat Retention Capability Heat Retention Capability as CO2.as CO2.nn “Other” = Wastewater “Other” = Wastewater

Sludge, Peat Bogs.Sludge, Peat Bogs.nn “Other” Examples:“Other” Examples:

Albert Lea (Sludge)Albert Lea (Sludge)Haubenschild (Manure). Haubenschild (Manure). Processed Potatoes, Inc.Processed Potatoes, Inc.(Ag. Products).(Ag. Products).

112 Closed 112 Closed LandfillsLandfills

nn 109 qualified landfills109 qualified landfillscurrently in CLP.currently in CLP.

nn State owns gas rightsState owns gas rightsat 107 landfills. at 107 landfills.

Location of 21 Open LandfillsLocation of 21 Open Landfills

nn 15 of these “open” 15 of these “open” (still accepting(still acceptingwaste) landfills arewaste) landfills aremunicipally municipally owned. owned.

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Mar-Kit

Rice Co.Lyon Co.

Clay Co.

Polk Co.

Brown Co.

Pine Bend

Kandiyohi Co.

Elk River

Nobles

Steele Co.

BurnsvilleRenville Co.

Spruce Ridge

East Central

Crow Wing Co.

St. Louis Co.

Cottonwood Co. Blue Earth Co.

Greater Morrison

Olmsted Co. - Kalmar

Idealized LF Gas to Electricity Idealized LF Gas to Electricity Operation (The Finished Product)Operation (The Finished Product)

* CLP Landfills * CLP Landfills are “Unlined”.are “Unlined”.

* MN Landfills are* MN Landfills are“Dry Tomb” type.“Dry Tomb” type.

* Active gas * Active gas systems installed systems installed at closed at closed LFsLFs of of more than 1 more than 1 million cu. million cu. ydsydswaste.waste.

Landfill Cover DesignLandfill Cover Design

* Average Cost to install a * Average Cost to install a Landfill Cover is $100,000 Landfill Cover is $100,000 --$120,000/acre$120,000/acre..

Landfill Gas Collection SystemLandfill Gas Collection System* Average Cost to install * Average Cost to install Active Gas System is 50¢Active Gas System is 50¢--$1/cu. yd. waste.$1/cu. yd. waste.

Landfill Gas Flaring SystemsLandfill Gas Flaring Systems* Average Cost of O&M of Active Gas * Average Cost of O&M of Active Gas System = $75,000 System = $75,000 -- $100,000/year.$100,000/year.

Common LFG to Electric Common LFG to Electric Generators Generators

BothBoth* Require Contaminant Free Gas.* Require Contaminant Free Gas.* Diesel Requires Large Gas Flow.* Diesel Requires Large Gas Flow.* Efficiency: Elec. * Efficiency: Elec. ~~ 35%, CHP 35%, CHP ~ 75%~ 75%..MicroturbineMicroturbine

Diesel EngineDiesel Engine

Microturbine install cost Microturbine install cost (30kW)= $1,000(30kW)= $1,000--$2,000/kW.$2,000/kW.

Diesel install cost (1MW) = Diesel install cost (1MW) = $250$250--$600/kW$600/kW

Innovative Electric Generator Innovative Electric Generator Used for LFGTE GenerationUsed for LFGTE Generation

Stirling EngineStirling Engine* External * External Combustion.Combustion.* Minimal Gas * Minimal Gas Cleanup.Cleanup.* Low Maintenance.* Low Maintenance.* Efficiency: * Efficiency: Elec.Elec.~ ~ 35%, 35%, CHP CHP ~ 80%~ 80%.. Stirling Cycle EngineStirling Cycle Engine

Stirling install cost (55kW) =Stirling install cost (55kW) =$800$800--$1,500/kW$1,500/kW

Location of CLP Location of CLP Active Gas Active Gas Extraction Extraction Systems Systems

* 12 in Metro Counties.* 12 in Metro Counties.* 10 in Greater MN.* 10 in Greater MN.

* Possibly 12 CLP* Possibly 12 CLPLFs may support GTE.LFs may support GTE.

Minnesota is a National Leader in Minnesota is a National Leader in the Use of Renewable Energythe Use of Renewable Energy

Landfill GasLandfill Gas

BiogasBiogas

WindWind

Biomass (Including LF Gas) Projected Biomass (Including LF Gas) Projected to Increase from 3.2% (2003) to to Increase from 3.2% (2003) to

5.5% (2015)5.5% (2015)

Wind is VariableWind is Variable

OneOne--second resolution of Wind Power second resolution of Wind Power Viability over One Viability over One Month.Month.

Landfill Gas Generation is Stable but Landfill Gas Generation is Stable but Decreases Over TimeDecreases Over Time

* Production of * Production of LFG Peaks at LFG Peaks at LF Closing.LF Closing.

* Production of * Production of LFG Steadily LFG Steadily Declines after Declines after Closure.Closure.

Current LFGTE Operations in MNCurrent LFGTE Operations in MNnn Three Landfills: Utilization Three Landfills: Utilization –– Electricity.Electricity.

nn Pine Bend……….12.0MW (Open)Pine Bend……….12.0MW (Open)nn Burnsville………… 4.2MW (Open)Burnsville………… 4.2MW (Open)nn Elk River……………3.2MW (Open)Elk River……………3.2MW (Open)

Total 19.4MWTotal 19.4MW

nn Wisconsin has over 20 LFGTE Systems in Wisconsin has over 20 LFGTE Systems in Operation (~60Operation (~60--80MW).80MW).

