Overall Objectives
Solid waste management is one of the most pressing environmental concerns for cities and municipalities in Thailand today. In Bangkok, waste disposal sites are responsible for 36.5 % of the methane released into the atmosphere. The Rachathewa landfill site is located 30km east of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area (BMA) and receives approximately 3,500 tons/day or 16,667 cubic meters/day of municipal solid waste (MSW). There are presently no regulatory or contractual requirements for landfill gas (LFG) collection/combustion in Thailand so landfill sites such as Rachathewa are emitting huge quantities of methane gas directly into the atmosphere.
The Project's developer, Jaroensompong Corporation, has installed a LFG collection system and 1MW electricity generator at the Rachathewa site. Recovered LFG will be utilized as a fuel source for the generator. Any gas in excess of the amount required for power generation will be flared. The generated electricity will be sold to the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) under a power purchase agreement. GHG emissions are expected to be reduced by approximately 470,000 tCO2e over ten years through combustion of the collected methane and displacement of grid electricity produced by fossil fuel based plants.
Type of Waste targeted
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Solid waste in the Bangkok Metropolitan area could be totally collected at 9,356 tons a day. The disposal of waste in Bangkok was contracted out to a private company with a responsibility for waste collection and transfer to landfill facilities, pursuant to public health principles, located at Kampang San District, Nakhon Pathom Province and Tambon Rachadheva, Bangpli District, Samut Prakarn Province.
Standards, Indicators, Criteria for Assessment
Standards for CDM-Projects (Clean Development Mechanism, Kyoto Protocol)
Institutions/Organization involved
Clean Energy Finance Committee,Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (As CDM Project's consultant)
Geographic Target Areas for the Innovation
This is the first CDM project in Thailand for Landfill Gas to Energy. It is located at the Rachathewa landfill area, about 30 km east of BMA. The area in the vicinity of the landfill is primarily industrial, with numerous heavy industrial compounds and some agricultural and residential establishments.
The Rachathewa landfill site occupies some 40 hectares and includes ancillary facilities necessary to support its operations. It also includes a buffer zone around the disposal area. Operations commenced in December 1999. The site was capped and closed in November 2001. The area contains approximately 2.5 million tons of newly disposed solid waste and 2.2 million tons of old solid waste relocated from the On-Nuch landfill site, the former neighbouring landfill site. Waste was disposed off in an 8 hectare area that is located at the west end of the landfill area. The base of the site is located 18 meters below ground level. Methane gas generated from this site is directly attributable to strong odours and other adverse impacts that affect the vicinity of the landfill.
Expected Basis Scientific Progress
The Project is the first in Thailand to utilize LFG for electricity generation on a commercial basis. It contributes to sustainable development of the country by mitigating uncontrolled GHG emission from the landfill, preventing on-site fires, controlling the release of volatile organic compounds, reducing undesirable odours, providing greater control of leachate drainage, and physically stabilizing the landfill site.
The Project brings the following additional economic, environmental and social benefits:
A foreign manufacturer will transfer LFG generator related technology to Thailand. The company will supply the generator for the Project and, under the contract, be responsible for training staff in generator operation and maintenance.
Upon being issued, a large portion of the CERs will be sold to companies and public entities in Japan. The demand for CERs and opportunity for landfill owners to access a supplementary income provides the incentive to install LFG collection equipment.
The Project promotes more efficient use of local resources, which results in reduction of energy imports.
Local inhabitants will benefit from the improvement of air quality due to lower methane and odour emissions from the landfill.
The Project will promote practical experience in LFG collection and utilization. Local staff will be trained and acquire the skills required to operate LFG collection and utilization equipment.
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that solid waste management project is given high priority vis-à-vis CDM project development in Thailand's Climate Change Strategy.
Contribution to Capacity Building and Education
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Technologies applied or improved
Jaroensompong Corporation has utilized its waste management experience to design a LFG collection system for the Project based on horizontal lines and wells. Rather than the traditional vertical system for the closed landfill site, the company concluded that the horizontal design technology is more appropriate for the characteristics of Thai MSW and country's climatic conditions. The MSW contains high moisture. During the long rainy season, there is a continuous influx of rainwater into the landfill site. The wells of a vertical system would be prone to flooding under such conditions.
The Project will only utilize LFG from Site 1. A total of 10 horizontal collectors have been installed at Site 1. LFG is recovered at the outer edges and at the center of the landfill. The collectors include a system for drainage and collection of leachate at the outer edges of the landfill. They are constructed using PVC and HDPE piping to allow for settlement, and the collectors are placed approximately 30 meters apart. The horizontal collectors and other points are connected by laterals to a main header system. This is the area where LFG gas is drawn to under a vacuum created by the blower. Condensate is removed from the system using a process which begins from the recovery system. Here, sloping laterals and headers are used to provide drainage into condensate traps, knockout collectors, and tanks. The condensate is then drained back into the landfill.
LFG utilization system
Jaroensompong Corporation has installed a power plant with a capacity of 1MW. Corrosive elements and contaminants are removed from the LFG using a system composed of an inlet scrubber, filter and gas holder.
Jaroensompong Corporation conducted a two-year pilot project to examine the potential of commercial LFG collection/utilization for electricity generation. The pilot project utilized two old engines that had been modified from diesel to gas. The information gathered from the pilot project provided the basis for the final design of the Project.
Flaring system
The Project will install a flaring system to burn excess LFG that is not used in power generation. An open flare system is selected over an enclosed flare system because it is a less expensive approach for flaring.
The Project will utilize advanced foreign technology for electricity generation. As the first landfill site to use this state of the art technology in Thailand, the Project represents an important case for technology transfer.
Social target groups involved
No significant negative environmental impacts are expected to result from the Project. On the other hand, by collecting and combusting LFG, the Project will contribute greatly to reducing anthropogenic GHG emissions that were previously released into the atmosphere. The collection of LFG will also help to prevent on-site fires, as well as reduce undesirable odors, improve leachate drainage, reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other hazardous air pollutants (HAP).
Publications on project results
Prasertsuk Chamornmarn, 2008, "CDM Implementation in Thailand", T&W workshop, Bangkok, Thailand.
Dawan Wiwattanadate, Thierry Lefevre and J M Alexandre, 2006, "CDM Status and Related Policies", Seminar on Impact of European CDM Linking Directive for Thailand, 13th December 2006.
