Landfill Gas to Renewable Energy A Primer

Transcription

1 Landfill Gas to Renewable Energy A Primer Waste Management Kerry Kelly, Director Federal Affairs kkelly5@wm.com

2 Emerging Technologies Chemicals Consumer Gasoline Transportation Ethanol Transportation CNG/LNG Transportation Power Electricity Compost Retail Lawn & Garden Compost Bulk/Wholesale Lawn & Garden Raw Organic Waste

3 Landfill Gas: A Renewable Resource Natural anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in the landfill Landfill gas is about 50% methane when it is produced Because Methane is the fossil fuel component of natural gas Any technology or application that uses natural gas can also use landfill gas

4 Renewable Energy from Waste Our 131 landfill gas (LFG) to energy plants generate enough renewable energy to power half a million homes Our WM/Linde Altamonte plant converts LFG to ultra low carbon liquefied natural gas and powers over 300 natural gas refuse trucks in CA We generate 5 times more renewable energy than the entire US solar industry

5 Case study: Landfill Gas Management WM evolved from focusing on environmental compliance toward innovative solutions to diversify and develop new and higher value revenue streams Evolution of methane capture and conversion at landfills: INSTALL METHANE CAPTURE SYSTEMS AT LANDFILLS AND FLARE OFF GAS Reduces risks and complies with regulations CAPTURE METHANE AT LARGE VOLUMES AND PIPELINE TO GENERATE ELECTRICITY Turns cost into source of profit PARTNER WITH LINDE TO CONVERT LFG TO LNG To comply with SCAQD to run WM fleet CONVERT LFG AT SMALL SCALE TO SYNTHETIC DIESEL Leveraged gas collection and clean up expertise Impact of Innovation #1: Found that LNG and CNG trucks have significant economic and environmental benefits Now we are converting our entire fleet to CNG Impact of Innovation #2: Found technology can work on stranded natural gas wells Commercializing a sizeable LOB

6 Environmental Protection is Priority #1 The collection of LFG is required by regulation at larger landfills, and is an integral responsibility and cost of operating a landfill: Off-Site Underground Migration (RCRA Subtitle D) Groundwater Contamination (RCRA Subtitle D) Odor control Organic Carbon Emissions through cap (CAA - NSPS) The use of LFG for renewable energy must be harmonized with the landfill owner s first priority of compliance and environmental protection

7 Landfill Gas Collection < Perforated pipe wells are drilled into the waste, about one every acre < The wells are connected to a header pipe. A blower places a vacuum on the header pipe to withdraw the gas. Fifth level 18pt Trebuchet < If it is not used as fuel for renewable energy, the gas is simply burned off in a flare

8 Types of Landfill Gas Projects Electric Power Fuel for engines or turbines in power plant on landfill Medium Btu Delivered in dedicated pipe to single user to offset fossil fuel in steam boilers, kilns, burners, utility power plants, etc. High Btu Cleaned to natural gas specifications and delivered to a natural gas pipeline Vehicle Fuel (LNG and CNG) Extension of High BTU: Cleaned to natural gas fuel specifications, compressed or liquefied, and stored in on-site fueling station

9 Landfill Gas Project Inventory Type of Project US Total WM Power Medium BTU High BTU Vehicle Fuel: CNG/LNG 2 1 Totals

10 Renewable Portfolio Standards

11 Renewable Energy Plant

12 Fuel Skid Compresses, filters, and dewaters the gas

13 Engine Room WM uses 1,070 Hp or 2,140 Hp Engines

14 Transformer converts power to utility line voltage

15 Transmission line delivers power to utility

16 Waste Conversion: Other Beneficial Uses A facility may be situated in conjunction with a landfill to complement landfill gas flow. Anaerobic Digestion: Processed waste includes source separated organics, manure, sludge, and green waste. Produces methane. Gasification: Methods include thermal and plasma arc. May allow more heterogeneous mix of waste, but technology is more complex. Product is syn-gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide). LFG to Fuel: Conversion of landfill gas to low-carbon, renewable transportation fuel

17 Landfill Gas to Transportation Fuel (LNG) The largest plant of its kind -- produces 13,000 gallons of fuel per day Using bio-methane LNG results in 90 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to LNG from fossil fuel Altamont Landfill Gas to LNG Plant Livermore, California

18 RINs from High BTU Renewable Gas The EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) mandates that fuel refiners obtain renewable fuel credits to meet a minimum percentage of renewable fuel production. Renewable fuel credits are called RINs (Renewable Identification Number), and represent 77,000 BTUs of fuel (13 RINs per MMBTU). CNG and LNG produced from landfill gas qualify for RINs. Landfill owner can sell High BTU gas via a natural gas pipeline to a CNG or LNG fueling station, or construct a fueling station at the landfill. RINs prices have recently been in the $0.80 to $1.00 range, which equate to $10 to $13 per MMBTU. RIN sales are typically shared by renewable gas producer and renewable fuel vehicle user. Caveats: The pathway from producer to user must be approved by EPA; Uncertain future of regulation; RIN buyers require extensive documentation and credit support; RIN pricing can be volatile.