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 Documents, Tools and Resources
Fuel Cells
Demonstrating the Power of Landfill Gas
A clean, new technology turned landfill gas (LFG) into enough electricity
to power about 100 homes in Groton, Connecticut. Through a joint effort,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ONSI Corporation developed
a new gas cleanup technology that uses LFG to produce electricity from
high-efficiency, low-emission fuel cells.
Though the technology is still in the demonstration phase, the future
of this method for generating clean electricity looks promising. Kerry
Kuhlman, Vice President of Connecticut Light and Power's Eastern Region,
praised the fuel cell project, saying, "What really is so terrific about
this project is while we are advancing our knowledge of efficient electricity
generation, we're also helping the environment."
Northeast Utilities, parent company of Connecticut Light & Power,
has done its part to publicize the project. From presentations to facility
tours, Northeast has made a commitment to demonstrate this innovative
technology to the landfill gas industry — and the press has noticed.
The project was featured in a supplement to MSW Management, and
the gas pre-treatment unit was awarded recognition as an Innovative Environmental
Technology by Discover magazine.
Fuel cells are one of the newest and most innovative ways to generate
power. At this point, the technology works much like a battery fueled
by LFG. A fuel cell extracts hydrogen from the methane in LFG and mixes
it with oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. The Fuel Cell
produces no combustible parts that can harm the environment.
Prior to development of the gas cleanup technology designed and used
in this project, use of landfill gas to power fuel cells was not possible
due to contaminants in the gas such as sulfur and halides. Under contract
from EPA, ONSI set out to show that using landfill gas to power fuel cells
is technically and environmentally feasible in commercial operation.
ONSI first developed a conceptual design, cost, and evaluation study
in order to assess the overall economic and technical feasibility of the
project. Based on positive conclusions from the study, ONSI proceeded
to investigate contaminant removal from LFG and eventually designed and
tested the Gas Pretreatment Unit (GPU), a system capable of removing the
necessary quantities of sulfur and halides from landfill gas. ONSI demonstrated
the GPU with a phosphoric acid fuel cell at a power plant at the Penrose
Landfill in Sun Valley, California.
After a successful demonstration at Penrose, in which the fuel cell
operated at 140 kilowatts of electricity over a six-month period, ONSI
dismantled and relocated the fuel cell to the Flanders Road Landfill in
Groton, Connecticut, for a second demonstration. Northeast Utilities of
Berlin, Connecticut, sponsored this demonstration to test the fuel cell
as an environmentally responsible and viable energy resource. William
Stillinger, Director of Research and Technology for Northeast Utilities,
said the utility was particularly interested in the "environmental superiority
of fuel cells in sensitive urban settings, where issues of environmental
justice are being raised and where air emissions and noise from conventional
generating units are local liabilities."
Results of the Flanders Road Landfill demonstration were encouraging,
with the fuel cell providing approximately 140 kilowatts of electricity
to the Connecticut Light and Power Company, a subsidiary of Northeast
Utilities that serves 1.1 million residential and commercial/industrial
customers in 149 Connecticut communities.
Fuel cells decrease the need for fossil fuels and reduce the environmental
impact of generating electricity. Rick Whitaker, former President of ONSI,
said the fuel cell project was a "big winner on several counts. We're
taking a source of pollution today and directly converting it into high-quality
electricity." The community and the environment benefit from a strong
solution to the environmental liability of LFG.
Fuel cells can also have economic benefits. With the project in place,
the Groton landfill saves a half-million dollars immediately by not having
to install a flare to burn off the methane gas. Said Naomi Otterness,
District Director for U.S. Representative Sam Gejdenson, "The partnership
cemented here today is a win-win proposition for all involved. Groton
will be able to safeguard the local environment while capitalizing on
an innovative energy resource. This agreement [to demonstrate the fuel
cell project] furthers our efforts to diversify Connecticut's economy
by promoting technology that has a promising future. In addition, Northeast
Utilities gains a valuable new generating source, which makes good economic
and environmental sense."
Summary of Benefits
- Experience with Innovative Technology
- Zero Emission Energy Source
- Government, Industry, and Utility Partnership
Lessons Learned
- A simpler gas pretreatment unit is needed
to improve operations and overall availability.
- The fuel cell unit itself proved very reliable.
What Is Landfill Gas?
Most of the waste we generate ends up in landfills,
where it decomposes and produces landfill gas. Landfill gas released
into the air smells bad, contributes to local smog, and is an explosion
hazard. Additionally, landfill gas is about 50 percent methane,
a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global climate change.
However, this methane is also a reliable and renewable fuel source
that, if not collected, goes to waste. |
The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) is a voluntary program
that assists project developers, utilities, landfill owner/operators,
energy users, and communities in encouraging new landfill gas-to-energy
projects. The Environmental Protection Agency developed a variety of tools
(i.e., profiles, fact sheets, project development manuals, software, etc.)
to facilitate the development of landfill gas to energy projects. Hundreds
of landfills across the country are good candidates for a landfill gas-to-energy
project. To find out more, please contact LMOP.
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