GE Energy has announced that it is providing two of its ecomagination-certified Jenbacher gas engines for a new 2MW landfill gas-to-energy plant being developed by Veolia Environment Services subsidiary, GRS Valtech, on the French overseas department of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean.
The landfill gas project represents an important renewable energy reference site for La Reunion, which is seeking to become completely independent from energy imports by 2025. To reach this goal, the island needs to add an estimated 400MW in generating capacity from various sources.
France’s ‘obligation d’achat’ feed-in tariff system, which provides incentives for installation of additional renewable energy capacity, has helped make the La Reunion landfill gas project more economically feasible for the project’s developer.
By capturing landfill gas instead of emitting it directly into the atmosphere and using it for power generation in place of fossil fuels, the project is expected to ensure the reduction of up to 60,000 tons CO2 equivalents per year.
GE is supplying two of its JMS 320 GS-LL gas engines for the landfill gas plant being installed near the town of Saint-Pierre, on the southern end of the island. The two units combined will generate more than 2MW in electrical power, which will then be sold to the local grid.
GE’s authorized Jenbacher gas engine distributor Clarke Energy France is installing the units on behalf of project developer and investor, GRS Valtech. The units are scheduled to enter commercial operation in November 2008.