By Greentech Lead Team: GE announced that its Jenbacher
gas engines will drive landfill gas (LFG) power generation project of Laogang
Renewable Energy. The project will save emissions by over 340,000 tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
The seven Jenbacher J420 gas engines running on landfill
gas are designed to generate almost 80 megawatt hours of electricity per year,
which could power more than 46,000 Chinese households per year.
The gas engines are scheduled to begin shipping in the
second quarter of 2012 with commercial operation expected in December 2012.
During Chinese government’s 12th Five-Year Plan, China
plans to invest more than RMB$260 billion in the waste treatment industry
including waste-to-energy initiatives by 2015.
“Traditionally, landfill methane as a potent
greenhouse gas has been released directly into the air. By using GE’s gas
engines fueled by LFG, we expect to save emissions by over 340,000 tons of
carbon dioxide equivalent per year, significantly improving the local
environment in Shanghai,” said Chen Hongzhang, general manager, Laogang
Renewable Energy.
Seven of GE’s ecomagination-qualified Jenbacher J420 gas
engines will provide about 10 megawatts of electricity. Each J420 engine
combusts 2.7 million cubic meters of methane each year, providing an overall
yearly reduction of greenhouse gas of around 18.9 million m³ for the seven gas
engines.
Renewable Energy Company will sell any excess electricity
generated to the grid.
GE’s Jenbacher landfill gas engines use the gas –
consisting of methane, carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen – created during the
decomposition of organic substances in a landfill. Methane has a global warming
factor 21 times greater than carbon dioxide, the most widely recognized
greenhouse gas affecting climate change.
One of GE’s Jenbacher J420 gas engines running on
landfill gas can generate 1.4 MW electricity while saving the emissions of more
than 49,000 metric tons of CO2-equivalent per year through methane destruction
and displaced grid electricity production; this is equivalent to the annual CO2
emissions of more than 9,500 passenger cars on U.S. roads.
“This important project underscores our commitment
to providing alternative energy solutions to help China meet its energy goals
and cements our position as a leader in this segment,” said Rafael
Santana, president and CEO, Gas Engines for GE Energy.
