Assessment of Power Generation Using Biogas from Landfills in an Equatorial Tropical Context

Abstract

This work evaluates the biogas production potential of the Ceibales landfill for feeding a power plant in the southern region of Ecuador. Biogas production is estimated through mathematical models that consider energy generation and technologies available to supply electricity plants. Characteristic landfill data are accounted for to analyze and develop these mathematical models. Once the generation capability of each source is identified, a decision can be made on the most suitable electricity generation technology. A local model (Ecuadorian model) is applied to calculate the potential of biogas and is compared with other models commonly used for evaluating this type of project. This type of renewable energy is attractive because it produces electricity from waste; however, it is not an attractive option unless its application is encouraged, as hydro has been encouraged through the investment of taxpayer resources. Technologies require a boost to become profitable, and even more so if they compete with traditional technologies.

Estimation of Biogas Generated in Two Landfills in South-Central Ecuador

“…There are also several sources of obtaining biogas such as animal, plant, human, agro-industrial, forestry, aquatic crops and wastewater sources that can be used by reducing the factor 21 of CH 4 , one of the most potential gases responsible for the warming by greenhouse gases. Hence, the importance of taking advantage of these gases in the production of electrical energy is demonstrated in the studies performed at the global and national level as detailed in Table 5 [9,[39][40][41]. Therefore, to minimize the impacts related to global warming and climate change, the biogas generated in landfills may be used as an energy source to produce electricity [22,32,33].…”

Electricity Generation in Saudi Arabia: Tracing Opportunities and Challenges to Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

“…The use of algae to capture CO 2 from flue gases and turn it into biomass is one of the most promising approaches. In addition, algae have a lot of potential as renewable fuel sources and CO 2 capture by photosynthesis to reduce GHG emissions [153]- [155].…”

Ex-situ biological CO2 methanation using trickle bed reactor: review and recent advances

“…Due to the presence of CH 4 in biogas, it possesses energetical properties that can be converted into electricity/heat or can be used as platform chemical for e.g., protein manufacturing (Jones et al 2020). The content of CH 4 in biogas depends on the organic matter characteristic and can range from 55 to 80% (Barragán-Escandón et al 2020). However, the CO 2 in biogas occupies a significant part of its volume (from 20 up to 45%) representing no energetical use (calorific value = 0.0 MJ/m 3 ).…”