Biogas Emissions and Renewable Energy Potential of Municipal Solid Waste Landfills: A Case Study in Kashan, Iran

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, P.O.Box 14155-6135, Tehran, Iran

2 Faculty of Energy Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, P.O.Box 14565114, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/poll.2026.405717.3188

Abstract

Landfill gas from municipal solid waste is a climate liability and a renewable energy opportunity. In this study, methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and non-methane organic compound (NMOC) emissions from Kashan landfill, located in a semi-arid region of Iran, were estimated and simulated, and its electricity potential was determined. LandGEM, a U.S. EPA first-order model, was applied with data from Kashan landfill, taking into account waste characteristics and decay rate constant (k = 0.0268 yr⁻¹), decay L (L₀ = 191 m³ CH₄ Mg⁻¹ waste). Peak methane emission occurred one year after closing (2036), with a rate of 9.85 Gg.yr⁻¹ (~14.8×10⁶ m³ yr⁻¹). Total landfill gas generated is 3.50×10⁴ Mg.yr⁻¹ at the end of filling (2035). Assuming a gas collection efficiency of 60% and electricity efficiency of 33%, total electricity produced peaks at ~27.1 GWh.yr⁻¹ (~27,091 MWh.yr⁻¹). These results show that LFG collection and use should be a priority for semi-arid region MSW landfills with large percentages of organic waste.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Agency, I. E. (2025). Global Methane Tracker 2025. I. E. Agency. 
Amirmahani, N., Sadeghi, S., Yazdanpanah, G., Tayebiyan, A., Nasiri, A., & Malakootian, M. (2020). Estimating methane gas generation rate from Kerman City landfill using LandGEM software. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 26(4), 520–530. 
Chandra, S., & Ganguly, R. (2023). Assessment of landfill gases by LandGEM and energy recovery potential from municipal solid waste of Kanpur city, India. Heliyon, 9(4). 
Du, M., Peng, C., Wang, X., Chen, H., Wang, M., & Zhu, Q. (2017). Quantification of methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills in China during the past decade. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 78, 272–279. 
Elsebaay, Y., Ahmed, M., Elagroudy, S., & Nassour, A. (2024). Energy recovery from landfill gas in Egypt. Environment, Development and Sustainability. 
ESMAP, W. B. (2004). Landfill Gas to Energy: Handbook (342/04). W. Bank. 
Gavrila, G. O., Vasile, G. G., Calinescu, S. M., Constantin, C., Tanase, G., Cirstea, A., Stancu, V., Danciulescu, V., & Orbeci, C. (2025). Assessment of CH4 and CO2 Emissions from a Municipal Waste Landfill: Trends, Dispersion, and Environmental Implications. Atmosphere, 16(7), 752. 
Ghasemzade, R., Pazoki, M. (2017). Estimation and modeling of gas emissions in municipal landfill (Case study: Landfill of Jiroft City). , Pollution, 3, 4, 2017, 689-700.
Goh, K. C., Kurniawan, T. A., Othman, M. H. D., Jumaniyozov, K., Aziz, F., Anouzla, A., Ali, I., Khan, M. I., Alsultan, G. A., & Zhang, D. (2025). Promoting landfill mining for sustainable resource recovery, circular economy, and climate mitigation: a review. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 1643195. 
Goushki, M. N., Shiri, M. A., & Nozari, M. (2023). Estimation of gas emissions using the LandGEM model from the landfill of Baft County, Kerman, Iran. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 195(12), 1444. 
Kabir, M. S., Zhao, R., Zhang, L., Wang, H., & Luster-Teasley, S. (2022). Sources, occurrence, and removal of microplastic/nanoplastic in landfill leachate: a comprehensive review. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 16, 100256.
Krause, M. J., W. Chickering, G., Townsend, T. G., & Reinhart, D. R. (2016). Critical review of the methane generation potential of municipal solid waste. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 46(13), 1117–1182. 
Maghmoumi, A., Marashi, F., & Houshfar, E. (2020). Environmental and economic assessment of sustainable municipal solid waste management strategies in Iran. Sustainable cities and society, 59, 102161. 
Malmir, T., Héroux, M., Lagos, D., & Eicker, U. (2023). Assessment of landfill gas storage and application regarding energy management: A case study in the province of Quebec, Canada. Waste Management, 171, 155–162. 
