Converting Landfill Methane Into Clean Energy
Capturing planet-warming methane gas for cleaner energy to replace coal-fired power plants.
About this Project
Decarbonizing the power sector is something needed around the world. Mauritius, an island located off the east coast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, is a small island developing economy that has traditionally relied on coal for electricity, and is a perfect place to introduce cleaner energy alternatives.
The Mare Chicose landfill project collects landfill gas to generate electricity. By capturing the methane that is otherwise being released into the atmosphere from the landfill, this project is supplying Mauritius with clean, renewable energy instead of shipping in and burning dirty coal for electricity.
The project activity involves the installation of an active landfill gas collection system, an enclosed flare system, and a modular electricity generation system. Vertical wells spaced 40M apart are drilled into the landfill to enable maximum extraction of the gas. Funds from this project are used to create a more efficient gas collection system than required by law, including wells, piping, and intermediary gas collection stations. Funds from carbon are also used to create an electrical plant in order to generate electricity from landfill gas, which allows the island nation to avoid importing fossil fuels for energy.
This is the only landfill site on Mauritius, an island threatened by rising seas due to climate change. It is a large-scale, active landfill that has been operational since 1997 and has approximately 7.9 million tonnes of waste in place as of November 2018. It receives 530,000 tonnes of waste per year.
Why We Picked This Project
This project provides additional carbon revenues to create a sustainable energy source from methane, a potent greenhouse gas. By reducing the demand for coal-fired power plant grid electricity, overall, this project also reduces related coal use by about 13,000 tonnes per year as well as diesel-generated electricity, helping Mauritius to achieve energy independence.
This project supports technology transfer to a small island developing state and energy independence. Highly reliant on revenues from the sale of carbon credits, this project is truly additional.
Our Assessment of this Project
Project Developer
Standards & Certifications
Clean Development Mechanism, Flaring or use of landfill gas --- Version 19.0
Timeline
Project registered with the Clean Development Mechanism
First credits issued from project
Monitoring period Jan 2018 - Mar 2019 ends
Report issued from the 7th monitoring period
2018 vintage credits issued
Benefits & Impact
Co-Benefits
Handling the gas properly prevents landfill gas explosions.
Reduces odor and the subsequent health risks, such as asphyxiation, associated with concentrated landfill gas.
Training to other surrounding countries in landfill gas management.
Measuring methane emissions reductions provides a highly accurate estimate of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions pre and post baseline.
Transfer of technology for the landfill program from Europe to Mauritius.
Sustainable Development Goals
This project supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Additional Information
2018
Revenues from the sale of carbon credits fund the collection of fugitive methane emissions and the generation of electricity from its combustion. This activity would not have been possible without the carbon project.