The District of Squamish is planning to provide renewable energy via the landfill gas, according to Ian Picketts, the Manager of Sustainability and Climate Change.
In a response to a local citizen, Picketts said the district was beginning construction of a landfill gas collection system later in the summer, where the methane gas will be collected.
This gas will be flared at the landfill site, where the methane will be converted into CO2, which is a much less potent greenhouse gas than methane.
“Our goal is to begin utilizing this gas, either by selling it to Fortis or another partner, or using it ourselves. However, we must first assess the amount and the composition of gas that the system produces before determining an end use,” Picketts said. “We will start collecting data as soon as the system is operational, which we will use to make the best decision about how (or if) to utilize the gas.”
According to the district, the local landfill currently generates approximately 677 tonnes of methane per year into the atmosphere, which is expected to peak between 712 and 859 tonnes per year by 2027. The landfill gas is a natural product of the breakdown of organic materials in the landfill. It is composed of roughly 50% carbon dioxide and 50% methane, which is a greenhouse gas more powerful than carbon dioxide.
At the local landfill, a network of drilled vertical wells will capture gas in the closed portion of the landfill, while gas will be captured in horizontal gas collectors.
The construction of the landfill gas collection system begins before September.
The district is not mandated by Provincial regulations to address methane escape from the landfill until emissions exceeds 1,000 tonnes, which is well under what the district landfill generates.
However, the district says it is committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Patricia Marini says
Well done Council!!