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Former landfill sites generate substantial income for the County Council
Published: 04/03/2015
Two former landfill sites in Buckley have generated over 拢400,000 of income
for 天涯社区 in a twelve month period.
Methane gas is generated at the Brookhill and Standard landfill sites through
the anaerobic biological decomposition of the waste deposited when the sites
were operational. The gas is converted into electricity through a purpose
designed, gas fuelled electricity generation plant, from where it is metered
and distributed at high voltage (11,000 volts) into the National Grid.
The power is then sold at auction through the Non Fossil Purchasing Agency at
current electricity market rates, using industry approved six monthly short
term contracts.
During 2014 the two plants produced a total of 4,300 megawatts of electricity-
the equivalent of meeting the annual energy needs for approximately 1,700 homes.
The total income generated from the methane gas during 2014 was approximately
拢440,000, which provides a much needed revenue stream for the County Council.
There are also plans to develop energy production further, with the possibility
of solar panels at both landfill sites. It is anticipated that the introduction
of PV panels would further increase the delivery of electricity into the
National Grid, with a potential increase in income of 拢50,000 per annum. This
could also present an opportunity to power the County Council鈥檚 vehicle fleet
through its own renewable energy supply.
Kevin Jones, Cabinet Member for Waste Strategy, Public Protection and Leisure,
said:
鈥淎t a time when the County Council is facing unprecedented cuts, it is welcome
news that two of our former landfill sites are generating such a significant
amount of income for the local authority- money we can then use to offset some
of the financial pressure we are facing.
鈥淭he Council鈥檚 use of renewable energy is also helping to deliver the Welsh
Governments targets for production of energy from renewable green energy
sources and it also helps preserve national air quality standards.鈥