NearNear--term Projected LFGTE term Projected LFGTE Operations in MNOperations in MN

Open Landfills:Open Landfills:nn Crow Wing Co………….BioCrow Wing Co………….Bio--reactor Pilotreactor Pilotnn Spruce Ridge……………BioSpruce Ridge……………Bio--reactor Pilotreactor Pilot

Closed Landfills:Closed Landfills:nn Anoka/Ramsey…………1.6MW (Diesel)Anoka/Ramsey…………1.6MW (Diesel)nn WDE………………………….220kW (CLP Pilot)WDE………………………….220kW (CLP Pilot)nn Louisville…………………Request for Proposal/Commercial Development.Louisville…………………Request for Proposal/Commercial Development.

nn CLP Promoting “Direct Use” at Louisville Because this “RecyclesCLP Promoting “Direct Use” at Louisville Because this “Recycles””More of Landfill Gas BTU.More of Landfill Gas BTU.

Potential Electric Production From Potential Electric Production From LF Gas to Electric in MNLF Gas to Electric in MN

nn 13 Closed Landfills ………… 11MW(est.)13 Closed Landfills ………… 11MW(est.)nn 11 Open Landfills (no gas). 15MW(est.)11 Open Landfills (no gas). 15MW(est.)nn Current Total (3 LFs)………… Current Total (3 LFs)………… 19.419.4MW (Actual) MW (Actual)

~45 MW of~45 MW ofBaseload, Distributed, RenewableBaseload, Distributed, Renewable

Energy.Energy.

Promoting More LFGTE.Promoting More LFGTE.

State Legislation Promotes LFG State Legislation Promotes LFG as Renewable Fuelas Renewable Fuel

LFG Defined as Renewable Energy.LFG Defined as Renewable Energy.(Minn. Stat. (Minn. Stat. §§ 216B.2422, subd. 1)216B.2422, subd. 1)

By 2010, Utilities By 2010, Utilities are are ““EncouragedEncouraged”” to to Generate 1% Electric Generate 1% Electric from Biomass (LFG)from Biomass (LFG)..(Minn. Stat. (Minn. Stat. §§ 216B.1691, subd. 2)216B.1691, subd. 2)

Federal Energy Policy Act (2005) Federal Energy Policy Act (2005) Promotes LFG as Renewable FuelPromotes LFG as Renewable Fuel

* Renewable Energy Production Credit.* Renewable Energy Production Credit.(Section 45 (0.9(Section 45 (0.9¢¢/kWh))/kWh))

* Clean Renewable* Clean RenewableEnergy Bonds (Energy Bonds (CREBsCREBs).).

* Renewable Energy * Renewable Energy Production Incentive. Production Incentive. (60/40 tier (60/40 tier ½½ split)split)

Wind and Biogas (not LFG) Usage Wind and Biogas (not LFG) Usage are Supported by State Subsidiesare Supported by State Subsidies

Wind Energy Conversion Systems Wind Energy Conversion Systems are exempt from sales & use taxes.are exempt from sales & use taxes.

Wind & Biogas receive aWind & Biogas receive a1.51.5¢¢//kWh Renewable kWh Renewable Energy Production Credit.Energy Production Credit.

MPCA Examining Promotion of MPCA Examining Promotion of More LFGTE Through:More LFGTE Through:

nn Require Installation of Active Gas Collection Require Installation of Active Gas Collection and LFG Systems at Open Landfills Containing and LFG Systems at Open Landfills Containing less than the 5 million cu. yds. waste as less than the 5 million cu. yds. waste as required by Federal Law.required by Federal Law.

nn Lead by Example: InstallLead by Example: InstallLFGTE at Closed LFs where LFGTE at Closed LFs where Economically Feasible. Economically Feasible.

LFGTE AdvantagesLFGTE Advantages

LFGTE AdvantagesLFGTE Advantages

Destroys Greenhouse GasesDestroys Greenhouse Gases

Domestic Renewable Domestic Renewable Energy SourceEnergy Source

LFGTE AdvantagesLFGTE Advantages

Community Based Renewable Energy.Community Based Renewable Energy.

OffOff--sets Nonsets Non--renewable Energyrenewable EnergyUsage. Usage.

Minimal Transmission Required.Minimal Transmission Required.

LFGTE AdvantagesLFGTE Advantages

nn Reduces Groundwater Contamination of Reduces Groundwater Contamination of Landfill Generated VOCs. Landfill Generated VOCs.

ConclusionsConclusions

nn LF Gas is a Small, Underdeveloped LF Gas is a Small, Underdeveloped Renewable Energy Resource in Minnesota.Renewable Energy Resource in Minnesota.

nn LFGTE Contributes to Distributed LFGTE Contributes to Distributed Generation Capacity and Diversity. Generation Capacity and Diversity.

ConclusionsConclusions

nn LFGTE Reduces Greenhouse Gas LFGTE Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions.Emissions.

nn Additional Incentives Would Likely Improve Additional Incentives Would Likely Improve Private Sector Opportunities. Private Sector Opportunities.

More InformationMore Informationnn thomas.newman@pca.state.mn.usthomas.newman@pca.state.mn.us

(651) 296(651) 296--71707170nn www.pca.state.mn.uswww.pca.state.mn.us

(closed & open landfills, LFGTE)(closed & open landfills, LFGTE)nn www.epa.gov/lmop/www.epa.gov/lmop/

(Landfill Methane Outreach Program)(Landfill Methane Outreach Program)nn www.dsireusa.orgwww.dsireusa.org

(Renewable energy incentive programs) (Renewable energy incentive programs)

Questions?Questions?

The Answer ManThe Answer Man