Across the globe, humans generate more than 2 billion tons of waste annually. This waste, by way of landfill, releases host of air, water, and soil pollutants as it decays such as methane gas, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, odors, and groundwater parasites. However, a closer look reveals that within this 2.1 billion tons of waste there is over 24 quadrillion Btus of energy available for harvesting; enough heat to generate about 10 percent of the electricity consumed annually around the globe.

Leading market research firm, SBI Energy found in their latest study, 'Thermal and Digestion Waste-to-Energy Technologies Worldwide' that waste to energy technologies -- incineration, gasification, plasma gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion -- provide a convenient solution to many of these waste management issues. So much so, that the market will grow at a rate of about 11 percent through 2021. 

Global concern and policy actions relating to climate change are driving waste to energy technologies and support low-carbon and in some cases carbon-neutral energy production demands. As a result, the global market for waste to energy technologies has evidenced substantial growth over the last five years, increasing from $5 billion in 2006, to $7 billion in 2010 and was unaffected throughout the global economic downturn. 

"Waste to energy market expansion is rooted in the waste management and in 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," says Shelley Carr, SBI Energy publisher. "A significant advantage of these dual drivers is that demand for waste to energy technologies is proven resilient. As landfill availability continues to decline, the demand for waste management solutions will remain regardless of economic stresses, and will continue to drive the installation of new waste to energy facilities," Carr notes.

Over the coming decade, growth trends are expected to continue for the industry, led by expansion in the U.S., European, Chinese, and Indian markets. By 2021, Asian markets combined with the maturation of European waste management regulations and European and U.S. climate mitigation strategies, the annual global market for waste to energy technologies will exceed $27 billion, for all technologies combined. 

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). The market study also reports historical market and growth in dollars (2006 - 2010), at the national level for major markets, as well as future forecast data through 2021. The report identifies key trends affecting the marketplace, along with trends driving growth, and central challenges to further market development. The report examines the strategic profiles of the waste to energy leaders in municipal solid waste and other waste management industries.

Source: SBI Energy