Results from USEPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program’s database.

By Shelley Cohen

LMOP Database: Just the Facts
Analyzing Project Data
Industry Trends
Summary
Nomenclature for LFG Projects
Landfill Methane Outreach Program

During the past three years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) has undertaken substantial efforts to create a database of US landfill gas (LFG) utilization projects. Today the LMOP database is widely recognized as the most comprehensive and up-to-date database of LFG projects available.

Each year, the LMOP reviews and analyzes the data in the database and reports on the state of the LFG industry. This article focuses on current industry trends, as extrapolated from the database, and discusses how the LMOP database can be used to better serve the needs of the LFG industry.

LMOP Database: Just the Facts

The LMOP has worked closely with industry, state agencies, landfill owners and operators, and other stakeholders over the past three years to ensure the accuracy and validity of the information in the database. This information collection and verification effort has generated data on 325 operational, 68 under-construction, and 153 planned projects, as well as 1,574 other landfills with development potential. The database also contains information on 38 shutdown projects. Half of the shutdown projects involve the use of reciprocating engines to generate electricity and are located in California, Virginia, and New York.

In March 2000, the last time the LMOP reported on the state of the industry, there were 299 operational projects. Today there are 325 operational projects, reflecting an increase of 26 projects over the past year. In addition, there are 68 LFG projects under construction and 153 landfills in the planning stages. If all projects move forward, the LMOP predicts the number of operational projects will grow to 350 by 2002 and could reach 425 by 2005.

Analyzing Project Data

Figure 1. Growth in Landfill Gas Utilization Project Development

Distinguishing the number of operational, under-construction, and planned projects and the amount of gas being used allows the LMOP and the LFG industry to conduct a variety of analyses. The LMOP uses the information to estimate the emissions reductions from the project development efforts of the LFG industry. Collectively, the 325 operational projects remove a total of 14.7 million mt of carbon equivalent of emissions from the atmosphere each year, which is equivalent to planting 13.3 million ac. of trees or generating enough power to operate almost 1 million homes nationwide.

Information from the LMOP database is also used by project developers, utilities, power marketers, and financiers to develop project development strategies. Stakeholders use the database to track candidate landfill sites and target development opportunities. Candidate landfill sites have conditions, such as enough waste in place or an end user nearby, that would allow for cost-effective project development. Planned projects are those sites further along the development path because they have signed contracts, permits, or a strong likelihood to be constructed during the next year. These projects are also tracked by industry just in case the site becomes open to new development opportunities.

Industry Trends

In conducting analysis of the latest project information, the LMOP has evaluated the current condition of the industry and observed some exciting trends in project development. The LMOP’s analysis indicates that the strong pace of project development is continuing, with an increase in technological innovation and a shift toward direct-use projects.

Continued Growth in Project Development: Today, as Figure 1 shows, the LFG industry continues to enjoy strong, steady growth–even though many of the larger landfills have been developed and Section 29 tax credits have expired.

Figure 2 shows the number of new projects added annually. Following the surge in growth of new projects between 1996 and 1998, there was a slight drop in 1999, with the sunset of the Section 29 tax credits. Many new projects are still coming on-line, however; at least 16% of the post-1998 projects reportedly benefited from the tax credits.

Figure 2. New Landfill Gas Utilization Projects Added per Year at All Landfills

Project development activity at landfills without tax benefits is also strong, indicating that project developers are finding ways to make projects economically viable without Section 29 tax credits. As shown in Figure 1, new projects have been developed at both landfills subject to the New Source Performance Standards and Emission Guideline (NSPS/EG) and those that are not. This is an exciting development because non-NSPS landfill sites had previously been viewed as less promising because of their smaller size.

Currently one-third of all operational projects–about 120 landfills–are located at non-NSPS landfills, and 19 non-NSPS projects have come on-line since January 2000. These data indicate that project developers are finding ways to make unconventional projects more attractive and economical and that more technology options are available to successfully develop projects applicable to smaller landfill sites.

Technology Evolution: In 1995, the majority of projects developed in the LFG industry generated electricity. Table 1 summarizes electricity-generation projects in the US, of which 220 are operational, 41 are under construction, and 64 are in the planning stages. Most of these projects use internal combustion engines, primarily reciprocating engines, to generate power.

The operational projects shown in Table 1 represent an estimated 938 MW of installed capacity. Table 1 also shows the average project size in megawatts for each electricity-generation technology. Smaller applications, averaging 3 MW in size, favored the use of reciprocating engines. The larger electricity-generation projects tend to use steam turbines and combined cycle units, averaging 15 and 18 MW, respectively.

Table 2 also reveals a growth in the number of direct-use projects. In 1995, 20% of the projects developed were direct use; by 2001, 32% of the projects were direct use. Currently 105 direct-use projects are operational and 27 projects are under construction. The most common technology is direct combustion in heating systems such as boilers and furnaces. Projects based on newer technologies, such as leachate evaporation, greenhouse heating, and vehicle fuel upgrading, are represented in smaller numbers.

Table 2. Direct Landfill Gas Utilization Projects

Technology Innovation: Another industry trend identified by the LMOP is the increase in new, cleaner LFG technologies. Figure 3 shows a shift in technology types over the past 10 years. This figure also illustrates the growth in the "Other" category of both electricity-generation technologies and direct thermal technologies. Fuel cells are a prime example of a technology that holds promise for future LFG applications.

Figure 3. Landfill Gas Utilization Technologies From 1991 Through 2000

Evolving and emerging technologies are helping to capture new development opportunities. The availability of more technology types and applications makes it easier to develop appropriate projects at landfills of diverse sizes and types. For example, technologies such as microturbines and technology applications such as greenhouses have made developing LFG utilization projects at smaller landfills more feasible. Figure 4 shows a breakdown of the technologies being proposed at the LFG projects currently under construction or in the planning stage. Figure 4 also shows the variety of new technologies that LFG projects are using. These new technologies include cogeneration, combined cycle, leachate evaporation, liquefied natural gas, microturbines, methanol synthesis, and fuel-cell projects. Although internal combustion engines, primarily reciprocating engines, continue to be the most frequently used technology, emerging technologies play a growing role in the market.

Figure 4. Future Landfill Gas Utilization Technologies

Figure 5. Estimated annual Carbon Equivalent Emission Benefits from LFG Utilization Projects

Summary

Review of data from the latest update of the LMOP database shows that the LFG industry continues to grow at a steady rate and that the type of technologies available for utilizing the LFG continues to diversify and grow. Based on the number of under-construction and planned LFG utilization projects, future development over the next few years could result in as many as 100 new projects. Overall, the LFG industry appears to be on the verge of a new era of development activity.

Future efforts to track and analyze industry trends will depend on keeping the LMOP database as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible. Industry experts are encouraged to provide updates to the LMOP. A version of the LMOP database can be found on the LMOP Web site at www.epa.gov/LMOP under LFGTE Projects. The database is updated monthly with new information received from the industry, states, and utilities.

With the support of its industry allies and partners, the LMOP will continue to upgrade its database and track project development, thus maintaining this valuable source of information for the LFG industry and for promoting future project development.

Shelley Cohen is a program manager and team leader for the Landfill Methane Outreach Program.