Their challenge

This project involved the development of a system to convert methane emissions from an existing landfill into energy harnessed for use in a nearby wastewater treatment plant. Prior to this system’s development, the methane gas was collected and burned—a process that created significant air pollution. Once developed, the new Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE) system would capture these dangerous emissions and harness them as an energy resource. This project required innovative design for electrical and mechanical power systems and controls and a new electrical power generator and gas conditioning system. It also required extensive coordination among project stakeholders.

Our solution

The Salas O’Brien team provided innovative engineering solutions for key systems and controls supporting the gas-to-energy conversion and transmission process.

The results

The finished system utilizes a new Waukesha 1000 APG Enginator that features cutting-edge “lean burn” technology and is capable of producing 8,600 megawatt hours of sustainable energy annually. This tradeoff is equivalent to removing over 9,000 passenger cars from the road each year. The LFGTE system, in combination with the anaerobic digester at a nearby composting plant, provides 95% of the two plants’ energy needs and saves the city $50,000 in utility costs each year.