Energetic and Methane Emission Reduction Potentials from an Unsanitary Landfill

Abstract

Al Akeeder is the largest landfill site in northern Jordan. The site operation started in 1981 by open dumping and combusting then converted to unsanitary landfilling (without biogas and leachate management). The objective of this article is to estimate the energy and methane emission reduction potentials of the landfill. The amount and composition of the landfill gas were estimated by using both modeling and pumping test techniques. Gas-Sim model was utilized to determine the amount of emitted methane and its emission reduction potential. To confirm the theoretical methane emission estimated by the model, a field pumping test was carried out by drilling two extraction biogas wells. The modeling results showed that the peak methane flow rate of 1,200 m³/h will be reached by the year 2021, one year after the landfill closure. In case of implementing a methane recovery system, the model estimated the amount of the annual methane emission reduction potential to be 52,704 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year at the beginning of the plant operation period (2010–2015), while this value will reach 63,466 tons of CO₂ equivalent during 2020–2025 period. Based on a pumping test the peak emission reduction estimate will be in the year 2021 with a value of 49,023 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year. As for the energy potential, the power estimated based on modeling was found to be 4.5 MW when the landfill closure will be taking place by 2020, while the pumping test estimated the power potential directly after the landfill closure to be 3.7 MW.

Keywords:

• biogas modeling
• energy potential
• Jordan
• methane
• pumping test
• unsanitary landfill

Notes

^aBased on 40% recovery of the emitted methane.

^bPure methane heating value of 35 MJ/M³.

^cBased on methane density of 0.75 kg/m³ and CO₂ ton equivalent by multiplying methane tonnage by 21.

^aBased on 70% successful wells.

^bPure methane heating value of 35 MJ/M³.

^cBased on methane density of 0.75 kg/m³ and CO₂ ton equivalent by multiplying methane tonnage by 21.