Innovation: Air Liquide turns trash into energy with BIOGAZ by MEDAL

Organic waste buried in landfills degrades into biogases, which comprise methane, the major constituent of natural gas. When released in the atmosphere, methane contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Air Liquide launches an innovation: with BIOGAZ from MEDAL, the membrane division of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC, methane gas naturally released from landfills can now be captured and recycled into pipeline quality energy.

In the summer of 2006, a BIOGAZ system was installed at a new landfill methane recovery project near Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Said Harry Crouse, Chairman of Keystone Renewable Energy, LLC: “We are so pleased with the performance of the BIOGAZ system that we have already ordered two more units for projects in Western Pennsylvania. MEDAL’s BIOGAZ technology has given us a way to capture and recycle energy in an economical and environmentally friendly way that would have otherwise gone to waste or been burned in the landfill’s flare.” The additional Keystone installations are scheduled for completion late in the summer of 2007.

Each BIOGAZ system is capable of removing and reprocessing 40,000-160,000 m³ of landfill gases per day. The ultimate benefit of the BIOGAZ system is that it captures a previously wasted energy stream and recycles it into high quality energy while contributing to reduce harmful greenhouse gases from landfills. The recycled methane can then be delivered directly into the pipeline grid.

Air Liquide Group Executive Vice-President Pierre Dufour stated: “The BIOGAZ system developed by our teams in the United States is not only a valuable offering for customers, but also meets a fundamental need to use technology to benefit the environment. This patented innovation is also an example of Air Liquide’s ability to develop solution-oriented innovations consistent with the Group’s commitment to sustainable development.”

Air Liquide’s R&D and Advanced Technologies activities are carried out through a network of 1,400 employees from 25 different countries, located in 18 centers in Europe, North America and Japan. MEDAL is a division of Air Liquide Advanced Technologies U.S. LLC at the forefront of membrane technology for a host of industrial and environmental applications.