Advancing Biofuels Production with Landfill Gas

Transcription

1 Advancing Biofuels Production with Landfill Gas Swarupa Ganguli U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) Alternate Fuel Refuse and Recycling Trucks January 24, Rutgers Eco-Complex LMOP/LFG 101 Agenda Project Examples LMOP Assistance

2 Why EPA is Concerned About Landfill Gas Methane is a potent heat-trapping gas Landfills are the largest human-made source of methane in the United States, accounting for 24% generated in 2005 There are many cost-effective options for reducing methane emissions while generating energy Projects reduce local air pollution and create jobs, revenues, and cost savings EPA s s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) Established in 1994 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.

3 Targeting Methane Producing Measurable Results Since 1990, U.S. methane emissions have decreased by over 10% while GDP increased by over 50% U.S. Methane Emissions and Gross Domestic Product: MMTCO2E ,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 GDP (Billions of chained Real 2000 Dollars) Year CH4 GDP Sources: Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: , U.S. EPA, April 2007; DOC/Bureau of Economic Analysis. Interactive National Income and Product Accounts Table. Last updated July 2006 (August 17, 2006). Landfill Gas 101 Landfill gas (LFG) is a by-product of the decomposition of municipal solid waste (MSW): ~ 50% methane (CH 4 ) ~ 50% carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) <1% non-methane organic compounds (NMOCs) For every 1 million tons of MSW: ~ 0.8 MW of electricity ~ 432,000 cubic feet per day of LFG If uncontrolled, LFG contributes to smog and global warming, and may cause health and safety concerns

4 LFG Has Been Used to Help Produce Aluminum Alternative fuels (biodiesel, CNG, ethanol, and LNG) Aquaculture (e.g., tilapia) Arts & crafts (blacksmithing, ceramics, and glass) Biosolids (drying) Bricks and concrete Carpet Cars and trucks Chemicals Chocolate Consumer goods and containers Denim Electronics Fiberglass, nylon, and paper Furthering space exploration Garden plants Green power Ice cream, milk, and tea Infrared heat Juice (apple, cranberry, and orange) Pharmaceuticals Pierogies and snack food Soy-based products Steel Tomatoes (hydroponic) Taxpayer savings and increased sustainability! State of the National LFGE Industry (July 07) At least 427 operational projects: 10 million MWh of electricity and 75 billion cubic feet of LFG to direct-use applications in 2006 Estimated Annual Environmental Benefits Planting ~20,000,000 acres of forest, or Preventing the use of ~170,000,000 barrels of oil, or Removing emissions equivalent to ~14,000,000 vehicles Estimated Annual Energy Benefit Powering over 780,000 homes and heating nearly 518,000 homes

5 Landfill Gas and Green Power A Winning Combination Dual benefit destroys methane and other organic compounds in LFG Offsets use of nonrenewable resources (coal, oil, gas) reducing emissions of SO 2, NO X, PM, and CO 2 LFGE is a recognized renewable energy resource Green-e, EPA Green Power Partnership, 25 states, Sierra Club, NRDC LFG is generated 24/7 and projects have online reliability over 90% LFG can act as a long-term price and volatility hedge against fossil fuels Diversity of Project Types Direct-Use of LFG Direct-use projects are growing! Boiler applications replace natural gas, coal, fuel oil Combined heat & power (CHP) Direct thermal (dryers, kilns) Natural gas pipeline injection Medium & high Btu Greenhouse Leachate evaporation Vehicle fuel (LNG, CNG) Artist studio Hydroponics Aquaculture (fish farming) Greenhouse Burlington, NJ LFG-fired Boiler Ft. Wayne, IN

