Electricity to be produced from methane in Jerusalem

The local authorities of the city of Jerusalem will soon be inviting bids for the setting up of a factory that will generate methane gas from the waste found in the Abu-Dis dumping site. The methane gas will then be used to generate electricity for use by thousands of people all over the city.

Feasibility tests conducted by the Afik Company for the Jerusalem municipality revealed that the dumping site possessed significant quantities of methane gas. It is estimated that the actual quantities are approximately eighty four thousand, seven hundred and fifty five cubic feet per hour which would be sufficient for thousands of electricity consumers.

The firm that is charged with generating and selling this form of electricity to the Israel Electrical Company expects to make profits of around five and a half million dollars.

The accumulation of the methane gas happens over the course of a number of years as the waste decomposes at the dumping sites. The methane gas is drawn out of the dumping site by putting pipes into the dumping site. This method of generating electricity is less hazardous to the environment than generating electricity by burning coal. It is also environmentally friendly in the sense that it averts the possible leaking of the methane gas which is highly explosive.

Plants which have been generating electricity from Methane gas have been in existence in Israel for several years and one of the most renowned plants is situated at the Hiriya dumping site.

The scheme for the production of gas out of the Abu-Dis dumping site was strongly advocated by the Uri Lupolianski, the mayor of Jerusalem.