Feasibility of energy generation by methane emissions from a landfill in southern Mexico

This research addresses the use of methane (CH4) for energy generation in a landfill located in Southern Mexico. To evaluate the feasibility of this renewable and sustainable energy project, a LandGEM model was used to estimate the CH4-emissions, the environmental benefits and the economic profitability. Taken together, results showed an average CH4-production of 2932 ft3/min, with a maximum CH4-generation flowrate of 4072 ft3/min (115.3 m3). Energy generation resulted in 32.396 million KW h/year with a hot water/steam production of 63.990 million BTU/year. The installed capital costs of a 15-years project were estimated in $9,034,907 USD; economic parameters showed a financial profitability with a net present value of $6,304,060 and an internal rate of return of 25%. The environmental benefits reported a total collection and destruction of CH4 at 9,824,469,979 ft3 (278,198,009.2 m3). The results obtained in this research can be used to conduct further studies to implement waste-to-energy technologies in Mexico and thus improve the sector of sustainable and renewable energy.