Feasibility and cost optimization study of Landfill Gas to Energy Projects based on a Western Cape Landfill Site in South Africa

One of the serious problems that the world still faces nowadays is the chronic power shortage and the inaccessibility to energy services of mostly the majority of the population living in remote or off-grid areas. In addition to this concern, rapidly growing populations, rapid economic growth and rise in community living standards have accelerated the generation rate of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) causing its management to be a major worldwide challenge. This paper deals with the technical, economic, and environmental assessment of deploying a Landfill Gas to Energy generation system considering the Bellville South Landfill Site (South Africa) as a case-study. The research work also aims to introduce systems that enable to generate energy; analyze quantity and economic value of decomposition products (gas); quantify estimated capital and operating costs by performing an economic assessment of an LFGTE Projects using microturbine technology rather than the mostly and commonly worldwide used IC Engines technology. The work also brings to light the relevant environmental impacts. Furthermore, the economic assessment in this research work is performed using the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) software in order to develop the cost optimization analysis.