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Landfills
Cat® Generator Sets: How Renewable Landfill Energy Works
Modern landfills are required to install gas collection systems to capture and destroy the methane gases that are naturally produced within a landfill. These gases are burned in a flare. Rather than eliminating landfill gas by simply burning it off, Caterpillar can help you turn it into a renewable fuel by providing methane generators that can produce electric power from landfill gas.
How It Works
Landfill gas is produced naturally as organic waste decomposes in landfills. It is composed of methane, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of non-methane organic compounds. As an important and growing application within the world's power generation mix, landfill-gas-to-energy systems collect, process, and treat this gas for use in generating electricity. Two common approaches to landfill gas collection include vertical well extraction and horizontal collectors or trenches.
Municipalities generally use blowers or vacuums to direct the gas from a collection site through a network of pipes to a central facility. At most developed municipal solid-waste landfills, the methane and carbon dioxide are destroyed in a gas collection and control system or utility flare. The sustainable alternative is to divert the landfill gas from the flare to be used in electricity-producing Cat methane generators.
The diverted fuel is dried and sometimes refined to remove impurities such as:
- Sulfur
- Halides
- Siloxanes (Silica)
After fuel treatment, the methane is introduced into a Cat gas generator as fuel. These generators are specifically designed for operation at landfills with:
- A crankcase ventilation pump to eject potentially acidic blow-by gases
- Specially designed aftercooler cores, cylinder heads, main bearings, and connecting rod bearings that are hardened against corrosive elements
- Differentiated cooling systems to operate at elevated jacket water temperatures to prevent condensation of contaminants
Cat switchgear with PLC-based controls is supplied to parallel the generators to the local electrical grid to export renewable power at a premium to the local electric utility.
Testimonials
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Cat System Turns Landfill Gas Into Electricity
The transformation of domestic waste into a valuable commercial product is a necessity today. The power plant project is expected to improve methane gas ventilation at the landfill site, while providing an environmentally friendly fuel source to generate electricity. The power plant has resulted in social ecological and economic benefits for the customer.
Learn More -
Gas-to-energy Plant Converts 95% of Methane Gas to Power
Enerdyne Power Systems is one of the most experienced landfill gas-to-energy developers on the East Coast. Municipalities and landfill management companies that partner with Enerdyne do so to be proactive within the community in terms of reducing harmful landfill gas emissions.
Learn More -
Homestead Green Energy Biomass Facility
Based in Plymouth, Indiana, Homestead Dairy has 1,800 milking cows and 1,700 cows come in from three nearby facilities for milking. Continued success increased cow manure and the odor was directly impacting the nearby residents. They decided to build a biomass waste-to-energy facility to convert the manure into electric power and Homestead Dairy partnered with local Cat dealer, Michigan Cat, to customize a green energy power generation system.
Learn More -
Collecting Tomorrow’s Energy
Granger Energy Services was the first company in Michigan to make practical use of landfill gas for renewable energy production. They use methane gas to produce highly reliable, base-load power. With four Cat® G3520C gensets, Granger is able to produce annual energy savings equating to heat for more than 34,500 homes, and enough electricity to power more than 3,800 homes. And Cat ET software monitors every aspect of generator set operation.
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Products featured in Customer Stories
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- Continuous Rating
- 4300 / 4000 ekW @1.0pf
- 4300 / 4000 ekW @1.0pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Coal Gas, Associated Gas, Synthesis Gas, Hydrogen Blend (to 25%)
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Coal Gas, Associated Gas, Synthesis Gas, Hydrogen Blend (to 25%)
- Maximum Electrical Efficiency
- 44.1 / 43.8%
- 44.1 / 43.8%
CG260-16
From natural gas-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) systems and emergency power for facilities, to renewable biogas energy to support the local grid, or electricity generated from coal mine gases, Caterpillar has a wide range of reliable gas power solutions.
Learn More- Gas Standby Rating
- 750 ekW @ 0.8pf
- 750 ekW @ 0.8pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 5%)
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 5%)
- Emissions/Fuel Strategy
- U.S. EPA Certified for Non-Emergency Stationary Genset
- U.S. EPA Certified for Non-Emergency Stationary Genset
G3512 with FAST RESPONSE
Caterpillar is leading the power generation marketplace with Fast Response generator sets engineered to deliver unmatched performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Learn More- Continuous Rating
- 2050 ekW
- 2050 ekW
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Coal Gas
- Natural Gas, Biogas, Coal Gas
- Maximum Electrical Efficiency
- 40.10%
- 40.10%
G3520C
From natural gas-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) systems and emergency power for facilities, to renewable biogas energy to support the local grid, or electricity generated from coal mine gases, Caterpillar has a wide range of reliable gas power solutions.
Learn More- Continuous Rating
- 2519 / 2500 ekW @ 1.0pf
- 2519 / 2500 ekW @ 1.0pf
- Fuel Type
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 25%)
- Natural Gas, Hydrogen Blend (up to 25%)
- Maximum Electrical Efficiency
- 45.30%
- 45.30%
G3520H
From natural gas to biogas, coal mine gases, or hydrogen fuel blends to support combined heat and power (CHP), emergency power, and local grid support applications, Caterpillar has a wide range of reliable gas power solutions.
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