TransForce to convert methane into electricity

www.chinatrucks.com: TransForce’s environmental services division has formed a partnership with Quebec-based Terreau Biogaz to convert methane to electricity from its Granby and Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton, Que. landfill sites. The electricity has been placed on the Hydro-Québec grid as of June 29.

In its first year, the project will produce one megawatt of power, roughly enough electricity to power about 450 homes. That will double to two megawatts next year and at its peak the facility will generate three megawatts, according to company officials. The $10 million investment in the project will allow for the sale of electricity to Hydro Québec for a 24-year period. 

"In addition to generating electricity, the project will reduce greenhouse gas production at the Granby site and will contribute to the Quebec government's 2012-2020 climate change goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 20% versus the base year of 1990," explained Marc Couture, General Manager of Terreau Biogaz. 

"As well as collecting methane from the new cells at the Granby site, we have retrofitted the old landfill with a gas collection system to also feed the generators. We estimate this will reduce the release of greenhouse gases from the old landfill by about 30,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is a further example of our teams' innovation, underlining TransForce's commitment to the environment and revenue generation. We thank Hydro-Québec, MRC de La Haute-Yamaska, Granby, and Sainte-Cécile-de-Milton municipal officials who have been most supportive with this project," said Alain Bédard, chairman, president and CEO of TransForce.