New Landfill System Turns Methane Gas Into Electricity

Federal and county officials announced Tuesday the completion of an alternative energy project that turns methane from a local landfill into electricity.

The Gas to Electricity Project at the Millersville landfill is the 10th in the state, and has the ability to power 2,000 homes.

According to a press release, the gas-to-electricty system works by using a special generator that takes methane gas that was once combusted on site. Now, the gas is used to produce as much as 3.2 megawatts of electricity per hour.

Funding for the project came from a $2 million Energy Block Grant from
the U.S. Department of Energy, $5 in million bonds and some federal government stimulus money.

The county’s partners on the $6.7 million project included Landfill Energy Systems Inc., Arundel, Community Development Services Inc., the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Landfill Energy Systems carried out construction of the project, which began in August of 2010. The company has worked on about two-dozen similar projects around the country.

The new gas-to-electricity facility features two engine generator sets powered by gas from the ladfill, along with  a gas compressor station, condensate removal, electrical switchgear and controls.