Landfill Gas Utilization

At present, all the three existing strategic landfills (namely West New Territories Landfill, South East New Territories Landfill and North East New Territories) have been utilizing landfill gas for energy production. The current uses include:

• to generate electricity with engine gensets for the site infrastructures, such as offices, maintenance workshop, pumping stations; and
• to power the leachate (waste water from landfill) treatment facilities.

Apart from the strategic landfills, there are 13 closed landfills. We have now constructed restoration facilities on all the 13 closed landfills. We have used landfill gas as an energy source in some of the larger closed landfills. They are Shuen Wan, Gin Drinkers Bay, Jordan Valley, Tseung Kwan O Stage I , II and III and Pillar Point Valley landfills.

For Shuen Wan Landfill, special arrangement has been made with the Hong Kong & China Gas for piping the landfill gas to their plant for utilization. Landfill gas is used as fuel for electricity generator sets for on-site uses in Jordan Valley and Tseung Kwan O Stage I landfills. Whereas for Gin Drinkers Bay, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III and Pillar Point Valley, the landfill gas is used as an energy source for assisting the treatment of leachate arising from the landfill.

Click below for more details:

• Shuen Wan
• Gin Drinkers Bay, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III,and Pillar Point Valley 
• Summary of Landfill Gas to Energy at Closed Landfills
• Summary of Landfill Gas to Energy at Strategic Landfills

Landfill Gas Utilization at Shuen Wan Landfill As Fuel for Towngas Production

Government, Contractor, Industry Work Hand in Hand

To produce a greener environment, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong and China Gas Co. and the Shuen Wan Landfill restoration contractor, Hong Kong Landfill Restoration Group worked together to utilize the landfill gas extracted from the Shuen Wan Landfill as fuel at Towngas (Tai Po) Production Plant.

Gas Linked

Invested over $10 million, the landfill gas utilization plant sited at Shuen Wan Landfill was linked up with the Towngas (Tai Po) Production Plant by 1.3 kilometers of pipelines. The works were carried out from February to July 1999.

Environmental Benefits

The Shuen Wan Landfill currently delivers landfill gas about 140,000 megajoules per day as heating fuel substituting for the fossil fuel naphtha. The project also reduces the emission of some 2,600 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

Landfill Gas Utilization Plant at Shuen Wan Landfill

Landfill Gas Utilization for Leachate Treatment at Gin Drinkers Bay Landfill, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III Landfill and Pillar Point Valley Landfill

In order to control the potential risk of landfill gas migration to the surrounding areas, EPD has installed an active gas extraction system at the landfills. The collected landfill gas is utilised as energy source for the treatment of leachate (waste water generated due to degradation of waste at the landfill) at the on - site Leachate Treatment Plant.

This utilisation of landfill gas would not only avoid the release of untreated harmful landfill gases into the atmosphere, it also demonstrates that the gas generated from waste could be utilized in a beneficial and environmental friendly manner.

Gin Drinkers Bay Leachate Treatment Plant where landfill gas is collected and utilised for heating up leachate in the ammonia removal process for the treatment of leachate.

Landfill Gas to Energy at Closed Landfills

Note: The above figures are average figures in 2007.

Landfill Gas to Energy at Strategic Landfills