Waste-to-Energy Market Size was valued at USD 35,100.00 million in 2019. The Waste-to-Energy Market industry is projected to grow from USD 39,922.51 million in 2022 to USD 69,134.54 million by 2030, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.23% during the forecast period (2019 - 2030).
The growing use of waste-to-energy as a method to convert solid and liquid wastes into energy is gaining popularity owing to its contribution in reducing the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste management. Waste-to-energy plants offer two significant benefits: environmentally safe waste management & disposal and power generation. The rising population, rapid industrialization and urbanization is one of the critical factors driving the waste-to-energy market. According to the waste-to-energy in the age of the circular economy report, by Asian development bank, the amount of waste produced from municipal waste is projected to reach 3.4 billion tons by 2050 due to economic development, population growth, and urbanization. Moreover, to limit the use of fossil fuels for energy generation, the emphasis on waste-to-energy market is propelling significantly, further driving its market growth.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
The increasing pileup of waste worldwide has emerged as a significant factor driving the growth of waste-to-energy market. The increasing inclination towards waste-to-energy is a response to the escalating challenges posed by mounting waste volumes, rising environmental concerns and increasing need for sustainable energy solutions. The waste-to-energy approach involves the conversion of solid waste into heat or electricity, offering dual benefits of waste management as well as energy generation. As the global population continues to grow, the generation of municipal solid waste has risen exponentially. The high volume of waste generated, especially in densely populated areas, necessitates alternative waste management strategies and thus the market of waste-to-energy is growing substantially globally.
The abundance of feedstock such as paper, plastic, wood, and food waste, among others, available through municipal solid waste serves as a readily available resources for energy production. The waste generation in various countries is increasing significantly with this rising population growth and increasing industrialization, for instance, India produces around 277.1 million tons of solid waste every year. Waste-to-energy technology uses various methods such as incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis for the production of energy from the waste. These technologies help in converting the waste into useful energy that is further used in various industries for fulfilling the energy requirements. By diverting the waste from the landfills and reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, these technologies contribute in mitigating the greenhouse gas emission. Furthermore, the waste-to-energy system aligns with the circular economy principles by extracting value for the solid waste. The energy generated from this waste can be integrated into the power grids or used locally, contributing to the sustainable and distributed energy infrastructure.
The waste-to-energy approach not only addresses the critical issue of waste management but also provides a sustainable source of energy. As technology continues to evolve and governments emphasize sustainable practices, the waste-to-energy market is expected to grow substantially in the coming years. The rapid urbanization is one of the major contributors in growing waste generations as more people migrate to urban areas in search of better opportunities and living standards and thus the demand for goods and services is propelling, further leading to a significant surge in waste production. Increasing disposable income is improving the purchasing power of the consumers and thus to fulfilling the changing market requirements, industries are focusing on increasing their production. All these factors together contribute in generating high wastages. To tackle the problem of increasing waste generations, the usage of these waste materials for energy generating is escalating. In 2018, around 292 million tons of municipal solid waste produced in the US was burned in waste-to-energy plants.
The Waste-to-Energy Market segmentation, based on Type of Waste has been segmented into Paper, Wood, Food Waste, Plastics, Metals and Others. In 2022, the Food Waste segment drove the global Waste-to-Energy market by holding a substantial market share. Converting food waste to energy is an eco-friendly practice that helps reduce the environmental impact of organic waste while simultaneously producing energy.
Microorganisms break down organic materials in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas (methane and carbon dioxide). Anaerobic digestion is commonly used for treating food waste. Biogas can be used for electricity generation, heating, or as a vehicle fuel. The process also results in a nutrient-rich digestate that can be used as fertilizer. Food waste is decomposed in the presence of oxygen, creating compost, a nutrient-rich soil conditioner. Composting reduces the volume of organic waste, produces a valuable soil amendment, and avoids the production of methane associated with anaerobic decomposition in landfills.
The Waste-to-Energy Market segmentation, based on Technology has been segmented into Incineration, Gasification, Pyrolysis and Others. In 2022, the Incineration segment drove the global Waste-to-Energy market by holding a substantial market share. Incineration is a waste-to-energy (WTE) process that involves the combustion of waste materials at high temperatures, typically in specialized facilities known as incinerators. The primary goal of incineration is to reduce the volume of waste and generate energy in the form of heat, which can be used for various purposes, including electricity generation, steam production, or heating applications. Incineration significantly reduces the volume of waste, which can be especially beneficial in areas with limited landfill space.
Based on Application, the Waste-to-Energy Market is segmented into Electricity Generation, Heat Generation, and Transport Fuels. In 2022, the Electricity Generation segment drove the Global Waste-to-Energy market by holding a substantial market share during the assessment period. It is projected to register a highest growth rate during the projected timeframe. Waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies can be employed to convert various types of waste into electricity, contributing to sustainable waste management practices while generating power. Gasification converts carbon-containing materials into syngas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other gases) at high temperatures.
