I. Title of the Best Practice
Methane Recovery from Landfills and Energy Valorization
II. Overview of the Best Practice
A. Characteristics of the measure
1. Objectives
Storage of domestic and industrial wastes in landfills generates methane emissions through organic matter degradation. Recovery of methane with adapted device prevents the emission in atmosphere and provide a source of energy that could substitute to other fuels. In 1990 1200 Millions m3 of methane was emitted from landfills in France. Taking in account the growth of waste production in one hand and the progressive reduction of wastes going to landfills in the other (as a national policy to reduce landfills, promoting recycling), the recovery of methane in landfills could allow to reduce the methane emissions by 913 Millions m3 in 2010 respectively to 1990 emissions level. The reduction of GHG emissions is 3.1 Millions t carbon equivalent.
2. GHG targeted
methane (CH4 )
3. public targeted
Owners and managers of landfills (municipalities, waste treatment companies)
4. Design of the measure
The mandatory measure consist to place a cover above the landfill with drains to collect the gas. The recovered gas could be used either to produce electricity through a gas motor, to produce heat through heat network.
The recovery of gas is an improved technology reaching up to 80% of efficiency.
The utilization of gas for electricity production is the main valorization process, the valorization through heat network is depending of the proximity of heat needs near the landfill.
The utilization of gas in natural gas network is experimented.
B. Reasons for inclusion as a Best Practice
The measure prevents greenhouse gases emissions in both ways : first through prevention of methane emission in the atmosphere (GWP of methane is 21), secondly through substitution of methane to other fuel consumed to produce energy. However, presently in France, the production of electricity with landfill methane substitutes mainly to nuclear as it is produced in base-load. At 2010 and beyond the gas produced could substitute to other use of natural gas, preventing correspondent amount of carbon.
The measure responds also to the national waste policy looking to reduce the number of landfills and to modernize the remaining ones in order to protect environment. In that sense the measure is a no-regret one.
III. Categorizing the Best Practice
1. classification : mandatory
2. social actors involved :
Central government and public agency
Local authorities (municipalities)
waste management companies (exploitation of landfills)
utilities (electric companies buying power).
3. Sectors
4. Target (Greenhouse Gases)
IV. List of Attachments
V. Contacts
François Moisan Director of Strategy and Communication
ADEME : Agence de l'Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l'Energie
27 Rue Louis Vicat, 75015 Paris France. |
