ESA's Landfill and Refuse to Energy Through Electric Generation Projects

ESA is the leader and set's the industry standard with respect to generating green energy via landfill gas and solid refuse.

A successful landfill to energy project is the one where the Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) selected the ESA bid to design the Puente Hills Energy Recovery from Gas (PERG) Plant on the basis of superior technical and economic design. Once the plant successfully went on-line, it has operated at 95% - 97% availability. The PERG project utilizes landfill gas (LFG) Btu/CF that is generated by the bacterial decomposition of organic materials contained in municipal solid refuses. The LFG is collected through the use of compressors applying a vacuum to the collection area. The steam produces 50,000 KW of electricity in the steam turbine generator.

ESA has developed numerous industry standard setting Refuse to Energy projects over the course of the last 30 years. Of those, three truly stand out.

Built as part of the solid refuse management strategy, the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (SERRF) located in the City of Long Beach, California. The facility began commercial operations in July 1988 using technology to reduce solid refuse volume while generating electricity. The SERRF processes approximately 1,290 tons of municipal solid refuse each day, generating up to 38-MW of electricity.

The Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) is located in downtown Minneapolis. The facility is
designed to process 1,212 tons-per-day of solid refuse in the burning resource recovery plant. The facility consists of two process waterwall furnace trains, each capable of processing 606 TPD, which generates up to one 39.6-MW turbine generator. Located next to the Minnesota Twins Target Field ballpark, it not only provides energy for the stadium but is also part of a bustling pedestrian corridor.

The Commerce Refuse to Energy facility utilizes 330 tons per day generating 10-MW of net electric power. Located in Commerce City, California, the processing and handling within the plant reduces the original size of the solid refuse by 92-96%.

ESA’s municipal refuse-to-energy and gasified plant designs are integrated with advanced
process technology to reduce critical emissions including SOx and HCl (the leading causes of acid
rain), NOx (leading cause of smog and health hazards) and particulates. Together, ESA projects
can reduce emissions of the harmful compounds by up to 70%, well below guidelines set by the
US EPA.

For more information about the above projects please see the ESA Landfill and Refuse Project document.