This pioneering project addresses one of the major problems of the
world’s growing cities, struggling with disposal and energy supply.
Municipal solid waste landfills are a large source of greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions in the form of landfill gas, created as solid waste decomposes
anaerobically. It is typically made up of about 50 percent
methane (the primary component of natural gas) and 50 percent carbon
dioxide. At the same time, as rich potential sources of alternative
energy, they represent an opportunity to recover and utilize landfill
gas to cover the cities’ growing power demand.
This project encompasses four landfill sites at Sudokwan that manage
the waste of millions of inhabitants from the nearby cities of Seoul,
Incheon and Gyeonggi-do. It generates 50MW of clean energy in
an incineration facility constructed on reclaimed land, making it the
world’s largest landfill gas fired power plant and an exemplary case of
sustainable waste treatment for similar sites around the world.
But it is not only about energy. The project is also concerned with
turning the former landfill into a local recreation area, with parks,
sports grounds, and a museum. Soon, the landfill will be turned into
an ecological tourist attraction: the Gyungin Ara Waterway is set to
be completed in 2011. Some of the events at the 2014 Incheon Asian
Games – golf, swimming and equestrian – will be held at the Sudokwon
park. Stadiums for these events are already under construction.