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Energy efficiency and environmental impact of biogas utilization in landfills

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Abstract

This study investigates the utilization of landfill biogas as a fuel for electrical power generation. Landfills can be regarded as conversion biogas plants to electricity, not only covering internal consumptions of the facility but contributing in the power grid as well. A landfill gas plant consists of a recovery and a production system. The recovery of landfill gas is an area of vital interest since it combines both alternative energy production and reduction of environmental impact through reduction of methane and carbon dioxide, two of the main greenhouse gases emissions. This study follows two main objectives. First, to determine whether active extraction of landfill gas in the examined municipal solid waste sites would produce adequate electric power for utilisation and grid connection and second, to estimate the reduction of sequential greenhouse gases emissions. However, in order to optimize the designing of a plant fed by biogas, it is necessary to quantify biogas production over several years. The investigation results of energy efficiency and environmental impact of biogas utilization in landfills are considering satisfactory enough both in electric energy production and in contribution to greenhouse gases mitigation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Chania, 73133, Greece

    E. S. Karapidakis Ph.D. (Assistant Professor), A. A. Tsave (M.Sc. Student), P. M. Soupios Ph.D. (Associate Professor) & Y. A. Katsigiannis Ph.D. (Lecturer)

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  1. E. S. Karapidakis Ph.D.
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  2. A. A. Tsave
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  3. P. M. Soupios Ph.D.
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  4. Y. A. Katsigiannis Ph.D.
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Correspondence to E. S. Karapidakis Ph.D..

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Karapidakis, E.S., Tsave, A.A., Soupios, P.M. et al. Energy efficiency and environmental impact of biogas utilization in landfills. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 7, 599–608 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326169

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326169

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