LANDFILLS AS AN LANDFILLS AS AN ECONOMIC RESOURCEECONOMIC RESOURCE

Chad Leatherwood, P.E. Chad Leatherwood, P.E. SCS EngineersSCS Engineers

Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)APWA Public Works Congress and ExhibitionAPWA Public Works Congress and Exhibition

San Antonio, Texas. September 10, 2007. San Antonio, Texas. September 10, 2007.

AgendaAgenda

l LMOP and LFG 101l Uses of LFGl Applications of LFG for municipalitiesl Benefits of LFG usel How can LMOP provide assistance?

Why EPA is Concerned Why EPA is Concerned About Landfill GasAbout Landfill Gas

l Methane is a potent heat-trapping gasl Landfills are the largest human-made

source of methane in the United States, accounting for 24% generated in 2005

l There are many cost-effective options for reducing methane emissions while generating energy

l Projects reduce local air pollution and create jobs, revenues, and cost savings

EPAEPA’’s Landfill Methane s Landfill Methane Outreach ProgramOutreach Program

l Established in 1994l 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.

Modern Municipal Solid Modern Municipal Solid Waste LandfillWaste Landfill

Source: Modern Landfills: A Far Cry From the Past, NSWMA 2006

Landfill Gas 101Landfill Gas 101

l Landfill gas (LFG) is a by-product of the decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW):n ~ 50% methane (CH4)n ~ 50% carbon dioxide (CO2)n <1% non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs)

l For every 1 million tons of MSW:n ~ 0.8 MW of electricityn ~ 432,000 cubic feet per day of LFG

l If uncontrolled, LFG contributes to smog and global warming, and may cause health and safety concerns

Landfill Gas and Green Power Landfill Gas and Green Power A Winning CombinationA Winning Combination

l Dual benefit destroys methane and other organic compounds in LFG

l Offsets use of nonrenewable resources (coal, oil, gas) reducing emissions of n SO2 , NOX , PM, and CO2

l LFGE is a recognized renewable energy resourcen Green-e, EPA Green Power Partnership, 24 states, Sierra

Club, NRDC

l LFG is generated 24/7 and projects have online reliability over 90%

l LFG can act as a long-term price and volatility hedge against fossil fuels

LFG Has Been Used to LFG Has Been Used to Help ProduceHelp Produce……

AluminumAlternative fuels (biodiesel,

CNG, ethanol, and LNG) Aquaculture (e.g., tilapia)Arts & crafts (blacksmithing,

ceramics, and glass)Biosolids (drying)Bricks and concreteCarpetCars and trucksChemicalsChocolateConsumer goods and

containersDenimElectronics

Fiberglass, nylon, and paperFurthering space explorationGarden plants Green powerIce cream, milk, and teaInfrared heatJuice (apple, cranberry, and

orange)PharmaceuticalsPierogies and snack foodSoy-based productsSteelTomatoes (hydroponic)Taxpayer savings and

increased sustainability!

State of the National State of the National LFGE Industry LFGE Industry (Apr 07)(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

l Estimated Annual Environmental Benefitsn Planting ~20,000,000 acres of forest, orn Preventing the use of ~170,000,000 barrels of oil, orn Removing emissions equivalent to ~14,000,000

vehicles

l Estimated Annual Energy Benefitn Powering over 780,000 homesand heating

nearly 518,000 homes

Landfill Gas Energy Projects Landfill Gas Energy Projects and Candidate Landfillsand 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 TrendsTechnology TrendsElectricity ProjectsElectricity Projects

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

Organic Rankine Cycle

Combined Cycle

Steam Turbine

Microturbine

Cogeneration

Gas Turbine

Reciprocating Engine

Number of Projects

Operational Projects

Under Construction andPlanned Projects

Diversity of Project TypesDiversity of Project TypesElectricity GenerationElectricity Generation

InternalCombustion 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 TrendsTechnology TrendsDirectDirect--Use ProjectsUse Projects

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Methanol Synthesis

Liquefied Natural Gas

Medium Btu

Alternative Fuel

Greenhouse

High Btu

Leachate Evaporation

Direct Thermal

Boiler

Number of Projects

Operational Projects

Under Construction andPlanned Projects

Diversity of Project TypesDiversity of Project TypesDirectDirect--Use of LFGUse of LFG

Greenhouse Burlington, NJ

LFG-fired Boiler Ft. Wayne, IN

Pottery Studio Sugar Grove, NC

l Direct-use projects are growing!n Boiler applications – replace natural gas, coal, fuel oiln Combined heat & power (CHP)n Direct thermal (dryers, kilns)n Natural gas pipeline injection

u Medium & high Btun Greenhousen Leachate evaporationn Vehicle fuel (LNG, CNG)n Artist studion Hydroponicsn Aquaculture (fish farming)

Municipalities use LFG for:Municipalities use LFG for:

l Space heating at maintenance facilities

l Production of biofuelsl Supplying electrical and steam

demandl Sludge drying operations at

WWTP’s

Infrared Space HeatersInfrared Space Heaters

l Fairfax and Frederick Co. VA installed and operate LFG-fired space heaters

l Savings of >$5,000/year in heating costs.

