DURBAN LANDFILL GAS TO ELECTRICITY CDM PROJECT: 'FEELING THE CHILL'

摘要

The Durban Landfill Gas to Electricity Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project has been Africa's first Landfill CDM Project. It has contributed to the Metro's electricity supply and received revenue from methane (CH4) destruction in the form of Certified Emission Reductions (CER's) and electricity sales. The CDM infrastructure currently includes 6.5 MW of installed engine capacity at the Bisasar Road Landfill Site and there is potential to install up to 8 MW of engine capacity in total, although the landfill is currently scheduled to close in 2014. The Bisasar Road Landfill serves the greater eThekwini Metro which is located in a sub-tropical climate. The site accepts mixed urban solid waste and results in significant quantities of landfill gas (LFG) with a relatively high. CH4 content being produced soon after waste placement. As a result the Department of Cleansing and Solid Waste, (DSW), chose to install horizontal gas extraction wells (HGW) with relatively lower costs and simpler construction as opposed to vertical gas extraction wells. HGW allows for LFG extraction to take place early in the biodegradation process. The improved performance of this type of well has allowed for additional LFG to be timeously delivered to the project and ensured the improved collection of future CER credits. The effectiveness of landfill gas engines electricity generation is dependent on the quality of the gas supply.