Estimation of biogas generation rate and carbon sequestration potential from two landfill sites in southern India

Anaerobic digestion of organic solid waste is one of the mechanisms for sustainable development since it permits both the energy-efficient disposal of solid waste and the use of biogas. As a result, this study provides an assessment of the potential energy and emissions saved by using biogas energy generated from the biodegradation of solid waste. For present study two major cities are selected in south India namely Madurai, Tamil Nādu and Hyderabad, Telangana. The LandGEM 3.03 model is used to estimate the concentration of total landfill gases. The landfill in Madurai produced 2.162 × 10⁶ cu. m per year of methane emissions in the year 2013. The production of biogas has increased over time would continue to increase until 2045, when a production rate of 6.32 × 10⁷ cu. m per year was recorded as the largest concentration of biogas ever generated. For the Hyderabad landfill, methane concentrations during the year 2013 was recorded to be 2.5 × 10⁷ cu. m per year and reached a peak in 2046 with a concentration of 3.7 × 10⁸ cu. m per year, was found to have a potential to generate 2.1 × 10⁶ kWh per year. For the Madurai dump site, the energy potential increases gradually and reaches a peak during the year 2047 with a value of 4.54 × 10⁷ kWh per year. Whereas for Hyderabad dump site was found to have an energy equivalent of 2.1 × 10⁸ kWh per year during 2024 and reaches a peak during 2046 with an energy equivalent of 5.1 × 10⁸ kWh per year.