A renewable natural gas (RNG) facility has been set up at the Scott Area Landfill in Davenport. The facility is turning landfill gas into energy and reducing on-site emissions, according to leaders with the Waste Commission of Scott County, Linwood Mining and Minerals, and Waga Energy.
Waga Energy, a global leader in landfill gas-to-RNG, commissioned the facility. The landfill is operated by the Waste Commission of Scott County on a Linwood Mining and Minerals property.
The natural gas facility uses Waga Energy’s patented WAGABOX technology to upgrade landfill gas into pipeline compliant RNG, injected directly into the MidAmerican Energy pipeline.
“We are excited about this private/public partnership tying directly to the waste commission’s mission of providing sustainable recycling and waste management solutions that positively impact Scott County. By capturing methane from the Scott Area Landfill and converting it into energy, we’re turning waste into a valuable resource that helps fuel our community and protect our environment,” Bryce Stalcup, executive director of Waste Commission of Scott County, said in a news release.
Mike Bush, president of Linwood Mining and Minerals, added: “At Linwood, we believe it’s our responsibility to use our resources wisely – including the land we own. We’re grateful for the forward-thinking leadership of the Waste Commission and Waga Energy in turning environmental challenges into clean energy solutions that benefit our entire region.”
The facility has an installed capacity of over 205,000 MMBtu (60 GWh) of RNG per year, equivalent to the energy contained in about 1.5 million gallons of diesel fuel. Approximately 15,800 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions will be avoided annually due to the displacement of fossil fuels.
The Scott Area Landfill is off County Road Y-48, three miles south of Highway 61.
Value from waste
Waga Energy designed, built, owns and operates the plant for a 20-year initial term, sharing revenue with the Waste Commission of Scott County to cover their operational expenses, and with Linwood Mining and Minerals, that leases the property to the commission. Waga Energy will also support the commission’s ongoing wellfield operations to optimize methane capture and maximize renewable energy production.
“Together, we’re turning landfill gas into reliable, local energy – creating value from waste while reducing local emissions. Waga Energy is proud to support the commission’s vision and to contribute our expertise to a project that demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration in advancing the energy transition,” said Guénaël Prince, CEO of Waga Energy Inc., which is headquartered in Grenoble, France.
The Scott Area Landfill processes around 185,000 tons of waste annually from 17 municipalities and Scott County.
A key pillar for the energy transition, RNG is a local, renewable energy source that can substitute fossil-based fuels in transportation, industry, and heating, according to information from Waga.
Founded in 1972 and reorganized in 1990, the Waste Commission of Scott County is a 28E, inter-governmental agency whose members include 17 communities and Scott County. The Commission, headquartered in Buffalo, Iowa, has planned, sited, built and operates Scott Area Landfill, a synthetically lined Subtitle D landfill that includes leachate collection, recirculation and methane recovery. Learn more at www.wastecom.com
Linwood Mining and Minerals Corp. is a leader in the limestone industry and part of the McCarthy-Bush Corporation. It supplies a complete line of calcium carbonate, lime products, and aggregates to meet individual specifications.
Linwood traces its roots back to 1944 and today ranks as one of the largest limestone mining operations in the United States. Learn more at www.linwoodmining.com
