Turning a Liability into an Asset: A Landfill Gas-to-Energy Project

1,89
MB Development Handbook

139
stron

3404
ID UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

2001
rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION . 1-1

1.1 The Benefits of Landfill Gas Energy Recovery. 1-1

1.1.1 Environmental Benefits1-2

1.1.2 Economic Benefits1-2

1.1.3 Energy Benefits 1-2

1.2 The EPA Landfill Methane Outreach Program. 1-3

1.3 How To Use This Handbook . 1-3

2. DETERMINING IF A PROJECT IS RIGHT FOR YOUR LANDFILL2-1

2.1 Step 1: Basic Screening for Project Potential 2-2

2.2 Step 2: Estimating Gas Quantity2-4

2.2.1 Methods for Estimating Gas Flow. 2-4

2.2.2 Correcting for Collection Efficiency2-4

2.2.3 Comparing Your Gas Flow Rate to Existing Projects . 2-4

3. DETERMINING WHAT PROJECT CONFIGURATION IS RIGHT FOR YOUR LANDFILL3-1

3.1 Options For Using Landfill Gas3-1

3.1.1 Collection System and Flare3-2

3.1.2 Gas Treatment . 3-5

3.1.3 Energy Recovery System . 3-6

3.2 Choosing an Energy Recovery Option . 3-14

4. INTRODUCTION TO PART II: DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT OPTIONS 4-1

5. EVALUATING PROJECT ECONOMICS . 5-1

5.1 Economic Evaluation Process. 5-1

5.2 Power Generation/Cogeneration . 5-4

5.2.1 Step 1: Estimate Energy Sales Revenues . 5-4

5.2.2 Step 2: Quantify Capital and O&M Expenses5-9

5.2.3 Step 3: Compare Project Expenses and Revenues5-15

5.2.4 Step 4: Create a Pro Forma Model of Project Cash Flows . 5-21

5.2.5 Step 5: Assess Economic Feasibility 5-22

5.3 Sale of Medium-Btu Gas. 5-22

5.3.1 Step 1: Estimate Energy Sales Revenues . 5-23

5.3.2 Step 2: Quantify Capital and O&M Expenses. 5-25

5.3.3 Step 3: Compare Project Expenses and Revenues5-27

5.3.4 Steps 4 and 5: Create a Pro Forma and Assess Economic Feasibility . 5-27

5.4 Alternative Options 5-29

5.4.1 Upgrade to Pipeline Quality Gas. 5-29

5.4.2 Vehicle Fuel Applications . 5-29

5.4.3 Fuel Cells 5-30

5.4.4 Niche Applications5-30

5.5 Comparison of All Economically-Feasible Options 5-31

5.5.1 Head-to-Head Economic Comparison. 5-31

5.5.2 Consideration of Non-Price Factors . 5-31

6. ASSESSING FINANCING OPTIONS. 6-1

6.1 Financing: What Lenders/Investors Look For 6-3

6.2 Financing Approaches . 6-4

6.2.1 Private Equity Financing6-4

6.2.2 Project Finance 6-7

6.2.3 Municipal Bond Financing 6-9

6.2.4 Direct Municipal Funding . 6-11

6.2.5 Lease Financing. 6-11

6.2.6 Public Debt Financing. 6-12

6.3 Capital Cost Effects of Financing Alternatives. 6-13

7. SELECTING A PROJECT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER7-1

7.1 The Partner/No Partner Decision . 7-1

7.2 Selecting A Development Partner 7-5

7.2.1 Selecting a Pure Developer. 7-6

7.2.2 Selecting a Partner (Equipment Vendor, EPC Firm, Fuel Firm, Industrial) . 7-7

7.3 Evaluating Individual Firms . 7-9

7.3.1 Issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP). 7-9

7.3.2 Preparing a Contract . 7-10

8. WINNING/NEGOTIATING AN ENERGY SALES CONTRACT . 8-1

8.1 Power Sales Contracts 8-2

8.1.1 Standard Offer Contracts . 8-4

8.1.2 Bidding/Negotiating a Power Sales Agreement (PSA) with an Electric Utility8-5

8.1.3 Bidding/Negotiating a PSA with an End User. 8-8

8.1.4 Wheeling Arrangements8-10

8.2 Gas Sales Contract (Medium or High-Btu)8-12

8.2.1 Medium-Btu Gas Sales8-12

8.2.2 High-Btu Gas Sales . 8-14

9. SECURING PROJECT PERMITS AND APPROVALS. 9-1

9.1 The Permitting Process 9-2

9.2 RCRA Subtitle D . 9-3

9.3 Clean Air Act 9-4

9.3.1 Landfill Gas Emissions. 9-4

9.3.2 Regulations Governing Air Emissions from Energy Recovery Systems9-5

9.4 Local Issues . 9-14

9.4.1 Zoning and Permitting . 9-14

9.4.2 Community Acceptance 9-16

10. CONTRACTING FOR EPC AND O&M SERVICES . 10-1

10.1 EPC/Turnkey Contracting10-1

10.2 O&M Services Contracting . 10-4

10.3 Good O&M Practices . 10-5

10.3.1 Collection Systems . 10-5

10.3.2 Energy Recovery Systems .. 10-6

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Calculations of Landfill Gas Energy Recovery Project Costs

Appendix B: List of U.S. EPA Offices

Appendix C: Executive Summary of a Power Purchase Agreement

Appendix D: Sample Request for Proposals for Landfill Gas Energy Project Developer

Appendix E: EPA Memorandum on Pollution Control Projects and New Source Review

(NSR) Applicability

Appendix F: Map and Listing of Nonattainment Areas

Appendix G: Listing of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Organizations and Related Service

Providers

Appendix H: List of References

Appendix I: Acid Rain Fact Sheet

Appendix J: Glossary of Terms