Gas and electricity from garbage: Naftogaz and Clear Energy launched a biogas power plant in Lviv region
More than 800 thousand cubic meters. m of gas per year and “green” energy for about 735 families. This is the result of a modern biogas power plant, which started operating at the landfill for solid waste in the Lviv region today, May 21, 2022.
The facility was built within the joint project of Naftogaz Ukrainy and the Clear Energy group of companies.
“Development of low-carbon businesses is a strategic choice of Naftogaz. The construction of this facility is one of the steps in this direction. I think it is extremely important that even in such difficult conditions of war, we still continue to develop and implement such projects. Thanks to the biogas power plant built here, 38 hectares of landfill, which emits millions of cubic meters of harmful landfill gas, will become a source of energy for surrounding households. It is estimated that more than 2 million cubic meters will be released into the atmosphere due to this facility. methane, which is 30 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide, ”said Yuriy Vitrenko, Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz Ukrainy.
Landfill gas is formed during anaerobic (without air access) decomposition of organic waste residues (food residues, leaves, branches, etc.). Usually, this gas is one of the causes of fires and explosions in landfills. Such fires are difficult to extinguish, because they are formed and burn not on the surface, but in the depths of the landfill.
“Now the risk of fires and fires at this landfill, which have occurred in the past, has decreased. Biogas production should also reduce the body height of the landfill – the landfill will settle under its own weight. Therefore, undoubtedly, Lviv region, as well as families who live near the landfill and will receive electricity from this station, will significantly benefit from this facility. The opening of this facility is another stage in the reclamation of the landfill, another stage in ensuring environmental safety for residents of Lviv and the region, “said the head of the Lviv OVA Maksym Kozytsky.
Landfill degassing technology not only reduces methane emissions, but also reduces associated emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other air pollutants, eliminates odors.
“Rehabilitation of the landfill in Velykyi Hrybovychi is an extremely important project for the city, which we are implementing thanks to the support of European banks. It is part of a comprehensive plan to solve the problem of waste in Lviv. Currently, technical reclamation is underway, which includes the construction of a landfill gas collection, preparation and utilization system with electricity generation. This will improve the ecology of the environment, as the landfill will gradually decrease in volume due to the pumping of methane and other gaseous elements. I am convinced that today’s opening of a biogas power plant and work in synergy with Naftogaz and Clear Energy will be a new step in this important matter, “said Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy.
To ensure the reliability of the process, the plant is equipped with Austrian Jenbacher equipment, which is used in biogas projects throughout Europe.
“The plant produces 2 million 645 thousand kWh per year, replacing more than 800 thousand cubic meters of natural gas. This makes it possible to provide green electricity to about 735 households and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions by about 30,000 tons per year, ”said Petro Bagriy, co-founder and chairman of the Clear Energy Group’s supervisory board.
Biogas collection is carried out with the help of wells, which are evenly distributed on the body of the landfill, and a surface gas collection system. So far, 29 vertical and 4 horizontal wells have been drilled at this landfill.
The wells are located vertically to a depth of 12.5 meters. From each well there is a pipeline (loop) to the gas collection point. The gas is burned in the engine, which rotates the electric generator. The generated electricity is transmitted to the grid by means of a complete transformer substation.