Energy potential and economic feasibility of biogas: case study of a landfill in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

The final disposal of solid waste in landfills may result in the production of a clean and renewable energy through the exploitation of biogas generated in these locations. This study aims to estimate the methane production in a landfill, with a total population of 237,298 inhabitants, and a total generation of waste of 83,561.78 ton/year, in the last year of operation, located in the state of Minas Gerais and evaluate the economic feasibility of a biogas exploitation project in this place, for electrical energy generation. The methane production was estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) methodology, obtaining the maximum methane production value of 6,692,590 mÑ in the last year of operation of the landfill. For economic feasibility analysis, the tools, such as net present value, discounted payback, and internal rate of return, were used with values of R$ 1,323,684.90 for 8 years, 4 months, and 12 days, and 9% per annum, respectively, demonstrating that the implementation of the project for the use of biogas at the landfill was viable, with positive economic return.