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Renewable Energy > Landfill MethaneLarge municipal or industrial landfills produce gas that can be tapped to generate electricity. Microorganisms that live in organic materials such as food wastes, paper or yard clippings cause these materials to decompose. This produces landfill gas, typically comprised of roughly 60 percent methane and 40 percent carbon dioxide (or "CO2"). |
 Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project |
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| Landfills are the largest human related source of methane
in the United States, accounting for 34% of all methane emissions.
Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, more than 21 times more potent
than carbon dioxide emissions. The US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) requires all large landfills to install collection systems at
landfill sites to minimize the release of methane gas, a major contributor
to global climate change. |
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| Landfill gas is collected by drilling "wells" into the landfills, and collecting the gases through pipes. Once the landfill gas is processed, it can be combined with natural gas to supplement the natural gas supply or can be burned in an internal combustion engine or micro turbine coupled to a generator to create electricity. | ||
Landfill Methane Power In-depth Click on a link below to find out more about landfill methane power. |
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Documents/Articles Landfill gas - powering the future - Spring 2006 newsletter NC GreenPower announces first generation of methane gas - Spring 2006 newsletter Resources Where does methane come from? (EPA) Landfill Gas Energy Projects - Frequently Asked Questions (EPA) Benefits of landfill gas energy (Courtesy EPA - Landfill Methane Outreach Program) Landfill gas energy project development and candidates (Courtesy EPA-LMOP) |
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