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United States Environmental Protection Agency
Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)
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Begin Hierarchical LinksEPA Home > Climate Change > Methane > Voluntary Programs > LMOP > Energy Projects and Candidate Landfills > LFG Energy Project Profiles > Alachua County-Gainesville Regional Utilities End Hierarchical Links

Photo collage of landfill gas collection systems, landfill methane utilization options (i.e., greenhouses, electricity), and the LMOP logoAlachua County-Gainesville Regional Utilities

Self Developed (absence of third party developer) image

LocationArcher, Florida
End User(s)Gainesville Regional Utilities
Sector(s)Utility
Landfill(s)Southwest Alachua Landfill
Landfill Size2.69 million tons waste-in-place (2000)
Project TypeReciprocating Engine (three Caterpillar 3516 Lean Burn engines)
Project Size2.4 megawatts (MW)
Environmental BenefitsCarbon sequestered annually by 23,400 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 18,900 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from 239,500 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to powering 1,500 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0281 million metric tons of carbon equivalents.
LMOP Partners InvolvedCaterpillar, Inc., Jones, Edmunds & Associates, Inc.

Joining forces with Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU) and the University of Florida’s (UF) College of Environmental Engineering, the county developed a successful landfill gas energy (LFGE) project at a medium-sized landfill. To enhance landfill gas (LFG) production, the county decided to pursue leachate recirculation. Their decision followed research by UF that showed leachate recirculation not only boosted LFG production, but also was safe.

The project’s highlights include:

  • First landfill permitted by Florida Department of Environmental Protection to recirculate leachate into a closed landfill.
  • Treatment includes 0.3 micron high efficiency filter, two positive displacement blowers, flow meter, heat exchanger.
  • Generates clean, renewable energy.
  • Makes green power affordable for GRU customers.
  • Generates awareness of and demand for renewable energy.

The three on-site Caterpillar 3516 Lean Burn engines produce 2.4 MW for the GRU power grid. The county invested $180,000 in the project, with UF graduate students and county employees performing much of the work. GRU invested $2.8 million and is getting a 14 percent internal rate of return on the project.

Last Updated: 8/18/2008


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