Renewable

Energy Sources

Landfill gas is another way to create electricity from trash. Compressed solid waste creates methane gas which can be trapped, piped to a small plant and burned to turn a turbine or internal combustion engine and create electricity. The technology is well established and has been used in the past at the Kapaa Landfill in Kailua.

Developers are exploring landfill gas for the Waimanalo Gulch Landfill in Waianae and Kapaa Landfill in Kailua (on Oahu), at Waena in Central Maui and at Pu‘uanahulu in West Hawaii on the Big Island.

How Landfill Gas Capture Works

-- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

The Future of Landfill Gas

Municipal Solid Waste possibilities are being pursued by HECO’s subsidiary, Renewable Hawaii, Inc., and other entities.

More about Landfill Gas

U.S. EPA Landfill Gas brochure

Energy Information Administration LandFill Gas Statistics