What is the potential of methane in landfills?

Methane potential of landfills is the estimated value of the energy value of methane produced by the decomposition of organic matter at the landfill sites if this methane should be used to produce energy such as electricity. Large landfill points often produce a very significant amount of methane. This flammable gas usually simply penetrates from the landfill to the atmosphere, where it contributes to problems with pollution, including global warming. Methane is one of the most harmful pollutants in terms of global warming and as a greenhouse gas; It is up to 20 times more harmful than equivalent carbon dioxide volumes. The attraction of methane from landfills as a source of energy is partly to prevent atmospheric pollution, and partly because it has the potential of cheap energy.

The potential of methane dump depends on many factors, including the share of decompose material that makes up the garbageIdentified on the spot. Instandable matter, such as not biodegradable plastics, does not contribute to methane production. The chemical reactions that form methane in landfills are similar to natural processes that also create methane. These processes are the result of microorganism activity and are usually anaerobic fermentation processes, ie they occur in places that are not aerated by oxygen. Natural methane production occurs during fertilizer disintegration, when organic matter in water areas such as wetlands, and in the stomachs of cows and other rumors, when cellulose from plants is cleaved.

The gas produced by landfills is actually a mixture of a number of different gases, of which methane usually accounts for about 50% of volume. While the methane potential of landfills in terms of alternative energy source is very significant and indeed in some numbers is already used as a viable source of energy, there are other ecological factors that need to be considered at assessmentIt values ​​landfills for their potential energy production. Composing gas usually contains many contaminants that are released into the atmosphere when gas is burned on energy. These contaminants also affect the efficiency of the energy production methods that can be used because boilers or turbines using landfill may require a high level of maintenance and cleaning.