Methane Gas to Renewable Energy

Reducing America’s reliance on foreign oil has been the goal of government and industry for decades. Seneca Meadows joined the effort in 1995 with the establishment of a landfill gas to energy plant on its site. The plant, which is owned and operated by Archaea Energy is one of the largest in the nation and produces sufficient electricity for thousands of homes and businesses.

Landfill gas, a byproduct of organic waste decomposition, is collected from the landfill and piped to the gas plant to burn as fuel in the engine generators. Burning landfill gas produces yet another benefit to the environment: it destroys 98% of non-methane organic compounds.

 

Landfill Gas Header Pipe

STEP 1: Landfill Gas Header Pipe

Landfill gas is piped from the waste cell to the Aria Energy Gas Plant.  

Scrubber Room

STEP 2: Scrubber Room

The landfill gas is prepared in a scrubber system prior to entering the engine generators.  

Engine Generators

STEP 3: Engine Generators

The prepared landfill gas is burned in the engine generators to produce electricity.  

Electrical Generation

STEP 4: Electrical Generation

18 engine generators produce 17 megawatts of electricity.  

Enclosed Flares

STEP 5: Enclosed Flares

Any excess landfill gas is flared, reducing non-methane organic pollutants by 98 percent.  

Power Substation

STEP 6: Power Substation

The electricity generated at the Seneca Energy Gas Plant is fed into the local grid, providing electricity for thousands of homes and business.  

Landfill Gas Header Pipe Scrubber Room Engine Generators Electrical Generation Enclosed Flares Power Substation