Dartmouth, Massachusetts
United States
Project Highlights
- Crapo Hill Landfill harnesses methane emissions, powering a 3.3MW electrical plant and selling excess electricity to the local grid.
- The project's efficiency trades methane (25x more potent) for CO2, significantly curbing greenhouse gas impact.
- Waste-to-electricity model generates income, jobs, and annually prevents 88,437 metric tons of CO2e emissions.
Project Description
The landfill near Massachusetts' coast, managed by the Greater New Bedford Regional Refuse Management District, exemplifies offset project efficiencies. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas emitted by landfills, is captured using wells and pipes at Crapo Hill Landfill.
The landfill district monetizes the collected gas, fueling a 3.3MW on-site power plant. Carbon dioxide emitted during power generation is considered favorable, given methane's 25 times higher potency as a greenhouse gas. The electricity generated is supplied to the local power grid.
Additionally, the project utilizes waste heat and electricity to operate an adjacent anaerobic digestion facility, converting organic waste into biogas. This biogas supplements the power plant's fuel. Consequently, the initiative not only transforms various waste types into electricity but also generates income for the landfill and employment opportunities for local residents.
Annually, the project prevents the release of 88,437 metric tons (97,485 US tons) of carbon dioxide or equivalent greenhouse gases, contributing significantly to climate change mitigation.