Landfill Gas-to-Energy Plant
Carbon Harvest Energy has launched the country’s first integrated renewable energy-to-agriculture and algae biodiesel project in Brattleboro, Vermont. Demonstrating capture and beneficial re-use of landfill gas, a potent contributor to global warming, Carbon Harvest Energy has restored the former landfill gas-to-energy project at the Brattleboro landfill. Commissioned in the Fall of 2010 (with Senator Patrick Leahy flipping the switch to start up the generator), Brattleboro Carbon Harvest is generating up to 220kW of electricity and sending it to the grid. This power is sold to the State of Vermont under its renewable energy feed-in tariff program (Vermont SPEED). A second, state-of-the-art combined heat and power (CHP) plant has been installed on site to harvest heat from the power plant and provide it to the adjacent greenhouse food production operation.
Greenhouses and Aquaponics
A 20,000 square foot greenhouse for year-round aquaculture and plant production is near completion at the site. This system will supply high quality fish and fresh vegetables to local markets, with a portion going to the Vermont Foodbank. Waste heat recovered from power generation provides low-cost heat to the greenhouse, and 30,000 gallons of aquaculture will provide high-value nutrient for the organically grown plants (in an aquaponics system) as well as an algae culture R&D project. High winter heat demands of the greenhouse are balanced by high summer heat demands for algae processing, so the value of the heat recovered from the CHP generators is maximized. The greenhouse and aquaponics system is scheduled to become operational in the Spring of 2012.
Algae Research and Development
The Brattleboro project also includes the installation of a demonstration-scale algae culture facility for growing, harvesting and processing microalgae to produce sustainable animal feed and biofuels. A portion of the algae will be used to feed the Tilapia raised in the greenhouse. During summer months, when heat from the landfill gas-to-energy co-generators is not needed to heat the greenhouse, it will be used to dry algae grown on a 1-acre area located on the landfill face.
Initial research was focused on lab experiments designed to show whether or not certain high oil strains of microalgae can grow on the power plant flue gas. This research is being undertaken in partnership with the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources with a portion of the funding provided by the U.S. Department of Energy via the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Vermont Biofuels Initiative. A scaled-up algae raceway system has been installed next to the Brattleboro power plant for further R&D on advanced biofuels as well as algae-based replacement for fishmeal in animal feeds. This small production system will be enlarged to include a one-acre on-landfill-cap algae growing area and processing facility in 2013.
Brattleboro Partners
In addition to its own staff, Carbon Harvest’s Brattleboro project team includes:
- Windham Solid Waste Management District as site owner and outreach partner
- Sanborn Head & Associates as the landfill gas engineering firm
- Vermont SPEED program and VEPP Inc. as renewable energy purchaser
- Shems, Dunkiel Raubvogel & Saunders, legal counsel and permit specialist
- Central Vermont Public Service as the grid interconnection utility
- The Vermont Foodbank as a purchaser of produce
- University of Vermont Extension as a research and education partner
- Marlboro College Managing for Sustainability MBA Program for educational programs
- Funding support from the Town of Brattleboro Small Business Assistance Program, Vermont Economic Development Authority and the Clean Energy Development Fund (with ARRA funds) for energy generation equipment
- Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund’s Vermont Biofuels Initiative for algae research
- Renewable Energy Vermont (REV)
- EPA’s Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP)