World’s Largest Solar Energy Cover
For the Hickory Ridge Landfill
A Sustainable Alternative Approach
For Landfill Closures
Overview
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Introduction to Solar Energy
Cover Systems
Example of Solar Energy Cover
System
Performance Benefits
Achieving Regulatory Equivalency
Design and Materials
Construction and Operation
Solar Energy Cover Economics
Another Example Tessman Road
Landfill Solar Energy Cover
Tessman Road Landfill
Solar Energy Cover is the
winner of the 2010
SWANA Gold Excellence
Award for Landfill
Secondary Use
Republic Services, Inc.
2010
SWANA
GOLD
AWARD
Hickory Ridge Landfill, Republic
Services, Inc. – Solar Energy Cover
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Permitted Final Closure in 2009
10 acre Phase I and 38 acre
Phase II Landfills (48 acres)
7,000+ Solar Panels to Produce
over 1 MW of Renewable
Energy over a 10-acre South
Facing Slope
Designed for Local Conditions
Permitted Closure Grades
Construction Completion and
Ribbon cutting in Oct 2011
Solar Energy Cover System
Designing a solarized landfill closure cap
Exposed Geomembrane
Solar Cap
vs.
Traditional Grass-topped
Composite Landfill Cover
The Transformation
The Transformation
Solar Energy Covers
Design Benefits:
 Promotes Positive Drainage
 Minimizes Infiltration
 No Soil Loss
 Reduce Maintenance
 Accommodate Settling and
Subsidence
 High Quality Stormwater
Runoff
Solar Energy Covers
Performance Benefits:
 Access to Inspect
Liner
 Confirmation of Liner
Integrity
 Address Liner Repairs
 Stable Surface for
Solar Panels
Engineered Alternative Closure System to Address
California Post-Closure Care Performance
Standards – SWRCB 21090
Cover Maintenance Plan & Annual Cost Estimate
“The final cover shall be designed and constructed to function with the
minimum maintenance possible”
•
Periodic Leak Search – A schedule for carrying out periodic
monitoring of the integrity of the low-hydraulic-conductivity layer,
including a method for effectively identifying and repairing breaches
in that layer.
•
Prompt Cover Repair – a plan for repairing, in a timely manner, any
breach or other cover problem discovered during the periodic
inspections.
Stormwater Impacts
Stormwater from
EGC
Stormwater
from soil cap
Solar Energy Impacts
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
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858 tons CO2e/Mw/yr
Landscaping Impacts
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
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Mowing:
Fertilizer:
Pesticides:
Irrigation:
650 lbs CO2e/acre/yr
1,260 lbs CO2e/acre/yr
44 lbs CO2e/acre/yr
1,480 lbs CO2e/acre/yr
Solar Energy Cover
Design
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Major design considerations:
– Wind uplift
– Stormwater control
– Anchoring system (anchor trenches
and benches)
– Passive or active gas collection
system
– Environmental exposure
– Access-vehicles/monitoring
– Aesthetics
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Geomembrane Deployment and Anchor Trench Spacing
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Geomembrane Deployment
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Geomembrane Deployment and Anchor Trench Spacing
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Geomembrane Deployment and Anchor Trench Spacing
Hickory Ridge Landfill
Exposed Geomembrane Panel Layout
Hickory Ridge Landfill
Solar Energy Cover Layout
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Emergency Gas Vent
Solar Energy Cover System Design
Emergency Gas Vent
Photovoltaic Laminates
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Flexible Photovoltaic
Laminates
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Designed originally for rooftop
application
Flexible, lightweight, durable
Work well in shadow & low light
High heat tolerant
Power ratings of 68W to 144W
20-year guarantee
Solar Electricity Block Diagram
Flexible Solar Panel and Wiring
Solar Energy Cover Incentives
• Landfill post-closure care
cost savings
• Solar incentives and rebates
for project construction
• Solar renewable energy
credits (SREC)
• Sale of renewable power
• Avoided energy savings
• Carbon cap and trade
credits
• Positive image of
sustainability and energy
independence
Solar Incentives for California
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California Solar Initiative – Recent rates are 5 cents/kWh for commercial customers,
15 cents/kWh for government & non-profit customers (systems >30kW).
SMUD (Sacramento) offered either a 65 cent per Watt one-time up-front incentive
up to 1 MW, or 10 cents/kWh performance incentive paid over 5 years (any PPA
deals or leased systems must use this incentive).
Glendale Water and Power: Fairly lucrative production incentive at 39.4 cents/kWh
LA DWP’s Green L.A. solar program has been placed on hold as of April because
demand has overextended their budget. Incentive payment was around 10
cents/kWh.
CA Solar Center’s page and DSIRE (under Utility Rebate Program section) link to
incentives in other areas, municipal utilities, etc.
Concept Economics - Sale
COVER CONSTRUCTION/PCM
Cover System
Construction $/Acre
Maintenance $/Ac/Yr.
Acres Final Cover
Thirty (30) Year PCM Period
Cost Vs Sub D Prescriptive
SOLAR CAP EXAMPLES
$
$
$
$
$
Sub D
130,000
1,000
20
3,200,000
-
ET
$
$
$
$
$
EGC
30,000
700
20
1,020,000
(2,180,000) $
Solar Laminate Install on EGC ($/kW)
Installed Capacity kW
Location Derate (Array Tilt)
Hours/Year Ave. sunshine (conservative)
Los Angeles -ET Sacramento - Sub D
$
4.00 $
4.00
500
500
77%
70%
2555
2920
Provided Power Ex (MW-hrs/yr)
Utility Buyback assumed ($/kW)
Theoretical /Yr
years 1-20 (90% Eff.)
Years 20-30 (80% Eff)
$
$
$
$
Weather Data Ave. Hours per year sunshine
3200
984
0.15
147,551
2,655,923
1,180,410
3608
$
$
$
$
REVENUE
$ 3,800,000
Solar Cost (kW installed +20% conti.)
2,400,000
Balance Revenue $ 1,400,000
$
Balance Revenue (30-yrs)
Payback Year (Power & PCM savings)
$
Additional FC Cost (Compare to EGC)
$
$
700,000
700,000
22
$
$
$
$
$
$
1,022
0.15
153,300
2,759,400
1,226,400
4,000,000
2,400,000
1,600,000
(1,480,000)
3,080,000
6
80,000
200
20
1,720,000
(1,480,000)
Concept Economics - Use
SOLAR CAP EXAMPLES
Solar Laminate Install on EGC ($/kW)
Los Angeles -ET Sacramento - Sub D
$
4.00 $
4.00
Installed Capacity kW
100
100
Location Derate (Array Tilt)
Hours/Year Ave. sunshine (conservative)
77%
2555
70%
2920
Weather Data Ave. Hours per year sunshine
3200
3608
197
204
Provided Power Ex (MW-hrs/yr)
Power AVOIDED COST ($/kW)
Theoretical /Yr
years 1-20 (90% Eff.)
Years 20-30 (80% Eff)
$
$
$
$
0.24
47,216
849,895
377,731
REVENUE
$ 1,200,000
Solar Cost (kW installed +20% conti.)
500,000
Balance Revenue $ 700,000
Additional FC Cost (Compare to EGC) $
Balance Revenue (30-yrs) $
Payback Year (Power savings)
-
700,000
12
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
0.24
49,056
883,008
392,448
1,300,000
500,000
800,000
-
800,000
12
Solar Energy from Landfill Caps
Mark Urquhart Mark.Urquhart@hdrinc.com
Mark Roberts Mark.Roberts@hdrinc.com