Clarke Energy has signed a contract with Bord na Móna to deliver a landfill gas power plant at the Drehid Landfill site in the Republic of Ireland. This power plant will utilise landfill gas that originates from household waste to produce renewable power.

Up to 25 jobs will be supported during the plant’s construction and 3-4 permanent positions for the site’s ongoing operations.

The project will utilise landfill gas produced from the decomposition of waste in the landfill site to produce 5.6 megawatts of renewable electricity, enough to power 14,000 homes.

The project will utilise four of GE Power & Water’s containerised Jenbacher 420 gas engines each rated at 1.4MW electrical output to deliver 5.6 megawatts of renewable power. Jenbacher gas engines are renowned for their high efficiency and robust performance on difficult gases such as landfill gas.

Landfill gas is a byproduct of microbial activity and is formed from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste materials. It is comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide.

The methane which contains the chemical energy for power is typically at 40-60% concentration. This biogas, if released to atmosphere, is a potent greenhouse gas.

However, if the gas is utilised in a gas engine, emissions are reduced and renewable electricity is produced, with the added benefit of converting a waste material into a useful fuel.

Using landfill gas for power provides base-load electricity; unlike wind power and solar, landfill gas can be used to deliver continuous, stable supplies of electricity to the power grid.