Creating Energy From Landfills: FirmGreen
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 07.11.05
Trash from landfills in Ohio will soon be transformed into renewable energy. Construction has started on a new facility designed to capture, clean, and use methane and CO2 from landfill gas (LFG). You can see the technology used in this system on FirmGreen's website.
The project was created by FirmGreen and SWACO (Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio). Phase one of the project, scheduled to be operational by year’s end, will provide electricity for SWACO’s facilities. The project’s second phase will convert the LFG into Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Mike Long, Executive Director of SWACO, said “Instead of just burying our trash, we can use our throwaways to reduce our own fleet fuel costs, and fuel local school and transit buses.” Phase two is scheduled to be operational within nine months. :: FirmGreen and SWACO
Makes you wonder how much gas could be captured from different composting systems in a residential setting.
I've seen on the Radio-Canada news a while ago that a very similar system was in place in some landfills in Quebec. They capture methane, treat it a bit and then send it in the regular natural gas system, so that it is used by the residential sector.
Did an overview of this a few months back" http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/05/capstone_microt.php
That's a great development.
It's a great way to use rather simple technology to both get rid of the methane AND ease the dependence on foreign fuels. Hydrogene will be great but until then this is a great way to use the landfill garbage, waste in water and so on.
In Sweden we use this technology more and more and we also have network of about 50 gas stations serving biogas (Covering our three largest metropolitan areas). I have recently bought a Volvo V70 Bi-fuel and it works just great. More about that here: http://melin.typepad.com/lcpm/2005/07/wouldnt_it_be_n.html