December 21, 2010

In a world of growing populations, rising standards of living, and increased urbanization, the volume of waste is escalating steadily. The gigantic amounts of waste that are hauled to dumps and accumulate in heaps and open pits have growth to become a major environmental issue. However, technological developments, economic conditions, and public policy trends are now aligning to create a significant market opportunity for waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, which utilize municipal solid waste (MSW) for the production of electricity and heat. According to a new report from Pike Research, worldwide revenues from WTE systems will enter a period of strong growth by 2012, increasing from $3.7 billion in 2010 to nearly $13.6 billion by 2016.

“Waste-to-energy plants serve an important dual purpose,” says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock. “They help alleviate the growing municipal solid waste problem, while simultaneously providing much-needed renewable energy and heat sources to local populations. Energy from waste contributes to energy security and diversification, and matches the growing demand for renewable energy in a carbon constrained world.”

Pike Research’s analysis indicates that thermal WTE systems will continue to lead the market with a 93.2% share of total WTE revenues over the next six years, compared to 6.8% for biological systems. Today, more than 900 thermal WTE plants operate around the world and treat an estimated 0.2 billion tons of MSW with an output of approximately 130 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity. Combustion is currently the leading WTE technology and is entrenched in the market. However, advanced thermal treatment (ATT) technologies such as plasma-arc gasification are emerging in the market, and biological technologies for treating waste also offer an attractive alternative to thermal WTE methods.

Pike Research’s study, “Waste-to-Energy Technology Markets”, analyzes the global market opportunity for waste-to-energy technologies as a means of generating electricity and heat from municipal solid waste. The study includes a comprehensive examination of economic and market drivers, existing and emerging technology options for WTE, the public policy and regulatory environment, and key industry players. Market forecasts, segmented by geography and technology category, extend through 2016. An Executive Summary of the report is available for free download on the firm’s website.

Pike Research is a market research and consulting firm that provides in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The company’s research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research and demand assessment, and deep examination of technology trends to provide a comprehensive view of the Smart Energy, Clean Transportation, Clean Industry, and Building Efficiency sectors. For more information, visit www.pikeresearch.com or call +1.303.997.4619.