Adding value to unused landfill gas for renewable energy on-site at Oum Azza landfill (Morocco): Environmental feasibility and cost-effectiveness

Methane is one of the most harmful greenhouse gases to the environment. This study explores the valorization of biogas produced by landfilled waste into electricity at the Oum Azza landfill in Rabat (Morocco) using LandGem and multiphase models. Initially, the amount of waste produced at the landfill was estimated based on the population growth rate. The LandGem and multiphase models were then used to estimate the methane generated at the landfill. These estimates yielded different maximum quantities of 64.30 million m3 in 2028 for the LandGem model and 88.18 million m3 in 2028 for the multiphase model. The conversion of methane into electrical energy using the multiphase model, which is the most appropriate method for estimating methane produced in landfills, can reach 182.97 GWh in 2028. The financial study of the project shows its economic viability. Indeed, the project's net present value is positive, and the Total Life Cycle Cost equals 59.04 million USD based on a Levelized Cost of Energy of 0.05 USD/kWh, with a payback period of up to 11.45 years. This project is anticipated to avoid 79.1% of the global methane emission, compared to operating the landfill without biogas recovery. Overall, this exploratory study assists investors and the government in implementing this new technology in Morocco for climate change adaptation.