GE's landfill gas engine technology powers waste-to-energy project in Latin America

GE's Distributed Power business says commissioning for three of its Jenbacher gas engines is expected to take place this month at Estre Ambiental's landfill in Brazil's Guatapara City, Sao Paulo.

Once the facility begins commercial operation in May, it will be the first waste-to-energy project at an Estre landfill, one of the largest municipal solid waste operations in Latin America.

Under the scope of the project, GE will provide three 1.4MW J420 Jenbacher gas engines for an estimated total output of 4.2MW, with the potential to be expanded to 10MW in the next five years.

'This project will support Sao Paulo and Brazil's goals to increase the production of renewable power within the state and country. GE's solution provides us with a cost-effective, cleaner way to produce energy,' says Alexandre Alvim, director of waste-to-energy and business development, Estre Ambiental.

The new Estre Ambiental landfill project supports the initiatives of the Brazilian government to increase the production of electricity from renewable sources and may reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by between 36.1 and 38.9% from projected amounts in 2020. It may reduce the equivalent of about 70,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

The announcement comes just days after GE launched its Distributed Power busuness in Latin America on 8 April in Mexico City. The business is focused on power generation at or near the point of use, including a potential $1.4 billion (€1 billion) investment in technology to develop new and improved products for customers.