This October on the South Side of Atlanta, a solar farm opened on Republic Services’ Hickory Ridge Landfill.
The innovative facility is the largest solar plant in Georgia and the largest solar landfill cap in the world according to Andy Keith, an environmental specialist for Republic.
Construction on the 48-acre site, Hickory Ridge, began in earnest in September 2010. “Keith says the site was chosen due to its unique combination of attributes: the timing of its closure, its proximity to a major metropolitan area, and its large south and west facing slopes (preferable for optimal collection of the sun’s rays)” (Waste360.com).
Keith also says the solar cap is made possible through the use of several technologies. “The 6,974 individual photovoltaic laminates are remarkably thin and flexible, enabling them to flex and settle with the landfill without compromising function. Each generates 144 watts,” (Wase360.com).
The cap also relies on thermoplastic polyolefin, a membrane material produced by Carlisle SynTec. Keith says “Though it is new to the landfill world, it has been in use in green roofs for years,” (waste360.com). The membrane covers the entire cap and also is used to encapsulate the million feet of wiring that runs over the surface of the hill, connecting the panels to four large inverters at the base. Once there the electricity is converted from DC to AC and passed to the Georgia Power grid.
The facility generates just over one megawatt (1,000 kilowatts), enough to power 224 homes (Waste360.com).
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