Landfill gas energy from landfill sites Landfill gas is a cheap form of renewable energy Landfill gas is a cheap, clean and highly efficient source of renewable energy. It exploits a resource which could otherwise pollute the atmosphere and transforms it into useful electricity and heat at prices comparable with conventional power.
Landfill gas is produced within about a year of the first tipping of household and commercial waste.
As the waste decomposes, it produces the gas which consists of carbon dioxide and methane. The emissions from landfill gas contribute to local smog and can cause unpleasant odours. However, it is the methane that can be used to supply energy, generating significant revenues and reducing electrical demand for local utilities giving a viable alternative to the use of our ever-decreasing supply of fossil fuels. The year 2000 output from landfill gas could have saved as much as 460,000 tonnes of methane from entering the atmosphere. Along with savings of carbon dioxide, this would have the same global warming benefit as taking 2.3 million cars off the roads.