Extracting landfill gas is an important step towards reducing emissions. By using the gas to generate heat or electricity, additional CO2 reduction can be achieved. It also generates a source of income even long after the landfill operations have ceased.
The most commonly deployed options are the generation of heat, using boilers, and the generation of electricity by means of a combined heat and power plant (CHP). A good example of the former can be found at our own landfill site at Nauerna. The landfill gas that we extract there, is burned to heat water in boilers. The hot water is then transported to our main office for heating and cooling purposes. The excessive heat is transported to a nearby greenhouse complex using a 3 km long, insulated, heat transmission pipe.
Electricity generation is often an interesting utilisation option in areas with an unstable power grid, rural areas or areas with high electricity prices.