LFGcost-Web — Landfill Gas Energy Cost Model
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Background
LFGcost was initially developed in 2002 to help stakeholders estimate the costs of an LFG energy project. LMOP routinely updates the tool to reflect changes in the LFG energy industry. In 2015, LMOP undertook a peer review of LFGcost-Web, Version 3.0. For more information on the peer review, see the Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills rule docket Exit(Docket ID# EPA-HQ-OAR-2014-0451-0210). See more information about LFGcost-Web’s version history and peer review.
What's New
LFGcost-Web, Version 3.4, replaced Version 3.3 in October 2020. Significant revisions between Version 3.4 and Version 3.3 include:
- Revised renewable natural gas (RNG) capital and operation and maintenance cost calculations based on recent project installations and added new optional user inputs to refine RNG project costs, including:
- Pipeline interconnection fee
- Pipeline injection tariff
- RNG technology methane capture rate
- RNG product use (vehicle fuel, direct thermal)
- Updated reference sources for calculating electricity prices and avoided CO2 grid factors based on 2020 Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) regional electricity grids.
- Updated default user inputs in Appendix A.
Project Types
LFGcost-Web allows users to choose from 12 LFG energy project types and gives users the option of including costs for a new gas collection and flaring system.
| LFG Energy Project Types |
|---|
| Direct-use system (boiler, greenhouse, etc.) |
| Boiler retrofit |
| RNG processing plant (upgrading gas to pipeline quality) |
| Onsite compressed natural gas (CNG) production and fueling station |
| Leachate evaporator |
| Electricity generation – Standard turbine-generator sets |
| Electricity generation – Standard reciprocating engine-generator sets |
| Electricity generation – Microturbine-generator sets |
| Electricity generation – Small reciprocating engine-generator sets |
| CHP – Reciprocating engine-generator sets |
| CHP – Turbine-generator sets |
| CHP – Microturbine-generator sets |
Model Outputs
The model calculates LFG generation profiles based on landfill characteristics and other user inputs and then determines various project-specific outputs.
| Primary Model Outputs |
|---|
| Design and average project sizes |
| Total installed capital cost for year of construction |
| Annual costs for initial year of operation |
| Internal rate of return |
| Net present value at year of construction |
| Years to breakeven |
| Amount of methane collected and destroyed |
| Greenhouse gas value of amount of methane utilized by project |
| Amount of carbon dioxide from avoided energy generation |
| Optional Model Outputs (for standard reciprocating engine-generator and direct-use projects) |
|---|
| Jobs created within the state (construction phase and operating phase) |
| Earnings impact within the state ($000, construction phase and operating phase) |
| State-wide economic output ($000, construction phase and operating phase) |
The default inputs and costs that are estimated by LFGcost-Web are based on typical project designs and for typical landfill situations.