Mashaal, N. M., Abdelzaher, M. A., Awad, M. M., Elwakeel, K. Z., & Hassan, A. A. (2025). Towards sustainability and circular economy: conceptual design model for the water-energy-food nexus in Ferdaws Village, Western Desert, Egypt. Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, 10(6), 223.   
Masson-Delmotte, V., Zhai, P., Pirani, A., Connors, S. L., Péan, C., Berger, S., Caud, N., Chen, Y., Goldfarb, L., & Gomis, M. (2021). Climate change 2021: the physical science basis. Contribution of working group I to the sixth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, 2(1), 2391. 
Moghadam, M. A., Feizi, R., Panahi Fard, M., Haghighi Fard, N. J., Omidinasab, M., Faraji, M., & Shenavar, B. (2021). Estimating greenhouse emissions from sanitary landfills using Land-GEM and IPCC model based on realistic scenarios of different urban areas: a case study of Iran. Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering, 19(1), 819–830. 
Nematollahi, H., Pazoki, A., Ghasemzadeh, R., & Tuysserkani, M. (2024). Assessing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Methane Production During Post-Landfill Maintenance in Kish Island: A LandGEM Simulation Approach. Jundishapur Journal of health sciences, 16(3), 1–13. 
Njoku, P. O., Edokpayi, J. N., & Odiyo, J. O. (2020). Modeling landfill gas potential and potential energy recovery from Thohoyandou landfill site, South Africa. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, 70(8), 820–833. 
Paolini, V., Petracchini, F., Segreto, M., Tomassetti, L., Naja, N., & Cecinato, A. (2018). Environmental impact of biogas: A short review of current knowledge. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 53(10), 899–906. 
Pazoki, M., Maleki Delarestaghi, R., Rezvanian, M. R., Ghasemzade, R., & Dalaei, P. (2015). Gas production potential in the landfill of Tehran by landfill methane outreach program. Jundishapur Journal of health sciences, 7(4), 8–13. 
Pheakdey, D. V., Noudeng, V., & Xuan, T. D. (2023). Landfill Biogas Recovery and Its Contribution to Greenhouse Gas Mitigation. Energies, 16(12), 4689. 
Przydatek, G., Generowicz, A., & Kanownik, W. (2024). Evaluation of the Activity of a Municipal Waste Landfill Site in the Operational and Non-Operational Sectors Based on Landfill Gas Productivity. Energies, 17(10), 2421. 
Ramprasad, C., Teja, H. C., Gowtham, V., & Vikas, V. (2022). Quantification of landfill gas emissions and energy production potential in Tirupati Municipal solid waste disposal site by LandGEM mathematical model. MethodsX, 9, 101869. 
Rasi, S., Veijanen, A., & Rintala, J. (2007). Trace compounds of biogas from different biogas production plants. Energy, 32(8), 1375–1380. 
Rezaee, R., Nasseri, S., Mahvi, A. H., Jafari, A., Mazloomi, S., Gavami, A., & Yaghmaeian, K. (2014). Estimation of gas emission released from a municipal solid waste landfill site through a modeling approach: A case study, Sanandaj, Iran. J. Adv. Environ. Health Res, 2, 13-21.
Un, C. (2023). A Sustainable Approach to the Conversion of Waste into Energy: Landfill Gas-to-Fuel Technology. Sustainability, 15(20), 14782. 
Wangyao, K., Towprayoon, S., Chiemchaisri, C., Gheewala, S. H., & Nopharatana, A. (2010). Application of the IPCC Waste Model to solid waste disposal sites in tropical countries: case study of Thailand. Environmental monitoring and assessment, 164(1), 249–261. 
Yaashikaa, P., Kumar, P. S., Nhung, T. C., Hemavathy, R., Jawahar, M. J., Neshaanthini, J., & Rangasamy, G. (2022). A review on landfill system for municipal solid wastes: Insight into leachate, gas emissions, environmental and economic analysis. Chemosphere, 309, 136627. 
Zare Shahne, M., Rahimi, M., & Javadi, M. A. (2025). Estimation and Modeling of Emission of Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Monoxide in Urban Landfill (Case Study: Aradkooh Landfill, Tehran). Journal of Environmental Studies, 51(2), 165–188. 
Zhang, C., Xu, T., Feng, H., & Chen, S. (2019). Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Landfills: A Review and Bibliometric Analysis. Sustainability, 11(8), 2282. 
Zhang, J., Bao, Q., Yang, J., Guan, H., Ma, Z., Wulan, B., & Li, S. (2025). Characterization of the Lower Limit of CH4 Explosion in Different Atmospheres over a Wide Temperature Range. Processes, 13(5), 1608. 
Pollution
Volume 12, Issue 2
May 2026
Pages 685-697

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics