Landfill Gas Utilization

At present, all the three existing strategic landfills (namely West New Territories Landfill, South East New Territories Landfill and North East New Territories) have been utilizing landfill gas for energy production. The current uses include:

• to generate electricity for use in on-site infrastructures, such as offices, maintenance workshop, pumping stations; and
• to power the leachate (wastewater from landfill) treatment facilities.

For North East New Territories Landfill, the surplus landfill gas is also treated and delivered to Hong Kong & China Gas's (HKCG) production plant in Tai Po for use as alternative energy source. For South East New Territories Landfill, the surplus landfill gas is treated (in the form of synthetic natural gas) and conveyed to HKCG's Offtake Station at Tseng Lan Shue, where the treated gas is blended with town gas for injection to the supply grid for HKCG's customers. For West New Territories Landfill, the surplus landfill gas is treated and sent to the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) for electricity production in their power grid.

Apart from the strategic landfills, there are 13 closed landfills. We have now constructed restoration facilities on all the 13 closed landfills. We have used landfill gas as an energy source in some of the larger closed landfills. They are Shuen Wan, Gin Drinkers Bay, Tseung Kwan O Stage I , II/III and Pillar Point Valley landfills.

For Shuen Wan Landfill, special arrangement has been made with the HKCG for piping the landfill gas to their plant for utilization. Landfill gas is also used as fuel in electricity generation to meet on-site uses in Tseung Kwan O Stage I landfills. Whereas for Gin Drinkers Bay, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III and Pillar Point Valley, the landfill gas is used as a thermal energy source in the treatment of landfill leachate.

Click below for more details:

• Shuen Wan
• Gin Drinkers Bay, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III,and Pillar Point Valley
• Summary of Landfill Gas to Energy at Closed Landfills
• Summary of Landfill Gas to Energy at Strategic Landfills

Landfill Gas Utilization at Shuen Wan Landfill As Fuel for Towngas Production

Government, Contractor, Industry Work Hand in Hand

To produce a greener environment, Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Limited (HKCG) and the Shuen Wan Landfill restoration contractor (Hong Kong Landfill Restoration Group) worked together to utilize the landfill gas extracted from the Shuen Wan Landfill as fuel at the HKCG's product plant in Tai Po.

Gas Linked

Invested over $10 million, the landfill gas utilization plant sited at Shuen Wan Landfill was linked up with the HKCG's product plant in Tai Po by 1.3 kilometers of pipelines. The works were carried out from February to July 1999.

The Shuen Wan Landfill currently delivers landfill gas at about 215m³ per hour as a heating fuel substitute for the HKCG's product plant in Tai Po. In 2022, the project reduced the emission of about 1,840 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

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Landfill Gas Utilization Plant at Shuen Wan Landfill

Landfill Gas Utilization for Leachate Treatment at Gin Drinkers Bay Landfill, Tseung Kwan O Stage II/III Landfill and Pillar Point Valley Landfill

In order to control the potential risk of landfill gas migration to the surrounding areas, EPD has installed an active gas extraction system at the landfills. The collected landfill gas is utilised as an energy source for the treatment of leachate (wastewater generated due to degradation of waste at the landfill) at the on-site Leachate Treatment Plant.

This utilisation of landfill gas not only avoids the release of untreated landfill gases into the atmosphere, it also demonstrates the beneficial reuse of energy from waste in an environmental friendly manner.

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Gin Drinkers Bay Leachate Treatment Plant where landfill gas is collected and utilised for heating up leachate in the ammonia removal process.

Landfill Gas Utilization for Road Lighting System at Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill

As a betterment project to Tseung Kwan O, EPD completed the installation of a lighting system along the access road between Wan Po Road Pet Garden and seafront cycle track at Tseung Kwan O Stage I Landfill in 2014.  The lighting system is the first public utility in Hong Kong powered by the electricity derived from landfill gas.  A total of 20 lamps each of 150W provide an average luminance of 5 lux along the road.  The utilization of landfill gas in this case actualizes the principle of Waste-to-Energy and benefits the community.

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Landfill Gas to Energy at Closed Landfills

 

Landfill Gas to Energy at Strategic Landfills

 

Notes:        (1)        The above figures are average figures in 2022.