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 Basic
Information
About LMOP
The U.S. EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is
a voluntary assistance program that helps to reduce methane
emissions from landfills by encouraging the recovery and
use of landfill gas as
an energy resource. LMOP forms partnerships with communities, landfill owners, utilities, power marketers,
states, project
developers, tribes, and non-profit organizations to overcome
barriers to project
development by helping them assess project feasibility, find
financing, and market the benefits of project development
to the community. EPA
launched LMOP to encourage productive use of this resource
as part of the United States' commitment to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions under
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
LMOP provides services such as:
- Technical assistance, guidance materials, and software to assess
a potential project's economic feasibility;
- Assistance
in creating partnerships and locating financing for projects;
- Informational materials to help educate
the community and the local media about the benefits of
landfill gas energy; and
- Networking
opportunities with peers and landfill gas energy experts
to allow communities to share challenges and successes.
- Landfill Methane Outreach
Program, Creating Partnerships and Power from Landfill Gas
- brochure (PDF, 2 pp., 185 KB, About
PDF)
Methane Emissions from Landfills
Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States, accounting for nearly 23 percent of these emissions in 2006. At the
same time, methane emissions
from landfills represent a lost opportunity to capture and
use a significant energy resource. Landfill gas (LFG) is
created as solid waste decomposes in
a landfill. This gas consists of about 50 percent methane
(CH4), the primary component of natural gas, about 50 percent
carbon dioxide (CO2),
and a small amount of non-methane organic compounds. To learn
more about methane emissions from landfills in the U.S.,
visit EPA's methane
emissions and sources page. For more information on methane emissions
from landfills internationally, visit EPA's International
Analyses site.
Converting Landfill Gas to Energy
Instead of allowing LFG to escape into the air, it can be captured,
converted, and used as an energy source. Using LFG helps to reduce odors
and other hazards associated with LFG emissions, and it helps prevent
methane from migrating into the atmosphere and contributing to local
smog and global climate change.
Landfill gas is extracted from landfills using a series of wells and
a blower/flare (or vacuum) system. This system directs the
collected gas to a central point where it can be processed
and treated depending upon the ultimate
use for the gas. From this point, the gas can be simply flared
or used to generate electricity, replace fossil fuels in industrial
and manufacturing
operations, fuel greenhouse operations, or be upgraded to pipeline
quality gas. To view photographs of the various components
of a LFG collection system click on the following
links:
As of December 2007, there are approximately 445 operational LFG energy projects in the United States and 535 landfills that are good candidates for projects.
There are several opportunities for converting LFG to energy.
Below are descriptions of some of the typical project types.
Electricity Generation
The generation of electricity from LFG makes up
about two-thirds of the currently operational projects in the
U.S. Electricity for
on-site use or sale to the grid can be generated using a
variety of different technologies, including internal combustion
engines, turbines, microturbines,
Stirling engines (external combustion engine), Organic Rankine
Cycle engines, and fuel cells. The vast majority of projects
use internal combustion
(reciprocating) engines or turbines, with microturbine technology
being used at smaller landfills and in niche applications.
Certain technologies such as the Stirling and Organic Rankine
Cycle engines and
fuel cells
are still in the development phase.
Direct-Use
Directly using LFG to offset the use of another
fuel (natural gas, coal, fuel oil) is occurring in about
one-third of the currently operational projects. This direct
use of LFG can be
in a boiler, dryer, kiln, greenhouse, or other thermal applications.
It can also be used directly to evaporate leachate. Innovative
direct uses include firing pottery and glass blowing kilns;
powering and heating
greenhouses and an ice rink; and heating water for an aquaculture
(fish farming) operation. Current industries using LFG
include auto manufacturing, chemical production, food processing,
pharmaceutical, cement and brick
manufacturing, wastewater treatment, consumer electronics
and products, paper and steel production, and prisons and hospitals,
just to name a few.
Cogeneration
Cogeneration (also known as combined heat and power or
CHP) projects using LFG generate both electricity
and thermal energy, usually in the form of steam or hot water.
Several cogeneration
projects have been installed at industrial operations, using
both engines and turbines. The efficiency gains of capturing
the thermal energy in
addition to electricity generation can make these projects
very attractive.
Alternate Fuels
Production of alternate fuels from LFG is an emerging area. Landfill gas has been successfully delivered to the natural gas pipeline system as both a high-Btu and medium-Btu fuel. Landfill gas has also been converted to vehicle fuel in the form of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Projects to convert LFG to methanol are in the planning stages.
For more information on the costs and emission reduction potential of
these LFG energy opportunities, please visit the projections
& mitigation costs section of this Web site.
Benefits of Landfill Gas Energy
Using LFG for energy is a win/win opportunity. Landfill gas utilization projects involve citizens, non-profit organizations, local governments, and industry in sustainable community planning and create partnerships. These projects go hand-in-hand with community and corporate commitments to cleaner air, renewable energy, economic development, improved public welfare and safety, and reductions in greenhouse (global warming) gases. By linking communities with innovative ways to deal with their LFG, LMOP contributes to the creation of livable communities that enjoy increased environmental protection, better waste management, and responsible community planning. See Landfill Gas: Creating Green Energy in Your Community for more information on the benefits of LFG energy, or see the Benefits of LFG Energy section of this site.
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