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 Documents,
Tools and Resources
Elk River Landfill Gas-to-Electricity Project
Overcoming Obstacles
Cooperation was the key to the success of the Elk River landfill gas-to-electricity
project. Local utility Elk River Municipal Utilities (ERMU), power suppliers
Connexus Energy and Great River Energy, landfill owner Waste Management,
Inc., and project developer Power Strategies worked together to create
a unique project despite a variety of obstacles. Power Strategies worked
closely with ERMU to involve key stakeholders, such as the community and
the local power providers.
Noting the spirit of cooperation among the parties, Bryan Adams, General
Manager of ERMU, said, "Everybody involved has gone beyond the call of
duty to make this project happen. It's exciting to see all the planning
and logistics that went into this project come to fruition." Two months
after becoming operational, the project was recognized as a 1998 LMOP
Project of the Year.
The Elk River landfill gas-to-energy project converts landfill gas into
electricity via a new technology, Power Strategies' 525kW-rated tuned-reflux
technology generator system. The system generates 310,000 kilowatt hours
per month of clean, high-quality, stable power. The project provides ERMU
with enough energy to power 250 homes in Elk River.
The Elk River landfill gas-to-energy project had its share of obstacles,
including issues with funding and energy rights. Previously, power suppliers
Connexus Energy and Great River Energy had exclusive rights to supply
power to ERMU. However, through an innovative contract, ERMU received
the right to purchase power from the landfill gas-to-energy project. Both
Great River and Connexus were persuaded to waive their exclusive rights
to provide power because of the environmental benefits of the Elk River
landfill gas-to-energy project. "Our power suppliers were willing to step
up to the plate to make this project work," Adams said. "These types of
projects are good for the environment and good for society. It's just
a question of making them feasible." ERMU signed a ten-year agreement
to purchase the gas from Power Strategies.
The project is part of the Energy City program, a partnership between
the City of Elk River and Energy Alley, a program of the Minnesota Environmental
Initiative, to promote renewable energy and energy-efficiency programs
in Minnesota. Through the Energy City partnership and the work of Power
Strategies, the City of Elk River has become an energy conservation and
alternative power generation model. This association also enabled Power
Strategies to secure project financing through a variety of grants from
several government agencies, including the City of Elk River, and from
federal section 29 tax credits.
All of the parties involved have realized the benefits of the Elk River
landfill gas-to-electricity project. Power Strategies, as project developer,
expanded the use of its innovative tuned-reflux technology and helped
the City of Elk River capture a resource that would have otherwise been
wasted. By using landfill gas as a power source, ERMU is diversifying
its power portfolio and offering green power as an electricity source
to its customers. As members of the community of Elk River, Connexus Energy
and Great River Energy are realizing the social benefits of a cleaner
environment and an environmentally-friendly image. Waste Management, Inc.
is surpassing local and federal environmental compliance guidelines while
providing a cleaner, more sustainable environment for the City of Elk
River.
Summary of Benefits
- Using Innovative Technology
- Diversifying Power Portfolio
- Creating a Cleaner Environment
Lessons Learned
- Today's renewable resources marketplace requires
new and innovative approaches, products and services. Be creative in
the approach to project development.
- Maximize project revenue by utilizing creative
combinations of end uses such as multiple streams.
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 to encourage new landfill gas-to-energy
projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a variety
of tools (e.g., 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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