Expression of Interest
Beighton Closed Landfill Site Landfill
Gas Abstraction and Utilisation
Sheffield City Council
Culture and Environment
September 2015
1.
Introduction
Sheffield City Council (SCC) has responsibility for the on-going management of the closed Beighton
Landfill Site (the Site). The landfilling of waste ceased at Site in 1999 and in 2000 a gas abstraction
and utilisation contract was agreed with a third party contractor. This contract is due to expire and
SCC is seeking Expressions of Interest from companies to manage, maintain and utilise the Site’s
landfill gas.
This report contains background information only; detailed information, data and historical reports
are made available in the .zip file posted on YORtender with this document. Those companies
wishing to express interest should note:
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The Site is open to the public and interested parties are encouraged to visit Site.
Questions and answers should be directed to Jason Swann, Commercial Manager, Sheffield
City Council (jason.swann@sheffield.gov.uk – 0114 205 3186)
Expressions of Interest will be summited on the proforma in Appendix B. The Council will
accept additional supporting literature which supports the Expression of Interest.
Please return your EOI proforma by 31 October 2015 to Jason Swann, Commercial Manager,
Sheffield City Council (jason.swann@sheffield.gov.uk)
A competitive tender exercise will follow the submission and review of Expressions of Interest.
2.
The Site
Sheffield City Council (SCC) has responsibility for the on-going management of the closed Beighton
Landfill Site (the Site), located southeast of Sheffield City Centre at NGR SK 428 842 where it
occupies part of the Shirebrook Valley. The Site is accessed from Beighton Road located to the north
of the Site and is bounded by the A57 trunk road to the southeast and an area of trees and scrub
land to the west.
3.
Regulatory Context
The Site is regulated by the Environment Agency (EA) via an Environmental Permit (EP). The EP
prescribes a number of Site controls, including gas controls and reporting.
The landfill Site’s Environmental Permit contains threshold limits at perimeter boreholes of 1% v/v
methane and 1.5% v/v carbon dioxide. The results of monitoring over the last five years indicate that
gas migration has been, with a number exceptions, controlled within these limits.
4.
Ground Gas Evolution and Utilisation
The landfilling of waste ceased at Beighton Tip in 1999 and it is likely that the production of methane
peaked some time after this. Thereafter, methane production has been falling and will at some point
in the future reach background levels. Golder Associates produced a report and GasSIM model for
the Site in 2012 and this is available in the additional information.
5.
The Main Gas Abstraction System
This system includes the engineered and capped area of the Site, the Gas Utilisation Plant (GUP) and
the Main Gas Abstraction Wells. The Main Gas Abstraction System (MGAS) is utilised by a third party
contractor, but the responsibility for maintaining the Main Gas Abstraction System (excluding the
GUP) falls to the Council.
Gas Utilisation Plant (GUP), is currently a single MAN 220kW gas engine operated by a third-party
contractor. Energy from the gas engine is fed into the National Grid, and SCC receives a small
remuneration.
Gas Abstraction Wells (a network of 77 wells) is located in the central area. The associated gas
infrastructure is buried and wellheads are encased in partially buried concrete rings which are
capped and fitted with manhole covers. The gas wells abstract gas from the landfill site and supply
the gas to the Gas Utilisation Plant. In order to supply only high quality gas to the GUP the gas wells/
field is ‘balanced’, on a monthly basis. Generally, wells which have a high calorific gas content (>40%
methane) are open, while wells with a low calorific value (< 40% methane) are closed.
The age of the waste and hence the low calorific value of the gas (typically <40% methane) means
not all of the Site’s gas is readably utilised by the GUP. Currently, only 35% of main gas abstraction
wells are in operation, this is either because of the low calorific value of the gas or the well is
inoperable. Therefore, majority of the Site’s potential methane production is not collected by the
MGAS. This view is also supported via the GasSim model.
6.
Gas Control
The Peripheral Gas Control System is the Site’s secondary method of controlling lateral gas
migration. Under the terms of the Site’s Environmental Permit, it is the Council’s responsibility to
manage and maintain this system. However, this system is now beyond repair. The Council does not
plan to repair this system at this time at lateral gas migration is largely controlled via the GAW and
leachate head.
7.
Upgrades to the Main Gas Abstraction System
The MGAS has not benefited from investment or upgrade for many years. Therefore, a programme
of upgrades and repairs is currently underway. These are to include, where needed:
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Repairs to, or installation of, new wellheads;
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Installation of new sections of gas carrier pipelines;
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Repairs, patching and eliminating areas of atmospheric ingress;
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Installation/ drilling of up to 20 new gas wells; and
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Installation of new grid connection (if required).
The Council is undertaking the above works to ensure the long term viability of the Site and
safeguarding the public’s use of the Site. It is expected that these work will also increase and extend
the gas yield from the Site.
Appendix A – See additional .zip file
Site Location Map
Site Layout Plan
Site Plan – Ground Gas Monitoring Boreholes
Appendix B - Expressions of Interest Proforma
Section 1: About Your Organisation
Registered address:
Contact name:
Contact position/job title:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
Company accreditations:
Contact information for client references with knowledge of the company's energy development
projects completed by the firm:
Section 2 Experience and Qualifications
Summarise your company’s experience and qualifications in the field of landfill gas management and
utilisation, with specific examples of energy development projects on closed landfills.
Section 3 Conceptual Description
Give an outline of how you would envisage the Site and project to be structured and run, e.g. what
type of engine, size and output do you think would be appropriate, management and monitoring of
the gas field, interface with the Council etc.
Section 4 Potential Electrical Energy Generation Capacity
The Council may seek an annual royalty, based on a percentage of gas utilised from the Site. This
could either be based on a fixed percentage, or alternatively based on variable rates for different
outputs achieved.
The Council may wish to retain an option for the use of electricity. This could be through a
negotiated power purchase agreement to a designated Council site, or to a Council endorsed Energy
Company which is currently being considered.
Outline possible options and examples for how remunerations and agreement systems may work
with the Council.
Section 5 Site Management
Outline how your company would manage the long term safety and viability of gas field, and wider
site. Include within your answer points such as site management, monitoring, maintenance
schedules, falling gas yields, potential gas migration, and interface with other site users etc.