Energy Systems has begun operations at the first of five landfill gas-to-power projects planned for Johannesburg, South Africa, the firm has announced.
Energy Systems says that the 3 MW power plant is the largest project of its kind ever developed in South Africa and that it is the first stage of £7.2 million of planned investment in landfill gas power plants in the city.
Energy Systems is the majority shareholder in the investment project, together with state-owned Central Energy Fund (SOE) Ltd, and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) company Secure Rock Enterprises. Local communities will benefit from a 2.5 per cent profit share in the five facilities via Energy Systems' Community Educational Trust.
The five facilities will produce a maximum 11 MW of energy. A second phase of future development could increase the capacity of three of the sites, Energy Systems said.
The project is the only landfill gas power project to receive support under the South African Department of Energy’s Renewable Electricity Independent Power Procurement Program (REIPPP).
A second facility is scheduled to open at Goudkoppies in March 2017, which will supply 2-3 MW of energy. This will be followed by a 2-3 MW plant at Marie Louise, and 1 MW at Ennerdale, and finally the 1 MW Linbro Park facility, tentatively scheduled for completion in 2018.