recycling programs

Landfill Gas To Green Power

DSWA collects the naturally occurring landfill gas (LFG) at all three of its landfills. At the Cherry Island Landfill the landfill gas is collected and pumped to the Calpine Edgemoor Power Plant, where it is burned with conventional fossil fuels, to help generate green power while using fewer natural resources. DSWA also collects landfill gas at its Sandtown and Jones Crossroads Landfills. A private energy management company, Ameresco, developed, owns, and operates the two landfill gas-to-electricity power plants at DSWA's Sandtown and Jones Crossroads Landfills. These facilities generate 3MW and 5 MW of electricity respectively. Tons of naturally occurring methane, are now being captured and converted into "green" electricity.

Questions? Call our CITIZENS' RESPONSE LINE at 1-800-404-7080.

Landfill Gas Utilization Information

As municipal solid waste degrades in the landfill it generates a substance called landfill gas (LFG). Generally, LFG is comprised of approximately 50% methane, 50% carbon dioxide and trace amounts of organic compounds. Collection and control of LFG is performed in compliance with the Clean Air Act. Collection is accomplished by exerting a vacuum on vertical wells or horizontal gas collection trenches in the landfill. The vacuum extracts the gas and through a series of pipes, pulls the LFG to a combustion device. Due to its methane content, LFG can be burned. This allows LFG to be utilized as a "green" fuel. DSWA has developed green energy projects at all three active landfills.

In New Castle County, Cherry Island Landfill (CIL) generates approximately 5,000 cubic feet of LFG per minute. The energy power of this gas is equivalent to approximately 16 megawatts (MWs). Since 1994 CIL has worked with the nearby Edgemoor Power Plant to generate energy through use of the LFG in the boilers at the plant. The LFG offsets fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas or oil. The LFG is collected onsite at CIL and a compression plant sends the LFG to Edgemoor via an underground pipeline.

In Kent and Sussex Counties (at Sandtown and Jones Crossroads Landfills, respectively) DSWA has developed LFG utilization projects with Ameresco. The Sandtown Landfill generates approximately 2,200 cubic feet of LFG per minute. Ameresco operates three (3) GE/Jenbacher engines that generate approximately 3 MWs of green electricity that is sold on the grid.

The Jones Crossroads Landfill generates approximately 2,400 cubic feet of LFG per minute. Ameresco operates five (5) GE/Jenbacher engines that generate approximately 5 MWs of green electricity that is sold on the grid. The eight engines at Sandtown and Jones Crossroads can produce a combined 8 MWs of electricity.

Through our LFG utilization projects, DSWA works with energy developers to generate approximately 24 MWs of green electricity used to meet Delaware's energy needs. LFG is a readily available renewable energy resource. Unlike some forms of green energy, landfill gas is generated and available for use 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. Utilization of this resource offsets the use of fossil fuels and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

  top^