New report from SBI Energy looks at Waste-to-Energy from Landfills.
Each year the world generates more than 2.1 billion tons of waste, disposes of most of that waste it in landfills, and allows it to decay and release methane (a powerful greenhouse gas that drives climate change), carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, odors, groundwater quality pollutants, and a host of other air, water, and soil pollutants. Locked inside of the 2.1 billion tons of waste is approximately 24.5 quadrillion Btu of energy – enough heat to generate about 10% of the electricity consumed annually around the globe. Meanwhile, in many developed nations, the availability of landfill capacity has been flat or steadily decreasing due to regulatory, siting, and environmental permitting constraints on new landfills and landfill expansions. As a result, new approaches to waste management are rapidly being written into public and institutional policies at local to national levels.
Landfilling, which is still employed at the overwhelming majority of global waste management facilities in developed nations, generally performs well in terms of throughput, public health, and safety. But many current and widespread waste management practices are mediocre or even poor performers in terms of energy efficiency and environmental performance. For instance, the conventional municipal solid waste chain is commonly characterized by moderate to long haul distances, which generate substantial greenhouse gas emissions, followed by long-term storage in a landfill, releasing methane and other pollutants. In developing nations, landfills can pose major public health concerns, and can in some cases represent a significant fire hazard due to spontaneous ignition. Many liquid waste streams, especially in the livestock and food production industries, are only minimally treated prior to discharge. Dairy wastes, for instance, can result in excessive nutrient loading of farm fields, while municipal wastewater, especially in developing nations, may contain high levels of biochemical oxygen demand, bacteria, and other harmful pollutants.
Waste to energy technologies – incineration, gasification, plasma gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion – provide a convenient solution to many of these waste management issues. For instance, installation of a waste to energy conversion facility near a large urban center can reduce the number of truck, train, or barge trips to landfills, reduce the volume of new material that is being stored in landfills, and reduce the proportion of organic matter that is stored in a landfill, which in turn reduces the production rates of landfill methane. Liquid waste to energy technologies can also reduce the concentration of water quality constituents in treated effluent, by substantially reducing bacterial loading, biochemical oxygen demand, and other constituents.
Bolstered by global concern and policy actions relating to climate change, waste to energy technologies also support low-carbon and in some cases carbon-neutral energy production. As a result, the global market for waste to energy technologies has evidenced substantial growth over the last five years, increasing from $4.83 billion in 2006, to 7.08 billion in 2010 with continued market growth through the global economic downturn. Over the coming decade, growth trends are expected to continue, led by expansion in the US, European, Chinese, and Indian markets. By 2021, based on continued growth in Asian markets combined with the maturation of European waste management regulations and European and US climate mitigation strategies, the annual global market for waste to energy technologies will exceed $27 billion, for all technologies combined.
The market expansion projected for waste to energy technologies maintains roots in the waste industry as well as the alternative fuels/power industry. Demand for waste management solutions and for alternative energy sources thereby coalesce to drive demand for waste to energy technologies. A significant advantage of these dual drivers is that demand for waste to energy technologies is resilient. For example, even in the unlikely event that demand for alternative energy slackens over the coming decade, the demand for waste management solutions would remain, and would continue to drive the installation of new waste to energy facilities.
Thermal and Digestion Waste-to-Energy Technologies Worldwide contains comprehensive data on the worldwide market for waste to energy technologies (incineration, gasification, pyrolysis and thermal depolymerization, and anaerobic digestion), including historic (2006-2010) and forecast (2011-2021) market size data in terms of the dollar value of product shipments, with breakdowns at the national level for major markets. The report identifies key trends affecting the marketplace, along with trends driving growth, and central challenges to further market development. The report also provides company profiles for waste to energy leaders in municipal solid waste and other waste management industries.
Report Methodology The information in Thermal and Digestion Waste-to-Energy Technologies Worldwide is based on data from International Energy Agency, the US Energy Information Agency, the Waste to Energy Research and Technology Council (WTERT), the European Commission, the National Bureau of Statistics of China, India’s Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. national laboratories, U.S. and global energy research institutions, along with information from other trade associations, business journals, company literature and websites, Securities and Exchange Commission reportings, and research services such as Simmons Market Research Bureau.
What You’ll Get in This Report Thermal and Digestion Waste-to-Energy Technologies Worldwide makes important predictions and recommendations regarding the near term future of the global waste to energy market, with breakdowns for each of the five technologies considered in this report, with additional market breakdowns for major national markets. It pinpoints methods that current and prospective industry players can capitalize on existing trends, spearhead new trends, and identify and expand into niche and specialty markets. No other market research report provides both comprehensive analysis and extensive, quality data that Thermal and Digestion Waste-to-Energy Technologies Worldwide offers. Plus, you’ll benefit from extensive data, presented in easy-to-read and practical charts, tables and graphs.
How You’ll Benefit from This Report If your company is already doing business in the waste to energy market, in associated manufacturing industries, or is considering making the leap, you will find this report invaluable, as it provides a comprehensive package of information and insight not offered in any other single source. Waste to energy technology holders and developers, investors, marketers, midstream industry, and waste to energy startups will also benefit from key insights into market structure, the supply chain, projects worldwide, and industry suppliers associated with waste to energy technologies. The report provides an extensive review of markets for waste to energy, including appurtenances, from 2006 as well as projects and trends through 2021.
This report will also help:
- Marketing managers identify market opportunities and develop targeted promotion plans for waste to energy technologies, components, materials, and services.
- Research and development professionals stay on top of competitor initiatives and explore demand for waste to energy technologies, components, materials, and associated services.
- Business development executives and entrepreneurs understand the dynamics of the industry/market and identify possible partnerships.
- Advertising agencies working with clients in the waste to energy industry to understand the market for waste to energy technologies, their application, and the product procurement and project construction process; to develop messages and images that compel consumers to invest in companies supplying or operating waste to energy facilities.
- Information and research center librarians provide market researchers, brand and product managers and other colleagues with the vital information they need to do their jobs more effectively.