(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Dubai's largest waste collection site in Al Qusais on Monday night became the first landfill in the region to run its entire operations with electricity generated from landfill gas.
The Dubai Municipality's ambitious waste-to-energy project through the landfill gas recovery plant at the site, which opened in January, is now providing 1MW (1000kW) of electricity to run the high-efficiency gas conversion and flare equipment installed at the plant, site offices and lighting at the landfill spread over an area of about 3.5 square kilometres.
Hussain Nasser Lootah and Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd switch on the project. - Supplied photo
Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director-General of Dubai Municipality, along with Dr Rashid Ahmed bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, formally unveiled the first-of-its-kind project in the Middle East, where landfill gas is used to completely power the internal requirements of the landfill.
The gas collection system implemented by Green Energy Solutions and Sustainability for the municipality can recover methane emitted from organic waste and convert it into electricity by flaring the gas.
With a capacity of flaring 6,000 cubic metres per hour of landfill gas, the plant will safely dispose methane, a greenhouse gas that constitutes about 55 per cent of the landfill gas and contributes to environmental degradation. Methane is 21 times more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Fully registered with the United Nations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the large-scale Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project will also contribute to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions equivalent to about 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide. In due course, the system is expected to generate 20MW of power from landfill gas by 2020.
The sustainable development project is named "2020" in anticipation of Dubai winning the bid to host World Expo 2020.
Lootah said: "This is a significant milestone in Dubai's journey towards being a sustainable city and is inspired by the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, to undertake initiatives that conserve our environment.
"With Dubai's bid to host World Expo 2020 going full steam ahead, we are further highlighting our leadership in creating innovative solutions for the future through the project. This 20/20 project is set to produce 20MW of power by the turn of the decade.
"The project also complements the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to explore alternative energy sources that will reduce the demand on the existing power grid, while protecting the environment."
Abdul Majeed Al Saifaie, Director of the Waste Management Department at the municipality, said the site was expected to reach a capacity of producing 15MW in one year. The surplus power generated in future would be connected to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's network.
Design and construction implemented on the Al Qusais landfill will help manage odours, and reduce health risks, fire and adverse environmental impacts. The landfill is located just opposite dozens of labour accommodation blocks in Sonapur.
As a CDM initiative, the project can acquire carbon credits proportional to the reduction in green house gas emission. As per the agreement, the municipality will get 30 per cent of the deal when the carbon credits from its landfill project are traded.
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