Landfill’s Methane Gas Now Powering 900+ Homes

October 13, 2010

Gulf Power’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility is now up and running, producing 3,200 kilowatts — enough renewable energy to power more than 900 homes.

It is the first renewable energy generation facility owned and operated by Gulf Power, and the first landfill gas-to-energy facility by its parent Southern Company. The energy capacity can be expanded as landfill methane gas production expands in the future.

The partnership between Gulf Power and Escambia County was launched officially in February, when Gulf Power broke ground on its $5.3-million facility. Gulf Power has a contract with Escambia County for the purchase of landfill gas and with LFG Technologies Development to build and operate the landfill gas-to-energy facility.

“The project showcases how Gulf Power can partner with Escambia County and other communities to produce affordable renewable energy while providing tremendous benefits for our community and the environment,” said Sandy Sims, manager of Gulf Power Public Affairs. “We will produce renewable electricity that will benefit Gulf Power customers and create revenue for Escambia County. And it gives us an opportunity to teach schoolchildren about renewable energy.”

Landfill methane gas is one of the most cost-effective forms of renewable energy, forming naturally by bacterial decomposition of organic material in landfills, according to Gulf Power.

Municipal solid waste landfills are the second largest human-generated source of methane emissions in the United States and methane is one of the most potent forms of greenhouse gases — 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Escambia County has a collection system in place and pipes the gas to the facility, where it is processed for use by the specially designed Caterpillar 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. Water separated from the landfill gas will be re-used by the Landfill for its leachate system.

While this is the first such facility in Southern Company, Gulf Power has launched other partnerships that the company said benefits communities and the environment:

Gulf Power/Emerald Coast Utilities Authority — Less than a year after the scrubber started reducing emissions by more than 90 percent at Plant Crist, the plant will begin using millions of gallons of reclaimed water from the new ECUA Water Reclamation Facility. The water will be used by the scrubber system and for cooling operations at the plant. This partnership, which helps establish the ECUA plant as a zero-discharge facility to replace the Main Street Wastewater Plant, won a Sustainable Florida Best Practices award.

Gulf Power/Santa Rosa County — Gulf Power partnered with Santa Rosa County to install a meteorological tower on Navarre Beach to test the viability of wind energy. The partnership also provides renewable energy education for Navarre High School.

Pictured: Gulf Power Company’s Landfill Gas-to-Energy facility, including two 1,600-kilowatt landfill gas generators. Submitted photos by Sean Smith, Gulf Power, for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

7 Responses to “Landfill’s Methane Gas Now Powering 900+ Homes”

  1. Eric Kells on January 12th, 2011 2:45 pm

    who manufactured your switchgear and controls?

  2. confused on October 24th, 2010 10:39 pm

    So, do these 900 houses that benefit from the landfill to gas power generation get to cut the .05371 cent fuel charge that gulf power charges it’s customers?
    No? Well, GP states they make no money from the fuel charge. What about this instance?

  3. Serious Matter on October 13th, 2010 6:10 pm

    In case you don’t follow energy prices, Oil and other commodities are rising as the dollar falls in value, thanks to deficits, huge federal debts and the coming collapse. They are going to pass the higher fuel costs on to us

  4. JennyRae0209 on October 13th, 2010 11:30 am

    Of course they will continue to raise rates! They have an advantage over this area – they are the only power company you can get….. so, therefore, they can keep raising rates to keep giving raises to Susan Storey (CEO of GP) and keep making everyday working families struggle just to keep lights on.

    From what I understand, the facility is AT the Perdido Landfill. They also claim to be planning to open the facility for educational tours for schools and citizens “soon”. The facility had a cost of $ 5.3 million.

  5. Ruthanne on October 13th, 2010 10:04 am

    where is this facility located?

  6. psu1earl on October 13th, 2010 9:12 am

    And they still needed to raise our rates? Why?…

  7. You Who on October 13th, 2010 7:31 am

    This is great as long as we can keep the gov. from making a new tax for it

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News