Hybrid concentrating solar-landfill gas power-generation concept for landfill energy recovery

In the present study, new approaches for Landfill gas (LFG) energy recovery from operating and decommissioning landfills were examined. LFG energy recovery is already a reality in several developed and developing countries. Here, to improve performance in the electricity generation, the hybridization of LFG with other landfill-readily available energy sources, namely solar thermal, waste incineration and syngas from waste gasification, is explored through numerical simulation. The arrangement examined comprised of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle System. Several scenarios were tested with different configurations and operational modes. Results have shown that the hybridization of LFG powered gas turbine with solar energy in a combined cycle arrangement made it possible to more than double system power rating when compared to gas turbine alone. However, power generation would be highly dependent on the ratio between the solar field and landfill areas. The addition of a supplementary of landfill-readily available energy source, either by waste incineration or gasification, compensates for this drawback and might be the best option for landfill power generation or combined heat and power. Economic analysis showed promising results but with some uncertainty.