Waste-produced electricity: Naftogaz and Clear Energy have launched a biogas power plant in Lviv region

Over 800 tcm of gas per year and “green” energy to satisfy the needs of approximately 735 households. This is the very result of a modern biogas power plant which started operating at a solid waste landfill in Lviv region today, on 21 May 2022.

The facility was constructed as a part of a joint project of National Joint Stock Company “Naftogaz of Ukraine” and Clear Energy Group.

“Development of low-carbon businesses is a strategic choice of Naftogaz. The construction of this facility is one of the steps in this direction. In my opinion, it is crucial that even under such difficult conditions of the war, we nevertheless continue to develop our businesses and implement projects like that.  The biogas power plant constructed here will make 38 hectares of the landfill site, emitting millions of cubic metres of harmful landfill gas, a source of energy for surrounding households. According to our calculations, thanks to this facility, more than 2 mmcm of methane, that is 30 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide, will not be released into the atmosphere”, – noted the CEO of National Joint Stock Company “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Yuriy Vitrenko.
Landfill gas is formed during anaerobic (i.e., without access to the air) decomposition of organic waste residues (food residues, leaves, branches, etc.). This gas is usually the reason of fires and explosions at landfills. Such fires are difficult to extinguish, as they are formed and burn not on the surface, but in the depths of a landfill.

“Now, the risk of ignitions and fires occurred at this landfill in the past has decreased. Also, production of biogas is to reduce the height of the landfill body – the landfill will settle under its own weight. Therefore, Lviv region, as well as the households nearby the landfill and supplied with electricity from this plant, will undoubtedly benefit significantly from this facility. The opening of this facility is the next stage in the reclamation of the landfill, the next stage in ensuring environmental safety for those living in Lviv and Lviv region”, – emphasised the head of Lviv regional military administration Maksym Kozytskyi.

Landfill degassing technology not only reduces methane emissions, but also reduces associated emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and other air contaminants, eliminates unpleasant odours.

“Landfill reclamation in Velyki Hrybovychi is the project, which we are implementing thanks to the support of the European banks, of extreme importance for the city. It is part of a comprehensive plan to address the waste problem in Lviv. Currently, technical reclamation is underway which includes the construction of a landfill gas collection, preparation and utilisation system with electricity generation. It will allow to improve the environment, as the landfill will gradually decrease in volume due to the pumping of methane and other gaseous elements. It is my belief that today’s opening of the biogas power plant and work in synergy with Naftogaz and Clear Energy will become a new step in this important endeavour”, – said the mayor of Lviv Andrii Sadovyi.

To ensure the reliability of the process, the plant is equipped with Austrian Jenbacher equipment which is used in biogas projects throughout Europe.

“The plant produces 2,645,000 kWh per year, at that replacing more than 800 tcm of natural gas. It makes it possible to provide approximately 735 households with “green” energy and at the same time reduce CO2 emissions by about 30,000 tons per year”, – explained the co-founder and chairperson of the supervisory board in Clear Energy Group Petro Bahrii.

Biogas is collected by means of wells, evenly distributed on the landfill body, and a system of surface gas collection. As of today, there are 29 vertical and 4 horizontal wells drilled at this landfill.

The wells are located vertically at the depth of 12.5 m. From each well, there is a pipeline (flowline) to the gas collection point.
From gas collection points, by means of pipelines (the highway), biogas is transported to electric generator installations. The gas is combusted in the engine, which rotates the electric generator. The generated electricity is transmitted to the grid by means of a complete transformer substation.