Based on Region, the Waste-to-Energy market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. The Asia-Pacific Waste-to-Energy market held the maximum market share and is also expected to account for the significant revenue share during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific Waste-to-Energy market is expanding as countries seek sustainable waste management solutions. Investments in Waste-to-Energy infrastructure are rising to address growing waste challenges and reduce reliance on landfills.
Many Asia-Pacific governments are implementing policies and regulations to promote waste-to-energy technologies. For instance, countries like China, Japan, and South Korea have established targets and incentives for waste management and renewable energy production. There has been a noticeable increase in public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the APAC region aimed at developing and operating WTE facilities. These partnerships are seen as a way to leverage both governmental support and private sector efficiency in addressing waste management challenges.
The waste-to-energy (WTE) market has been gaining significance as a sustainable solution for waste management while also contributing to the generation of renewable energy. Several growth strategies are being employed by companies and governments globally to capitalize on the opportunities in the WTE market. Companies are investing in research and development to enhance WTE technologies, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. Advancements in gasification, anaerobic digestion, and pyrolysis technologies are being pursued to improve waste conversion rates and increase energy output. Companies like Babcock, Ramboll, Hitachi and VLS Environmental Solutions have been heavily investing in R&D for technology innovation.
Partnerships between technology providers, waste management companies, and energy producers can create synergies to develop comprehensive waste-to-energy solutions. Collaborations with local governments and municipalities can facilitate the establishment of WTE projects and ensure a steady supply of waste feedstock. Companies like Veolia and Biogen are entering into partnership and collaboration to increase the market share.
Veolia: Veolia Environment SA (Veolia) provides environmental management services. The business provides solutions for the treatment & distribution of drinking water, wastewater treatment, waste collection, waste-to-energy processing, waste dismantling, and hazardous waste processing. It provides comprehensive energy solutions across the conversion cycle, from purchasing energies entering an industrial site to constructing new facilities or updating old ones to marketing the power generated.
Veolia carries out its business operations under the construct, own, and operate (BOO) and public BOT contracts. It has a portfolio of over 350 proprietary technologies to address the water management issues of communities and industrial customers. It provides services to public agencies, local governments, businesses, and individuals in Europe, Asia, North America, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Oceania. Veolia manages more than 90 Waste-to-Energy facilities in the world to treat municipal solid waste while creating renewable energy.
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises: Babcock & Wilcox enterprises (B&W) is a growing, globally-focused renewable, environmental and thermal technologies provider with over 150 years of experience providing diversified energy and emissions control solutions to a broad range of industrial, electrical utility, municipal and other customers. B&W operates in 3 segment namely renewables, environmental and thermal.
Renewable segment provide cost-effective technologies for efficient and environmentally sustainable power and heat generation, including waste-to-energy, solar construction and installation, biomass energy and black liquor systems for the pulp and paper industry. B& W installed over 500 waste-to-energy and biomass-to-energy units at more than 300 facilities in approximately 30 countries which serve a wide variety of utility, waste management, municipality and investment firm customers. Additionally, it has installed more than 100MW of clean solar production. Environmental segment provides A full suite of best-in-class emissions control and environmental technology solutions for utility, waste to energy, biomass, carbon black, and industrial steam generation applications around the world.
| Attribute/Metric | Details |
| Market Size 2019 | USD 35,100.00 million |
| Market Size 2022 | USD 39,922.51 million |
| Market Size 2030 | USD 69,134.54 million |
| Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) | 7.23% (2019-2030) |
| Forecast Period | 2019-2030 |
| Forecast Units | Value (USD Million) |
| Report Coverage | Revenue Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
| Segments Covered | Type, Technology, Application and Region |
| Geographies Covered | North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, South America |
| Countries Covered | US, Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa |
| Key Companies Profiled | Veolia, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc., Arrow Ecology Ltd., Axpo Holding AG, Biogen Ltd, Bluefire Renewables, BTA International GMBH, Ramboll, Covanta Holding Corporation, Emery Energy Company, Enercon, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, VLS Environmental Solutions, Viridor, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., Others |
| Key Market Opportunities | Rising investments in waste-to-energy market in developing countries |
| Key Market Dynamics | Increasing Waste Pileup Growing focus on lowering greenhouse gas emissions |
Waste to Energy Market Highlights:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :
US$ 39,922.51 Mn is the Waste-to-Energy Market.
7.23% is the growth rate of the Waste-to-Energy Market.
Asia-Pacific region held the largest market share in the Waste-to-Energy Market.
Veolia, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc., Arrow Ecology Ltd., Axpo Holding AG, Biogen Ltd, Bluefire Renewables, BTA International GMBH, Ramboll, Covanta Holding Corporation, Emery Energy Company, Enercon, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, VLS Environmental Solutions, Viridor, Wheelabrator Technologies Inc., Others
Food Waste Type of Waste had the largest market share in the Waste-to-Energy Market.
Automotive Application had the largest market share in the Waste-to-Energy Market.
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