Feasibility Study for Renewable Energy Technologies at the Lorton Energy Park
ESI’s long-term vision is for the landfill property to transition over the remainder of its operational and post-closure life from a landfill disposal facility to a state-of-the-art renewable energy park. To extend the operational life of the Lorton Landfill, ESI plans to increase the disposal capacity by constructing a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) berm around the perimeter of the landfill footprint. They retained Geosyntec to conduct a detailed feasibility study on the phased implementation of various renewable energy technologies (RETs) in conjunction with the planned expansion. The purpose of the feasibility study was to evaluate the technical and financial feasibility, aesthetic qualities, and regulatory and public acceptability of four RETs: solar, wind, biogas methane, and geothermal (GT) technologies. The feasibility study provides the basis for financial planning for developing the renewable energy park, particularly with regard to the optimal timing for deployment of RETs.
