Waste Management (WM) has unveiled the first Gas-To-Energy power plant in Northern Nevada. The new plant at Lockwood Landfill will use landfill gas to produce 3.2 MW of electricity. The electricity produced is sufficient to power over 1800 houses.
Methane gas is released through the decomposition of organic materials, including food and yard waste. The gas is collected by the wells located on site and is sent to the power plant, which in turn uses this gas to fuel two generators. The project started production in March 2012 and will reduce the use of coal significantly
The landfill gas offers the following advantages when compared to other renewable sources such as solar and wind. Landfill gas is:
- Approved by EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)
- Low-cost substitute to other sources of fuel including natural gas.
- Consistent even in peak hours
- Does not depend on sunlight, wind and other environment sources to produce energy.
In North America, WM is operating 131 landfill gas-to-energy facilities that generate electricity sufficient to power almost 475,000 households. More than 9 million MWh of electricity is produced annually through the company’s renewable energy projects and this electricity is sufficient to power over 1.1 million houses.
The company serves municipal, residential, industrial and commercial customers across North America. The head office of the company is located in Houston, Texas.
Source: http://www.wm.com