2MW landfill gas plant powers up 1000 homes

Thanks to innovative people.

According to Malaysia Book of Records, the biogas power plant at the Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong is the first plant in the country to generate electricity using landfill gas.

About the landfill gas power plant:

Location                             : Puchong, Selangor
Landfill name                    : Worldwide Landfill Parks (renamed after being rehabilitated)
Generating capacity          : 2 MW
Feed-in tariff scheme         : Biogas (energy is sold to TNB at RM0.40/kWh for 16 years)
Feed-in tariff approval       : Since March 2012
Energy source                   : Landfill - solid wastes collected from around Klang Valley since 1995
Stored energy                   : The land-filled waste can sustain energy production for at least 16 years
Number of homes served  : about 1,000 although some reports stated 2,000 households.
Others                               : The park is open to visitors and researchers.

Zamri Abdul Rahman (left) showing SEDA CEO, Badriyah Abdul Malek (second right) and other SEDA representatives on how the methane gas is siphoned out for producing electric energy. Pic by NST/Che Rani Che Din


The Puchong Experience: 2 MW is produced at landfill gas plant

The methane gas from the Air Hitam Sanitary Landfill in Puchong -- generated from the waste accumulated over the past 10 years -- is now being put to good use to produce electricity.

The gas, found in landfills, is converted into electricity in a gas power plant that transfers the gas from underground pipes into an energy converter to produce, on average, two mega watts of energy every month. The electricity output is said to be able to power about a thousand households.

The landfill, which was closed after it reached its maximum use in 2006, was rehabilitated and renamed as Worldwide Landfills Park, with the renewable energy project undertaken by Worldwide Landfills Sdn Bhd. The landfill, saturated with 6.2 million metric tonnes of waste from its decade-old operations, can produce the 2MW energy for at least another 16 years.

The project was initiated in 2004, in cooperation with TNB Energy Services Sdn Bhd.

According to Worldwide Holdings Bhd general manager (environment) Zamri Abdul Rahman, the landfill was recently named as the first sanitary landfill to produce 2MW electricity in the Malaysia Book of Records.

"We are proud of the achievement and recognition given for the landfill. Nevertheless, our aim is to produce renewable energy from the waste at this former landfill," he said.

He said the project was initiated to supply power to the landfill operations but with TNB's participation, the electricity produced is now sold to TNB for 40 sen per kilo watt.

"The 2MW energy will be channelled to the main national power grid," he said.

Zamri added the Worldwide Landfills Park is open to visitors, especially students or agencies carrying out research on waste management and environmental studies. He said the company was looking at other landfills to convert them into power producers.

Zamri was speaking at a briefing session on the plant's operation to Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) chief executive officer Badriyah Abdul Malek and SEDA board members.
Source: New Straits Times


TheGreenMechanics' two cents: 

We have a solid waste dumping site near Kota Kinabalu located in Kayu Madang Telipok which I think would have been filled beyond its capacity by now. Some estimates this facility to be covering up to 145 hectares in lanfill area.

The dumping site has been there for more than 10 years and there's every possibility that this could surpass the capacity and sustainability of the gas power plant in Puchong, Selangor.

SESB's advice to complainants

In a bid to reach out to its more than 488,000 customers, SESB has launched its Official Facebook page and Twitter. With this, it is hoped that the general public would not be misled anymore by other facebook pages found on the net.


You can "Talk To Us" anytime but provide full information!

I like the idea of being able to contact the utility company  anytime, anywhere, in whatever way. It's fast and hassle-free.

The following newspaper cutting (Daily Express - Mar 25, 2013), says "they can also channel their complaints through toll-free line or through Talk To Us in SESB's website". I was looking for that particular section in their website and actually found none. But "Contact Us" menu would do the job just fine.

Information is powerful, so they say.

So, for best result, provide as much information as possible when making inquiries through the available channels, with at least the followings:-

• complainant's name
• location
• nature of complaint
• contact number
• full description (if space is not an issue)

I don't know about you, but for me, I've tested this out and am now waiting eagerly for some response.


"We want to give our customer the best services. We aim to give the right information, to the right people, at the right time and through the right channels."
- SESB Managing Director, Ir. Abdul Razak Sallim, during the launching of the Official SESB Facebook page.


Read more.

Use energy prudently for Earth Hour

That's what TNB, the national power provider said. But I'd say use energy prudently At All Times.

Do you know that, for each unit of energy we consume at home, the power provider used 3 times a much of fuel to supply it. For instance, for 100kWh of energy we use in a week, TNB or SESB need 300kWh worth of fuel to produce it.

One unit saved at home is equivalent to 3 units saved at TNB power plant.

REMEMBER: A small save at home is a big save at the power plant!

Going by the amount of energy saved, it seems that Malaysians' support for Earth Hours is declining:

2009 :  306 MW saved
2010 :  203 MW
2011 : 130 MW
2012 : 105 MW
2013 :  ?

So, anyway, you can do your part by leaving the non-essential lights off, and do the things you like to do (in my case photography). Go ahead, shoot some night activities such as these:-

(Note: All of the following pictures are mine and are copyrighted. If you would like to use them, please ask for my permission and make a backlink to this website)


Go to Suria Sabah and shoot a cityscape. The water front is a great place to start with.



Walk to the beach and shoot the sea. It doesn't require you to turn a light on.



If you happen to be shopping at KLCC today, take a moment of your time to capture Petronas Twin Towers at 8.00 pm.



If you need some music while shooting the fountain, go to Perdana Park in Tanjung Aru, KK. The musical fountain starts as early as 7.00pm



Alternatively, if you like tranquil, peaceful retreat and still able to enjoy the night with the light out, go to Kasih Sayang Resort. Pic: Kota Kinabalu and Likas area shot from the resort.



Or stay at home, go out to your compound and shot the sky. Half an hour will do.


Use energy prudently for Earth Hour: TNB

KUALA LUMPUR, March 22 (Bernama) -- Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has urged the public the reduce their electricity usage during the Earth Hour celebrations here tomorrow (23.3.2013).

Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Communication Adelina Iskandar said since 2009, about 306 megawatts (MW) have been saved during the one-hour campaign, with 203 MW in 2010, 130 MW in 2011 and 105 MW last year.

"We have noticed a drop in electricity saved during the one-hour celebrations, and we hope the public will continue to play their role in supporting the campaign," she said after launching the TNB-WWF Malaysia Earth Hour 2013 awareness campaign here today.

Themed "I will if you will," the Earth Hour invites individuals, businesses, governments and communities to switch off their lights for one hour tomorrow (March 23) from 8.30pm to show their support for environmentally sustainable action.

"We are encouraging the public to plan their daily usage and try to do their house chores using electrical appliances during off-peak hours," Adelina added.