DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE BY LOOKING AT THE PAST A CASE STUDY OF UPGRADING A LANDFILL GAS TO ENERGY OPERATION

摘要

Faced with declining gas quantities and an aging gas to energy plant that was ready for an overhaul the Winnebago County Solid Waste Board made choices that changed its landfill gas operation into one that would meet the needs of the future. Winnebago County Solid Waste Board, owner and operator of one of Wisconsin's first landfill Gas to energy projects with more than ten years of gas collection and electrical generating experience had to decide what direction to take for the future. The choices were: (a) continue to operate an old, worn out, gas turbine engine/generator facility that was not performing financially as expected; (b) modernize the electrical generating plant by implementing improved technology now available to the Landfill Gas Utilization Industry, or (c) seek a completely new direction, utilizing landfill gas for other beneficial purposes. This case study will describe the methods, actions and final outcome of the changes chosen by the Winnebago County Solid Waste Board.