Landfill Gas and LFGE – Microturbine Project, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, Calabasas, California

SCS Engineers landfill gasThe project employs ten 30-kilowatt Capstone microturbines which are fired on landfill gas with a methane content as low as 35 percent. The project began operation in August 2002.

The project generates power to serve the on-site power needs of the landfill. The landfill’s on-site power requirements include those associated with the main landfill gas flare and office buildings. The microturbines were given to the Districts by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). SCS was responsible for installation of the microturbines and the design and construction of all supporting civil, mechanical and electrical project elements.

The project is interconnected to Southern California Edison Company (SCE) for the purpose of securing supplemental and standby power. It operates in parallel with SCE and it is a baseload, load-following unit.

The project incorporates the following components:

  • SCS designed/fabricated 200 scfm blower/refrigeration skid which pressurizes the landfill gas and reduces moisture and other impurities in the raw landfill gas
  • Siloxane removal using activated carbon and silica gel
  • Ten 30 kW microturbines
  • Switchgear and a step-up transformer
  • An SCS designed/fabricated SCADA system which allows remote monitoring and operation of the facility from any location using a personal computer

SCS executed this project on a design/construct basis. The total capacity is 300 kW. The system was taken offline in August of 2009 after having proven the feasibility of operating turbines at landfills. The project was replaced with three Solar Mercury 50 gas turbine-generator (CTG) sets that came online in the summer of 2010.

SCS Engineers’ responsibilities:

  • Grantsmanship
  • Interconnection Application
  • Detailed Design
  • Construction QA/QC
  • Construction
  • Plant Startup
  • SCADA System