Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia

Luisa F. Ramírez-Ríos; Dorance Becerra-Moreno; Judith Y. Ortega-Contreras

doi:10.14483/23448393.23951

Authors

Luisa F. Ramírez-Ríos Universidad de los Llanos https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0973-3847
Dorance Becerra-Moreno Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander
Judith Y. Ortega-Contreras Universidad Francisco de Paula Santander

Keywords:

methane, renewable energy, syngas, sanitary landfill (en).

Keywords:

relleno sanitario, metano, energía renovable, gas de síntesis (es).

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Abstract (en)

Context: Methane generation in sanitary landfills poses an environmental risk due to the global warming potential of methane; however, it also presents an opportunity for renewable energy production. While previous studies have provided biogas estimates, few have addressed the comprehensive energy valorization of biogas. This study assesses the energy potential of methane at the Los Picachos Landfill through various recovery pathways: conversion to electrical, thermal, and chemical energy, and the production of hydrogen and syngas.

Method: Historical population data, per capita waste generation rates, and waste disposal records were used to estimate methane generation with the Landfill Gas Emissions Model (LandGEM). The modeling horizon included two periods: an active disposal period from 2014 to 2044, according to the projected closure year of the landfill, and a post-closure methane generation period from 2045 to 2154, during which no additional waste input was assumed. Energy conversion coefficients were then applied to calculate chemical, electrical, and thermal energy outputs. Hydrogen production was estimated through three technological pathways: steam methane reforming (SMR), chemical looping reforming (CLR), and chemical looping reforming in a packed-bed reactor (CL_PB). Syngas production was also estimated using these pathways.

Results: The findings indicate sustained growth in methane generation, peaking at approximately 10 478 673 m³ in 2045, with an energy potential of 1 473 156 MJ·d⁻¹. Annual hydrogen production ranges from 20 000 Nm³ to 33 000 000 Nm³, depending on the conversion pathway. A significant quantity of syngas was also estimated, with potential applications in both chemical synthesis and energy production.

Conclusions: The methane generated at the site presents a high potential for energy valorization, particularly between 2020 and 2070. These findings can inform the development of waste-to-energy policies and support future research into hybrid conversion routes and integrated energy systems.

Abstract (es)

Contexto: La generación de metano en rellenos sanitarios implica un riesgo ambiental por el potencial de calentamiento global del metano, pero también una oportunidad para producir energía renovable. Aunque existen estimaciones previas de biogás, pocos estudios abordan su valorización energética integral. Este trabajo evalúa el potencial energético del metano en el Relleno Sanitario Los Picachos mediante diversas rutas de aprovechamiento: conversión a energía eléctrica, térmica y química, y producción de hidrógeno y gas de síntesis.

Método: Se emplearon datos históricos de población, tasas de generación per cápita de residuos y registros de disposición de residuos para estimar la generación de metano mediante el modelo LandGEM (Landfill Gas Emissions Model). El horizonte de modelación incluyó dos periodos: un periodo de disposición activa entre 2014 y 2044, de acuerdo con el año proyectado de cierre del relleno sanitario, y un periodo posclausura de generación de metano entre 2045 y 2154, durante el cual no se asumió ingreso adicional de residuos. Posteriormente, se aplicaron coeficientes de conversión energética para calcular la energía química, eléctrica y térmica. La producción de hidrógeno se estimó mediante tres rutas tecnológicas: reformado de metano con vapor (SMR, steam methane reforming), reformado por bucle químico (CLR, chemical looping reforming) y reformado por bucle químico en reactor de lecho empacado (CL_PB). La producción de gas de síntesis también se estimó mediante estas rutas.

Resultados: Los resultados muestran un crecimiento sostenido en la generación de metano, con un pico cercano a 10 478 673 m³ en 2045 y un potencial energético de 1 473 156 MJ·d⁻¹. La producción anual de hidrógeno varía entre 20 000 Nm³ y 33 000 000 Nm³, según la ruta de conversión. Se estimó además una producción significativa de gas de síntesis, con potencial para aplicaciones tanto en síntesis química como en producción de energía.

Conclusiones: El metano generado en el sitio presenta un alto potencial de valorización energética, especialmente entre 2020 y 2070. Estos hallazgos pueden orientar el desarrollo de políticas de aprovechamiento energético de residuos y apoyar futuras investigaciones en rutas híbridas de conversión y sistemas energéticos integrados.

Palabras clave: energía renovable, gas de síntesis, metano, relleno sanitario.

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How to Cite

APA

Ramírez-Ríos, L. F., Becerra-Moreno, D., and Ortega-Contreras, J. Y. (2026). Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia. Ingeniería, 31(2), e23951. https://doi.org/10.14483/23448393.23951

ACM

[1]

Ramírez-Ríos, L.F. et al. 2026. Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia. Ingeniería. 31, 2 (Oct. 2026), e23951. DOI:https://doi.org/10.14483/23448393.23951.

ACS

(1)

Ramírez-Ríos, L. F.; Becerra-Moreno, D.; Ortega-Contreras, J. Y. Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia. Ing. 2026, 31, e23951.

ABNT

RAMÍREZ-RÍOS, Luisa F.; BECERRA-MORENO, Dorance; ORTEGA-CONTRERAS, Judith Y. Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia. Ingeniería, [S. l.], v. 31, n. 2, p. e23951, 2026. DOI: 10.14483/23448393.23951. Disponível em: https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/reving/article/view/23951. Acesso em: 11 nov. 2026.

Chicago

Ramírez-Ríos, Luisa F., Dorance Becerra-Moreno, and Judith Y. Ortega-Contreras. 2026. “Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia”. Ingeniería 31 (2):e23951. https://doi.org/10.14483/23448393.23951.

Harvard

Ramírez-Ríos, L. F., Becerra-Moreno, D. and Ortega-Contreras, J. Y. (2026) “Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia”, Ingeniería, 31(2), p. e23951. doi: 10.14483/23448393.23951.

IEEE

[1]

L. F. Ramírez-Ríos, D. Becerra-Moreno, and J. Y. Ortega-Contreras, “Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia”, Ing., vol. 31, no. 2, p. e23951, Oct. 2026.

MLA

Ramírez-Ríos, Luisa F., et al. “Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia”. Ingeniería, vol. 31, no. 2, Oct. 2026, p. e23951, doi:10.14483/23448393.23951.

Turabian

Ramírez-Ríos, Luisa F., Dorance Becerra-Moreno, and Judith Y. Ortega-Contreras. “Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia”. Ingeniería 31, no. 2 (October 22, 2026): e23951. Accessed November 11, 2026. https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/reving/article/view/23951.

Vancouver

1.

Ramírez-Ríos LF, Becerra-Moreno D, Ortega-Contreras JY. Energy Recovery from Methane Generated at the Los Picachos Landfill in Popayán, Colombia. Ing. [Internet]. 2026 Oct. 22 [cited 2026 Nov. 11];31(2):e23951. Available from: https://revistas.udistrital.edu.co/index.php/reving/article/view/23951