Evaluation of the Energy Capacity of the Controlled Landfill from Mohamedia Benslimane by Three Theoretical Methods – Land Gem, IPCC, and TNO

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the content of methane produced and generated by the anaerobic biodegradation of the main organic fraction of municipal solid waste from the controlled landfill of Mohammedia-Benslimane (Morocco) by three theoretical models, based on the first order decay equation: LandGEM, IPCC and TNO. To carry out this study, the quantities of solid waste buried in this landfill since its inauguration in 2012 were used and the composition of the biogas in-situ in 2020 and 2021was determined. The quantities of waste that will be buried in this landfill from 2022 to 2032 were estimated by projection.The results of the analysis of the biogas generated in this controlled landfill in 2020–2021 indicate that it is composed of 59.59% CH4, 38.9% CO2, and 0.14% O2. This result indicates that the waste is in a stable methanogenesis phase. The results obtained by using the three methodologies show that the total volume of CH4 generated during the period 2012–2021 was 32.59 Mm3 according to the IPCC model, 20.95 Mm3 according to the LandGEM model and 20.96 Mm3 according to the TNO model. The total volume of CH4 that will be produced during the period 2022–2032 has been projected to 107.48 Mm3 by the IPCC model, to 76.84 Mm3 by the LandGEM model, while the total volume of CH4 projected under the TNO method will be 67.67 Mm3. The maximum methane production will reach a value of 12.07 Mm3, 9.46 Mm3 and 7.82 Mm3 for the IPCC, LandGEM and TNO models, respectively. In 2021, the volume of methane estimated by the three models is higher than that on-site measurement by a factor of 3.5(IPCC), 2.4 (LandGEM) and 2.3 (TNO). The results clearly indicate that the three models over predict methane generations when compared to the on-site generations. According to the LandGEM methodology, the electricity estimated will reach a maximum value of 33 GWh/year in 2032.The efficient use of methane generated by this controlled landfill as a source of electrical energy in the upcoming years can be an option for the sustainable management of waste.