Mississippi's First Landfill Gas to Energy Project

13 October 2011 Mississippi's first landfill gas to energy system has begun commercial operations at the Golden Triangle Regional Landfill that will support the regional grid. Owned by the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority (GTRSWMA), the landfill gas to energy facility uses a GE J320 Jenbacher landfill gas engine to generate nearly 1 MW power. According to GE the electricity generated will be sold through Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) renewable power initiative. The TVA is purchasing the power from the 4-County Electric Power Association distribution system under the auspices of its Generation Partners program, which supports the production of renewable energy within the utility's coverage area. The energy and associated environmental benefits are purchased through the program, which then transfers the right to claim the renewable attributes to Green Power Switch customers. Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour comments: "This project at the Golden Triangle Regional Landfill fits in well with our state's strategy to have diverse energy resources to support our long-term economic growth." Landfills are the third largest, human-generated source of methane emissions in the U.S., releasing an estimated 27.5 million tonnes of carbon equivalent to the atmosphere in 2009. According to Roger George, North American regional sales leader for GE Energy's Gas Engines Business, while most of the landfills in the north eastern and western U.S. are developed, a significant amount of waste continues to be transported from high-population areas to rural regions, making the south eastern U.S. the fastest growing region for new LFGTE projects. GE claims that one J320 landfill gas engine is designed to generate almost 8,000 MWh of electricity per year and saves more than 2 million cubic meters of natural gas for generation in an average U.S. natural gas-fired power plant. In addition to supplying the Jenbacher gas engine, GE says that it also brought the TVA's Generation Partners renewable energy purchase program to the attention of the GTRSWMA's landfill board. Nixon Energy Solutions, GE's authorised Jenbacher gas engine distributor in Mississippi, delivered the unit to the site where it was installed by SCS Field Services. Read More Landfill Gas to Energy Project Fires Up in Wisconsin Veolia Environnement North America has commenced operations at its new Landfill Gas to Energy project at the Hickory Meadows Landfill, located in eastern Wisconsin. Pennsylvania Flips Switch on Landfill Gas to Energy Project A landfill gas to energy project has been launched at the new Chrin Green Energy Park complex opposite the Chrin Landfill in Northampton County Pennsylvania. Co-Firing Landfill Gas at Marine Corp Base California based Chevron Energy Solutions has completed a landfill gas co-generation facility at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. Free Magazine Subscription Free Email Newsletter