VW Looks to Methane for Power
Original Source: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com
Author: Thomas Miner
Original Publication Date: August 10, 2010
August 10, 2010 – Volkswagen and the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee are working on an innovative plan which would have the automaker harvesting naturally-occurring methane gas from a capped landfill located outside the city to produce electricity for a local VW assembly plant.
The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that methane would be harvested at the site of the landfill and then piped to generators located off-site. The generators would produce electricity from the methane, and transport that energy to the VW plant via high-tension power lines.
Volkswagen is hoping the efforts will help their efforts in obtaining LEED certification at the site.
Chattanooga has another 20 years on their contract with the landfill, which makes them the responsible party for upkeep. Currently, all the methane produced at the site is flared off, producing GHG emissions but no electricity.
The plan is estimated to produce between 1 and 2 MW of power.