6 Emerging Technologies: LFG for Vehicle Fuel 5 operational projects 1 CNG, 1 LNG, 1 ethanol, 2 biodiesel 5 under construction projects 1 CNG, 1 LNG, 1 biodiesel, 1 ethanol, 1 feedstock for methanol, 1 feedstock for synthetic diesel 2 completed pilot projects 1 CNG, 1 LNG 8 planned/ potential projects 4 LNG, 2 biodiesel, 1 ethanol, 1 feedstock for methanol Emerging Technologies: LFG for Vehicle Fuel City of Denton, TX uses LFG to fuel a 3 million gal/yr biodiesel production facility Los Angeles, CA converts LFG into CNG to fuel landfill equipment (Puente Hills LF) Orange Co, CA 1 st commercial LFG-to-LNG facility online Jan. 07 used in county waste trucks (Frank R. Bowerman LF) Central LF, CA plans to convert LFG to CNG to fuel Sonoma County school buses Franklin Co, OH is in the process of using LFG to produce methanol as a feedstock for biodiesel and a separate CNG plant Waste Management in CA plans to produce 10-20K gal LNG per day for garbage trucks File last updated: May 2007

7 CNG and LNG CO 2 removed by membrane separation, molecular sieve (pressure swing adsorption), or solvent adsorption followed by compression or liquefaction CNG Whittier, CA (LA County) Grove City, OH Sonoma County, CA (planned) LNG Burlington County, NJ (pilot w/mack Truck) Methanol Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) and FirmGreen Energy (FGE) Grove City, OH plant First phase will use LFG as feedstock for CNG and as fuel to fire a micro turbine to produce electricity (operational late 2007) Second phase of project will use LFG to produce both methanol and biodiesel

8 Direct-Use Case Study City of Denton Landfill, TX and Biodiesel Industries One renewable fuel fuels another LFG from city landfill used in industrial process to convert renewable feedstock, vegetable oils, and animal fats into 3 million gal/yr of biodiesel City garbage trucks and other utility vehicles are fueled by 80% diesel / 20% biodiesel (B20) Improves regional air quality Stimulates local economic development Reduces dependence on foreign oil 2005 LMOP Award Winner Abengoa Bioenergy (formerly High Plains Corp.) Colwich, Kansas Project started in September 1998 DTE Biomass and LES Energy developed the project with City of Wichita and High Plains Corp. Approximately 4 mmscfd of landfill gas are collected, treated and compressed and then sent down a 11-mile pipeline to Abengoa plant Abengoa uses the gas to produce steam at its ethanol production plant Estimate offset 80% of natural gas needs Significant cost savings

9 LMOP Partner Tools and Services Partnerships (over 620) and networking Newsletter and listserv Direct project assistance Feasibility studies, end user searches Technical assistance resource LFG advocate PR/Ribbon cuttings EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson Jenkins Brick LFGE Project Grand Opening Moody, Alabama October 2006

10 How Can We Work Together? Direct Project Assistance Analyze landfill resource gas modeling Identify potential matches LMOP Locator Assess landfill and end user facilities Look at project possibilities Direct-use (boiler, heating, cooling, direct thermal) Combined Heat & Power (engine, turbine, microturbine) Electric (engine, turbine, microturbine) Alternative Fuels (medium or high Btu, LNG, CNG) Initial feasibility analyses LFGcost Identify Potential Matches

11 Analyze Energy Potential From Landfill Gas Indian River County Landfill LFG Production and Recovery (scfm) Production Recovery Year Other LMOP Activities Project and Candidate Landfill Database Green Pricing Accreditation Involvement State Workshops/Conferences Working with State Partners & other key organizations Peer Matching Web Site (e.g., publications, software, database) LMOP 11 th Annual Conference, Project Expo & Partner Awards January 9-10, in Washington, DC

12 For More Information T2 North: Swarupa T3: Brian AK WA OR CA NV ID MT UT AZ WY CO NM ND SD NE KS OK TX MN IA MO AR LA WI IL MS MI PA OH IN WV KY VA TN NC SC AL GA FL VI NY DE MD PR NH VT RI CT NJ ME MA T1: Rachel T2 South: Victoria HI Brian Guzzone (202) Swarupa Ganguli (202) Rachel Goldstein (202) Victoria Ludwig (202)