Though the technology is still in the demonstration phase, the future of this method for generating clean electricity looks promising. The project was featured in a supplement to MSW Management , and the gas pre-treatment unit was awarded recognition as an Innovative Environmental Technology by Discover magazine.
Fuel cells are one of the newest and most innovative ways to generate power.
A fuel cell extracts hydrogen from the methane in LFG and mixes it with oxygen to produce electricity, heat, and water. The Fuel Cell produces no combustible parts that can harm the environment. Prior to development of the gas cleanup technology designed and used in this project, use of landfill gas to power fuel cells was not possible due to contaminants in the gas such as sulfur and halides. Under contract from EPA, ONSI set out to show that using landfill gas to power fuel cells is technically and environmentally feasible in commercial operation. ONSI first developed a conceptual design, cost, and evaluation study in order to assess the overall economic and technical feasibility of the project.