The first element

Humboldt State University’s Schatz Energy Research Center wants to take that gas — half of it is methane, a potent greenhouse gas — and make it into electricity, heat and hydrogen fuel. What started as an Evolution Energy Systems student project earned accolades from the National Hydrogen Association, and has won face time with Chevron executives. Chevron’s paying for a feasibility study.

Excess hydrogen would be captured, purified, compressed and sold as a fuel for vehicles. Lehman estimates that on 100 standard cubic feet of landfill gas per minute, 200 kilowatts of electricity, 100 kilograms per day of compressed hydrogen and 75 therms of heat per day could be produced. Based on a recent study, there appears to be enough gas to run such an operation for at least 20 years.

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