Electricity Generation from Leachate Treatment Plant

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P. O. BOX 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran

2 Faculty of Environment & Energy, Department of Energy, Science & Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Tehran has a population of over 12 million and produces more than 7500 tons of waste every
day. Tehran’s municipal solid waste is processed and landfilled at Kahrizak disposal center. Due to inappropriate waste management, a lake with a leachate volume of 180,000m3 has been formed. To solve this problem a leachate treatment plant is currently under construction. A byproduct of leachate treatment is biogas. In this study, the feasibility of electricity generation using biogas has been investigated. Considering that 68.81% of the waste is degradable, the produced leachate has a high organic load (COD = 53900 mg/L and BOD = 34400mg/L). The results showed that a power plant with a capacity of 1.8 MW could be constructed in the site. This electricity can be utilized in Kahrizak Disposal Site and also sold to the network (10 US cents/ kilowatt). Financial analysis using ProForm software shows 1.3 years of payback period and emission reduction
of carbon dioxide equal to 5752 tones/year in comparison with the natural gas power plant. Therefore this project is financially feasible for private investors with internal rate of return equal to 77% or mo

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 6, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
April 2012
Pages 493-498

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