GLOBE-Net reports that as part of a Joint Venture, the technology group The Linde Group and the North American company Waste Management Inc. will build the world‘‘s biggest plant for the conversion of landfill gas into environmentally friendly biogas in Livermore, California.

The plant will begin operating in 2009. It is intended that the liquefied biogas will be used as a fuel for Waste Management‘‘s 300 trash and recycling collection vehicles in California. The capital expenditure amounts to US$15 million.

Linde is responsible for the engineering of the plant as well as the cleaning and subsequent liquefaction of the landfill gas. Waste Management, North America‘‘s leading recycling and waste management company, is supplying the landfill gas - which comes from the natural decomposition of organic waste. It is expected that the plant will produce around 50,000 litres of liquid biogas per day.

"This project is an outstanding example of our commitment to the production and further development of alternative energy sources. By collecting landfill gas and turning it into an environmentally friendly fuel, we are relieving the strain on the environment and at the same time reducing CO2-emissions", explained Kent Masters, a member of the Executive Board of Linde AG and responsible for the company‘‘s business in North America.

Linde has been pressing ahead with the development and environmentally friendly use of both fossil and alternative fuels for years. From production to fuelling techniques, Linde delivers technological solutions for natural gas, biogas and hydrogen. Linde also works closely together with well-known energy companies to develop second-generation biofuels such as ethanol and BtL (Biomass-to-Liquid) which are manufactured from biogenous residues.

Waste Management is a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange and the first solid waste company to join the California Climate Action Registry. In 2003, the company committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through increased recycling, the use of alternative transportation fuels, and the beneficial use of landfill gas.

This project is also part of the company‘‘s environmental sustainability initiative to double its waste-based energy production from the equivalent of 1 million to 2 million homes each year by 2020 as well as directing capital spending of up to US$500 million per annum over a 10-year period to increase the fuel efficiency of its fleet by 15 percent and reduce fleet emissions by 15 percent by 2020 as well as investments in new technologies to enhance our business.

"This project has the potential to allow us to tap into a valuable source of clean energy while greatly reducing our dependence on fossil fuels," said Duane Woods, senior vice president, Western group of Waste Management. "This will be the largest plant of its kind and we hope to break new ground by producing commercial quantities. Natural gas is already the cleanest burning fuel available for our collection trucks, and the opportunity to use recovered landfill gas offers enormous environmental benefits to the communities we serve."