In partnership with Waste Services of the Bluegrass, a Toyota manufacturing facility in Kentucky has made plans to turn a local landfill into a source of renewable energy. The unique project gives a whole new meaning to the old adage that one man's waste is another man's treasure.
On the right is a diagram of how the system will work, and to shortly summarize: As landfill waste breaks down, it creates gas that can be collected and converted into electricity. In this case, the gas will be collected and prepared through a network of wells at the landfill. Once in the wells, the gas will fuel generators to produce renewable energy, which will be carried to the plant through underground transmission lines. In the process, landfill greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by up to 90 percent, resulting in better air quality for the surrounding community.
Construction for the project will begin in April and finish in early 2015. Once the system is running, it will create a megawatt of electricity every hour, about the equivalent of powering 800 homes in the U.S., which is a considerable amount to say the least. All together, the electricity is expected to provide enough power to facilitate the production of 10,000 vehicles every year, and many will end up on the lot at Texas Toyota.
In regard to the project, CEO of Waste Services of the Bluegrass, Todd Skaggs stated, "We are committed to smarter and better ways of doing business to enhance our community and environment. We look forward to being a partner in Toyota's sustainability efforts."
