Biogas generation in the landfill of Ensenada, Baja California Mexico.

Globally, landfills are the third largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions, which constitutes approximately 13 percent of global emissions of methane. With the recovery of this methane could be the benefits of energy generation and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Methane recovery for its direct use or its conversion into energy is not a common practice in Mexican landfills as it is in developed countries. In the closed landfill of Ensenada, Baja California an initial recovery of 406 cubic meters of methane per hour was estimated by a former study. In this paper the methane recovery potential is explored for the active landfill of the city. Biogas measurements were made during a three month period of 2009. An approximate of 82 weekly measurements were made using a GEM-2000 landfill gas meter in four biogas wells of the landfill. Based on the results of previous studies the results obtained to date show acceptable generation rates for Ensenada's landfill. The results of this research could serve to investors or decision making authorities to propose energy generation schemes for the use of methane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]