Analysis of the feasibility of the recovery of landfill gas: a case study of Mexico

Electricity is a vital component in the development of societies and industrial progress. The growing demand and environmental degradation from current sources forces us to search for alternative methods of generating it. The use of biogas generated in landfills enables the recovery of the remaining energy in waste and reduces the environmental problems caused by burning coal, oil, and natural gas. Certainty in the generation projections is required for an energy source to be considered useful. The usefulness of biogas power generation depends on accurately estimating the amount of possible biogas generation. Considering this uncertainty, the objectives of this research were to (a) determine the methane generation rate (k) and methane generation potential (L0), and (b) estimate the biogas generation in the final disposal sites (FDS) of two urban communities and two rural communities in Baja California, Mexico. To determine the constants used in biogas models, the following experiments were performed: (a) waste characterisation studies, (b) observations of the characteristics and performance of the FDS, (c) interviews with the managers of the FDS, and (d) IPCC model parameters. Predictions of biogas utility were made using the modified constants in the Mexico LFG Model Version 2.0 proposed by SCS Engineers. The results show that k averaged 0.0429 yr−1 and L0 was 68.69 m3/ton. In the period of 2013–2030, there will be a power generation potential of 760492.8 MW/h (USD $142.21 million). The potential reduction in CO2e emissions would be approximately 5.2 MtCO2e during the same period (USD $57.16 million).