Metropolitan Landfill Site Produces 230,000 MWh of Electricity Using Landfill Gas

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation announced on the 25th that it produced 230,000 MWh of electricity last year by utilizing gas generated from the waste landfill site.

This amount is enough to supply electricity for one year to 250,000 people, based on the average monthly electricity consumption of a four-person household (307 kWh). The landfill corporation sold the electricity, excluding its own usage, to Korea Electric Power Corporation, generating revenue of 38 billion KRW.

Since 2007, the landfill corporation has been producing electricity by using landfill gas (with 50% methane content) generated during waste decomposition as fuel for a 50 MW power generation facility.

Last year, 209 million cubic meters of landfill gas were captured, of which approximately 167 million cubic meters were used as fuel for the 50 MW power generation facility. The remainder was used as fuel for sewage sludge resource recovery facilities or incinerated.

The 50 MW power generation facility not only generates revenue from electricity sales but also prevents landfill gas from spreading into the atmosphere, thereby blocking odors and reducing greenhouse gases, contributing to carbon neutrality.

A representative of the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation stated, "As the waste treatment paradigm shifts from landfill to resource circulation, we are strengthening our role in creating resources and energy from waste."

Vertical gas collection well capturing landfill gas inside the landfill site
[Photo by Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.