Estimating Methane Generation and Electricity Potential from Municipal Solid Waste

The city of Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia, is a growing city that is the support base for the national capital. This leads to an increasing population and economy but also brings waste management challenges. Therefore, it is of great concern to the government to prepare early in order to minimize the negative effects of waste. The purpose of this research is to calculate methane gas production from waste and its conversion into electrical energy using the sanitary landfill concept. Where landfill gas production is after the anaerobic process takes place. This research employed a quantitative, descriptive approach and used the Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM) v3.02 for data analysis. The calculation results show that in 2019, the methane gas potential at TPA Manggar was 499,350 m³/year, and the potential is projected to continue increasing. The implementation of a Waste-to-Energy Power Plant (PLTSa) at TPA Manggar is crucial, as the conversion of methane gas yields significant electrical power and energy. This conversion not only addresses waste management issues but also supports the local energy grid with renewable power, providing environmental and economic benefits. Based on the experiment, the estimated increase in waste in 2027 is 149,962.49 tons, with a MAPE of 9.64%, or an average annual increase of 1.86%. Meanwhile, the estimated methane gas potential in 2027 is 3,426,000 m³/year and will continue to increase. Furthermore, the estimated electric power potential in 2027 is 1.19 MW, or equivalent to 10,409,010.24 kWh/year. The results of the study provide recommendations that the conversion of energy to electrical energy at the Waste-to-Energy Plant (PLTSa) can be carried out by TPA Manggar, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. Where this aligns with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia's direction on waste management, implementing a sanitary landfill method that continues to innovate. For further research, it is recommended that the waste management unit conduct detailed planning for the construction of the PLTSa and the necessary equipment, thereby aligning Balikpapan's waste management practices with the government's mandate to employ innovative sanitary landfill methods.