 | |  Lanchester Landfill Gas Energy Project
| Location | Narvon, Pennsylvania | | End User(s) | Dart Container Corporation, Advanced Food Products, L&S Sweeteners | | Sector(s) | Industrial, Food products | | Landfill(s) | Lanchester Landfill | | Landfill Size | 11 million tons waste-in-place (2006) | | Project Type | Boiler and Direct Thermal (ovens and thermal oxidizers) | | Project Size | 3,800 standard cubic feet per minute (scfm) | | Savings | Estimated $300,000 annually in avoided electricity costs | | Environmental Benefits | Carbon sequestered annually by 10,800 acres of pine or fir forests, annual greenhouse gas emissions from 8,700 passenger vehicles, or carbon dioxide emissions from 110,200 barrels of oil consumed. Annual energy savings equate to heating 12,400 homes. Estimated emissions reductions of 0.0129 million metric tons of carbon equivalents. | | LMOP Partners Involved | Chester County Solid Waste Authority, Granger Electric/Energy, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PaDEP) |
 This 2005 LMOP Project of the Year is the first Pennsylvania landfill gas (LFG) energy project to serve multiple customers. In a year-long process, developers successfully petitioned to serve multiple customers, as well as to have LFG not be considered “natural gas,” which would have been regulated by the public utility. But even with a successful ruling, the work had only just begun.
Construction of a 13-mile pipeline posed many challenges. The route encompassed both active and former railroad lines that traverse farms, parks, commercial and residential developments, and a historic community. Many environmental and construction permits had to be acquired. Plus, land easements along the railroad were complicated by century-old deed restrictions and land rights. In the end, the completed pipeline crosses over 75 land easements and 35 roads en route to its customers.
The project’s highlights include the following:
- Dart Container uses LFG for 100 percent of its fuel needs, firing nine boilers, two thermal oxidizers, and two ovens. Landfill gas is utilized to provide all the electricity needed to treat and transport the gas, making this a self-reliant project.
- Advanced Food Products uses LFG in its three boilers. L&S Sweeteners uses LFG in one boiler.
- Public/private partnership between Chester County Solid Waste Authority and Granger Energy overcame economic and technical difficulties.
- Project created over 100 temporary construction jobs and purchased materials locally, contributing millions of dollars to local economy.
- A $235,000 Energy Harvest Grant from PaDEP helped purchase an engine to generate electricity needed to treat and transport the gas.
- Almost no federal tax credits were used as part of the revenue stream.
Granger Energy installed two independent systems that monitor LFG flow in real time. A dedicated communication line provides uninterrupted communication between the LFG processing facility and its customers. The system ensures pressure and flow to Dart Container, the landfill’s primary customer, who is at the end of the LFG pipeline. Last Updated: 8/18/2008
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