Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) - Landfill Gas Project in Zámbiza, Quito

The Zámbiza landfill is located near Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Operational from 1979-2002, the landfill site has accommodated five million tonnes of domestic waste, to a depth of over 20 metres. When the site was closed, there was no provision for environmental protection.

Solution

After successful degassing trials, it was established that Zámbiza had the ideal conditions for emission trading. As part of the Kyoto Protocol, Green Gas submitted the PDD (Project Design Document) for acknowledgement and registration.

The project was realised in cooperation with Alquimiatec S.A. and involves methane capture and flaring, using technology from Hofstetter Umwelttechnik AG. In the process of site preparation, the project area was enlarged to 10 hectares. Zámbiza has the potential to support a gas utilisation plant with 2,500 kWel installed power. This would be able to generate an average of 14 GWh/year of electricity. The project has been developed to comply with the UNFCCC Methodology regulations.

Technical specifications

• High temperature flare
• Combustion at 1,000-1,200°C and residence time >= 0.3s
• Volume flow 2,000 Nm³/h

Precise logging of operating data is also required in order for the project to remain within the framework of Kyoto Protocol.

Results

The Zámbiza project is bringing a host of positive benefits for the Quito region. It has the potential to deliver total greenhouse gas reductions of 777,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in the 10 year project crediting period - ending February 2016.

Methane gas explosions and fires at the site have now been prevented. The surrounding environment has been improved. Local residents are no longer exposed to the harmful health effects caused by gas emissions which were previously allowed to escape unrestrained. At the same time technology and know-how are being transferred to the region through foreign investment capital. Importantly, the project generates revenue from emission trading and has a long service life. It also has had a small but positive impact on local employment. Ultimately, the Municipality of Quito plans to convert part of the landfill site into a recreational park for the people of Quito.

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Vlierzele

The Vlierzele plant in Belgium demonstrates the benefits of the Green Gas policy of continuous compilation and analysis of operating data. The plant was originally commissioned in 2001. Due to increasing landfill gas volumes, a second module was added in February 2002 and was later replaced by a more powerful unit in May 2003. As a consequence, from 2001 to 2006 the plant's energy production increased by 81 per cent.  In 2006 approx 7.6 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy were produced - enough to meet the energy demands of 1,900 households. Green Gas operates the gas utilisation plants and is responsible for the regulation of the degasification system.

Based on over 20 years' experience of realising renewable energy projects, proven operational skills and our legal compliance, the Belgian regulatory authority VREG has granted us a license to produce "groene stromcertificaten" (green power certificates). These certificates are then sold to large Belgian utility companies, which utilise them to offset their obligation to use a certain percentage of renewable energy.

Specifications

• Location: Vlierzele, Belgium
• Fuel: Landfill gas
• Commissioned: 2001/2003
• Electrical output /installed capacity: 1,168 kW
• Energy production: 7.6 million kWh (2006)
• Operator: Green Gas Germany GmbH
• Annual CO₂ reduction: approx. 32,000 tonnes (in 2006).

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