Generating facility set to power 10,000 southern Nevada homes.
Republic Services, Phoenix, Ariz., and Energenic jointly held the grand opening of its Apex landfill renewable energy generating facility at Republic’s Las Vegas-area landfill. The 11-megawatt power plant project, which Republic says is the largest of its kind in Nevada, is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 10,000 homes in southern Nevada.
The project cost around $35 million and will operate at the company’s 2,200-acre landfill just northeast of Las Vegas.
Last year Republic Services retained project partner Energenic to design, build, operate and maintain the facility at its landfill. NV Energy entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement for the sale of energy produced from the 12-megawatt landfill gas powered facility.
The plant, which sits on 1.5 acres, uses landfill gas to fuel two Solar Centaur 60 combustion turbines manufactured by Solar Turbines, a subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Methane gas will be drawn from 36 vertical and horizontal wells up to 300 feet deep that tie into a header system to treat sulfur content. Next, gas is filtered for moisture and particulates then is compressed and injected into 5.5-megawatt air-cooled turbines that generate electricity.
Energenic receives landfill gas extracted from a series of wells at the landfill and processes the gas in two turbine-generators to make renewable electricity for NV Energy customers. The captured methane is converted to water and carbon dioxide when the gas is burned to produce electricity.
Michael Yackira, NV Energy’s president and CEO, notes that the new landfill gas-powered facility is one of 45 renewable energy facilities that are benefitting or will benefit NV Energy customers throughout Nevada.
“Our project with Republic Services and Energenic is good for our customers, the economy and the environment, as well as important to help us meet Nevada’s renewable energy portfolio standard,” Yackira says.
Joe Burkel, Republic Services of Southern Nevada’s area president, notes the renewable energy project will make significant positive impacts on the local environment. “Using landfill gas for electric power production provides an additional source of clean, domestically fueled energy production. This is an invaluable opportunity to use the gas produced at the landfill for energy generation and further endorses our mission to reduce our carbon footprint as a company and community.”
“The facility unveiling is a win for clean energy" says Frank DiCola, president of Energenic. "Landfill-gas-to-energy technology is a crucial component to our clean energy future. This facility will lead the way with its sophisticated landfill gas treatment system, allowing for one of the few landfill gas facilities in the country with post emission treatment making this a viable green project. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Republic Services and NV Energy on this exciting project."
Energenic specializes in the design, development, construction and operation of large-scale energy projects.