Emerging Technologies:Emerging Technologies:LFG for Vehicle FuelLFG for Vehicle Fuel

l City of Denton, TX uses LFG to fuel a 3 million gal/yr biodiesel production facility

l Los Angeles, CA converts LFG into CNG to fuel landfill equipment (Puente Hills LF)

l Orange Co, CA – 1st

commercial LFG-to-LNG facility online Jan. ‘07 – used in county waste trucks (Frank R. Bowerman LF)

Emerging Technologies:Emerging Technologies:LFG for Vehicle Fuel (cont)LFG for Vehicle Fuel (cont)

l Central LF, CA plans to convert LFG to CNG to fuel Sonoma County school buses

l Franklin Co, OH is in the process of using LFG to produce methanol as a feedstock for biodiesel

l Waste Management in CA plans to produce 10-20K gal LNG per day for garbage trucks

DirectDirect--Use Case StudyUse Case Study

City of Denton Landfill, TX and City of Denton Landfill, TX and BiodieselBiodiesel IndustriesIndustries

l One renewable fuel ‘fuels’another…

l LFG from city landfill used in industrial process to convert renewable feedstock, vegetable oils, and animal fats into 3 million gal/yr of biodiesel

l City garbage trucks and other utility vehicles are fueled by 80% diesel / 20% biodiesel (B20) n Improves regional air qualityn Stimulates local economic

developmentn Reduces dependence on foreign oil

2005 LMOP Award Winner

DirectDirect--Use Case StudyUse Case Study

Jackson County Green Energy ParkJackson County Green Energy ParkSylva, NCSylva, NC

LMOP 2006 Project of the Year

Antioch, IL Community High Antioch, IL Community High School CHP ProjectSchool CHP Projectl First school cogeneration

(CHP) project using LFGl ½ mile pipeline from HOD

Landfilll 12 Capstone MicroTurbines

with 360 kW total electrical generation capacity

l Each microturbine exhausts 300,000 BTU/hr at 550o F

l Exhaust used for space heating and/or additional electrical output

l School expects to save $100,000/yr

Potential LFG RevenuePotential LFG Revenuel Electric projects

n Sale of electricity (4 - 6 cents/kWh)n Sale of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)n Premium pricing for renewables through

RPS/RPG or voluntary green power marketsn Tax credits & incentivesn Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs)

l Direct-use projectsn Sale of LFG (~$4.50 per MMBtu)

l Bothn Greenhouse gas emissions tradingn Energy cost savingsn Local economic growth

Jobs and Revenue Jobs and Revenue CreationCreation

l A typical 3 MW LFG electricity project is estimated to have the following benefits (direct, indirect, and induced) during the construction year:n Increase the output of the national

economy by ~$14 million ($3 million of which is a local benefit and mostly employee earnings)

n Employ nearly 70 people nationally (expressed in full-time equivalents [FTE] per year)

Jobs and Revenue Jobs and Revenue Creation Creation (cont.)(cont.)

l A typical 1,040 scfm LFG direct-use project is estimated to have the following benefits (direct, indirect, and induced) during the construction year:

$12 million$6 millionIncrease output of national economy

People employed nationally (FTE)

Portion of national benefit at local level

$4 million$2 million

8043

10-mile pipeline5-mile pipeline

Look WhoLook Who’’s Talking About s Talking About Landfill Gas!Landfill Gas!

There Are Still Many There Are Still Many Untapped LFG ResourcesUntapped LFG Resources

l 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)

l If projects were developed at all these landfills, estimatedn Annual Environmental Benefit =

Planting ~16 million acres of forest OR removing the emissions from ~11 million vehicles on the road, and

n Annual Energy Benefit = Powering 870,000 homes OR heating 1.5 million homes per year

There Are Still Many Untapped There Are Still Many Untapped LFG Resources LFG Resources (cont.)(cont.)

l ~490 landfills have a gas collection system but no energy projectn Potential of 300,000 MMBtu/day or 1,000 MW

l ~100 landfills have an energy project and excess LFG availablen Potential of 68,000 MMBtu/day or 240 MW

l ~1,000 landfills do not have a gas collection systemn Potential of 240,000 MMBtu/day or 850 MW

LMOP Partner LMOP Partner Tools and ServicesTools and Services

l Partnerships (over 620) and networking

l Newsletter and listservl Direct project assistance

n Feasibility studies, end user searches

l Technical assistance resource

l LFG advocatel PR/Ribbon cuttings

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson Jenkins Brick LFGE Project Grand Opening

Moody, Alabama

October 2006

How Can We Work Together? How Can We Work Together? Direct Project AssistanceDirect Project Assistance

l Analyze landfill resource – gas modelingl Identify potential matches – LMOP Locatorl Assess landfill and end user facilities l Look at project possibilities

n Direct-use (boiler, heating, cooling, direct thermal)n Combined Heat & Power (engine, turbine,

microturbine)n Electric (engine, turbine, microturbine)n Alternative Fuels (medium or high Btu, LNG, CNG)

l Initial feasibility analyses – LFGcost

Analyze Landfill ResourceAnalyze Landfill ResourceIndian River County Landfill

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Identify Potential MatchesIdentify Potential Matches

LMOP Partner Recruitment LMOP Partner Recruitment Tools and ServicesTools and Services

l Project and Candidate Landfill Databasel Green Pricing Accreditation Involvementl State Workshops/Conferences

n Working with State Partners & other key organizations

l Peer Matchingl Web Site (e.g., publications, software,

database)ll LMOP 11LMOP 11thth Annual Conference, Project Annual Conference, Project

Expo & Partner Awards Expo & Partner Awards ––January 9January 9--10, 2008 in Washington, DC10, 2008 in Washington, DC

For More InformationFor More Information

Brian Guzzoneguzzone.brian@epa.gov , (202) 343-9248

www.epa.gov/lmop

Rachel Goldsteingoldstein.rachel@epa.gov, (202) 343-9391Victoria Ludwigludwig.victoria@epa.gov , (202) 343-9291

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T3:Brian

T2 South:Victoria

T1:Rachel

T2 North: Brian