Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing technology to capture methane gas from landfills and convert it into alternative energy for surrounding communities, a researcher said on Tuesday.Sri Wahyono, a researcher at BRIN’s Center for Environmental and Clean Technology Research, said the system was developed through field experience and cooperation with landfill operators, including in Malang, East Java.“This technology uses simple equipment such as pipes, suction blowers, and gas purification units,” Sri said in a statement issued in Jakarta.The collected methane gas can be used as fuel for cooking stoves or as an energy source for modified generators capable of producing electricity from landfill methane, he said.Sri said the project began with field studies to identify waste characteristics and methane gas content at landfill sites before determining suitable extraction points.The data collected from landfill sites was analyzed using software to predict methane potential and identify optimal locations for installing gas wells, he added.According to Sri, gas wells are installed horizontally and vertically at specific distances depending on the condition and structure of the waste piles.Methane collected from the wells is transported through pipeline networks and extracted using suction blowers because the gas pressure inside landfills is relatively low.Before being used, the gas undergoes purification to reduce water, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide content, making it safer for household and industrial applications, Sri said.At present, methane harvested from landfill sites is mainly used for cooking fuel by nearby communities and for operational needs at waste management facilities.The gas can also be used for small-scale electricity generation, although maintaining stable gas supply levels remains one of the project’s major technical challenges, he added.Sri said the methane harvesting system involved several stages, beginning with identifying gas potential and determining well locations before installation and purification processes were carried out.The technology also includes gas extraction using suction blowers and distribution systems designed to channel methane safely for practical energy use.“This technology is relatively simple, but it has proven useful at several landfill sites and has provided benefits for surrounding communities,” Sri said.Indonesia has been seeking alternative and renewable energy solutions as the country faces rising waste volumes and increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from landfill sites.