Proposal:

Issue RFP to Develop and Demonstrate Technologies for Cleanup of Landfill Gas and Its Conversion to Hydrogen

Synopsis:

To facilitate the market entry of hydrogen-based, zero-emission fuel-cell stationary and mobile-vehicle technologies, the production sources and supply of hydrogen fuel need expansion. This action is to issue an RFP to develop and demonstrate technologies to (1) clean up landfill gas, and (2) convert the cleaned gas into hydrogen. AQMD funding of $300,000 is available in the FY 1996-97 Budget.

Committee:

Technology, January 17, 1997, Recommended for Approval

Recommended Action:

Issue RFP #9697-34 to develop and demonstrate the cleanup of landfill gas and its conversion to hydrogen for an amount not to exceed $300,000.

James M. Lents, Ph.D.
Executive Officer

Background

Among all alternative fuels, hydrogen has the potential for the least environmental impact, especially if it is produced from sources that are sustainable and environmentally benign. Furthermore, the deployment of progressively lower-emitting technologies, such as the zero-emission hydrogen-powered fuel cells for stationary and mobile source applications, are a key component of the AQMP strategy to meet the region's air quality goals by the year 2010.

Currently, a hydrogen infrastructure exists for industrial use and for specialized aerospace vehicles such as the Space Shuttle. The associated hydrogen production, distribution and storage technologies are mature and well-developed for these applications. To assist hydrogen-powered technologies achieve significant penetration in the South Coast Air Basin, the production and supply of hydrogen need to be further expanded and costs reduced. Landfills are an example of potential renewable sources of hydrogen that are located close to urban centers. Conceivably, hydrogen produced at landfills can be transported and delivered to nearby hydrogen end-user sites such as hydrogen-refueling facilities.

In landfills, refuse is spread, compacted, and covered with earth. The organic portion of such waste is subjected to natural processes of aerobic and anaerobic decomposition. Landfill gases (LFG) are produced when the landfill waste decomposes, or from the evolution of volatile species in the waste. LFG primarily contains methane, carbon dioxide, entrapped air, moisture, and traces of non-methane organic compounds (NMOC) and sulfur containing compounds. Emissions of greenhouse gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide from LFG contribute to global warming. Over 100 NMOC identified in LFG are associated with adverse health effects including benzene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride and ethylene dibromide.

The Clean Air Act and AQMD Rule 1150.1 mandate that gas collection systems be installed to collect landfill gases and convey them to a central processing facility. There, the LFG is either flared, converted in a waste-to-energy facility to produce heat or electric energy, or converted to clean fuels such as hydrogen.

Proposal

The objective of this RFP is to solicit a cost-shared demonstration that would lead to the development of commercial-size designs that are pre-packaged, modular in nature, and available on skid-mounted units to:

1. Clean up landfill gases

2. Convert the cleaned landfill gases into hydrogen.

3. Clean the hydrogen to a high enough purity for fuel cells.

The cleanup of landfill gases is necessary because small amounts of halogenated or sulfided compounds could negatively impact the subsequent conversion processes to hydrogen. This task would include, but is not limited to, determining the composition of total organic compounds, total particulates, and total sulfur-containing compounds; improving their removal; minimizing air entrapment; and improving moisture/condensate removal and treatment. Current methods of cleanup include condensation, dewatering, filtration, activated carbon and zinc-oxide adsorption. Preferred cleanup methods would include those that destroy the sulfur compounds and NMOCs, rather than those that merely transfer contaminants to another media; methods that are potentially less expensive in terms of installation and operating costs; and methods whose designs can be packaged in modular, skid-mounted units.

The next process step involves the conversion of the cleaned gas into synthesis gas containing mainly carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The RFP encourages proponents to consider various alternatives including steam reforming and partial oxidation, either thermal or catalytic. In the third process step, synthesis gas from the second process step is converted to pure hydrogen by water-shifting the carbon monoxide to more hydrogen, and then purifying the hydrogen using pressure swing adsorption (PSA) or membrane technologies. The purified hydrogen could also be liquefied for bulk delivery purposes. The RFP encourages proponents who have already acquired the necessary permits and the necessary financing package to install and operate the project.

The proposed project is included in the October 1996 update of the Technology Advancement Plan for the Clean Fuels Program as proposed project M4-2, "Production of Clean Fuels from Municipal Solid Waste, Biomass, and Other Waste Fuels." The primary benefits of this project are expected to occur over the long term. If the proposed technology is successfully demonstrated, this project would advance the LFG cleanup technologies; more efficiently destroy the volatile, toxic, and greenhouse components present in LFG; advance the technology of converting LFG into a clean-fuel, hydrogen; improve hydrogen infrastructure by expanding the sources and availability of hydrogen fuel; and facilitate the market introduction of zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell technologies in both stationary and mobile applications.

Outreach

In accordance with the AQMD’s consulting and contracting policies, a public notice advertising the RFP and inviting bids will be published in the following publications: The Black Voice News, Chinese Daily News, Eastern Group Publications, El Chicano, The Excelsior, Inland Empire Hispanic News, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Korea Central Daily, La Opinion, La Voz, Los Angeles Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, M/W/DVBE Source, Orange County Register, Philippine News, Precinct Reporter, Rafu Shimpo, Riverside Press Enterprise, the San Bernardino Sun, and the State of California Contracts Register. Additionally, potential bidders will be identified through Los Angeles County’s Directory of Certified Minority, Women, Disadvantaged and Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises; the Directory of Certified Firms published by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority; the Inland Area Opportunity Pages Ethnic/Women Business & Professional Directory; the Caltrans electronic bulletin board listing of Disadvantaged and Women Business Enterprises; the AQMD’s own electronic listing of certified minority vendors; and AQMD Purchasing’s mailing list. Copies of the RFP will be mailed to the Black and Latino Legislative Caucuses and various minority chambers of commerce and business associations; and will be placed on the Internet at AQMD’s Web site [http://www.aqmd.gov] and on AQMD’s bidder’s 24-hour telephone message line.

Bid Evaluation

Due to the particular importance of technical qualifications in awarding advanced technology contracts, staff has proposed in the RFP to weight a significant portion of the cost component of the scoring by technical strength, in effect a form of cost effectiveness. This form of scoring differs from the general practice of using total costs as the sole criterion, which the Board’s Consultant Selection Policy may be interpreted to call for. This change was brought to the attention of the Technology Committee, which approved this revision.

Proposition 209 Compliance

It is AQMD policy to award additional points or cost benefits for minority-owned, woman-owned, and/or disabled veteran-owned business enterprises. On November 5, 1996 California voters approved Proposition 209 which prohibits discrimination or granting preferential treatment based upon race, ethnicity, color, sex or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. (Proposition 209 does not address disabled veteran-owned business enterprises.) On December 16, 1996, the Federal District Court issued an order applicable to all government agencies in California prohibiting enforcement of Proposition 209. Therefore, the AQMD’s existing policy remains in effect. Should the status of the law change at any point during the process of issuing an RFP or RFQ or entering into a contract pursuant to a previously issued RFP or RFQ, the AQMD will abide by the law in effect at the time the action is taken and any RFP or RFQ will be deemed modified to comply with existing law and any provisions in conflict with existing law will not be enforced.

Resource Impacts

The total cost to the AQMD will not exceed $300,000. There are sufficient funds in the FY 1996-97 budget.

Attachment

RFP #9697-34, Develop and Demonstrate the Cleanup of Landfill Gas and Its Conversion to Hydrogen.