Waste to Energy Market Report 2025

The waste to energy market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $37.78 billion in 2024 to $40.29 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to waste management challenges, energy security, regulatory incentives, public awareness, urbanization trends.

The waste to energy market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $54.44 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to circular economy initiatives, stricter environmental regulations, global commitment to renewable energy, technological integration with waste sorting, growing urbanization and waste generation. Major trends in the forecast period include increased emphasis on decentralized systems, collaboration with public and private sectors, advancements in technology, utilization of non-incineration technologies, strategic investments in research and development.

The growing focus on efficient waste management is anticipated to drive the expansion of the waste-to-energy market in the coming years. Efficient waste management involves the proper segregation of waste at its source and ensuring that it undergoes various recycling and resource recovery processes. A highly effective waste management solution is the sustainable approach of converting waste to energy, which generates heat to produce electricity. For example, in April 2024, an article by the World Economic Forum, a Switzerland-based international organization for public-private cooperation, indicated that by 2050, the amount of municipal solid waste could decrease from over 4.5 billion tonnes per year to under 2 billion tonnes. This shift toward a fully zero-waste circular economy model aims for 60% of all municipal solid waste - collected from homes and businesses - to be recycled, with the remainder managed safely. Thus, the emphasis on efficient waste management is fueling the growth of the waste-to-energy market.

The growing volume of generated waste is anticipated to drive the expansion of the waste-to-energy market in the future. The increasing waste levels directly contribute to the waste-to-energy market by ensuring a steady and rising supply of feedstock for energy production. As waste volumes increase, there is a greater availability of raw materials for waste-to-energy technologies. This surplus of waste feedstock presents market opportunities for the waste-to-energy sector, as these technologies can effectively transform rising waste levels into valuable energy resources. For example, in February 2022, an article from the World Bank, a US-based international organization that offers financing, advice, and research to developing nations, estimated that the waste generated in 2020 reached 2.24 billion tons of solid waste, equating to a footprint of 0.97 kilograms of waste per person per day. Additionally, due to rapid population growth and urbanization, annual waste generation is projected to increase by 73%, reaching 3.88 billion tons by 2050. Consequently, the rising amount of waste is propelling the growth of the hazardous waste handling automation market.

Technological advancements have emerged as a significant trend gaining traction in the waste-to-energy market. Key companies within this sector are concentrating on innovating new technologies to maintain their competitive edge. For example, in September 2022, Waste Fuel Solutions, a US-based developer of bio-refineries focused on converting municipal solid waste into low-carbon fuels, introduced the WasteFuel Methanol technology. This technology is designed to produce up to 100 metric tons per day of fuel-grade methanol from various waste sources, including landfill gas and biogas from anaerobic digestion. The process is modular to enhance overall resource utilization and facilitate cost-effective, rapid scaling. This technology will be implemented efficiently where waste is generated and will scale production swiftly to meet the shipping industry's increasing demand for green methanol.

Companies in the waste-to-energy market are developing innovative technologies. For instance, in December 2023, Alfa Laval, a Sweden-based leader in the design and manufacture of fluid handling equipment known for its innovation, efficiency, and reliability, partnered with Bisviridi, a UK-based sustainable oil producer focused on efficient oil separation. Together, they developed a process to convert oil and fats waste into a biofuel known as Bio Crude. Bio Crude can be refined into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), aligning with the aviation industry's decarbonization objectives and entering an emerging market.

In February 2024, Blue Planet Environmental Solution India Pvt. Ltd, a Singapore-based integrated waste management company, acquired Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Limited (MWTESL), a subsidiary of the Mahindra Group, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition aims to foster innovation in the waste-to-energy sector by leveraging unique technologies and research capabilities. Collaborative research efforts are focused on driving sustainable energy production and waste management. Mahindra Waste to Energy Solutions Limited, an India-based company specializing in converting municipal wet waste into Bio-CNG through Bio-Methanation, complements Blue Planet's expertise in carbon capture and utilization technologies.

Major companies operating in the waste to energy market are Veolia Environnement, Covanta Holding Corporation, SUEZ, Waste Management Inc., Babcock & Wilcox, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Wheelabrator Technologies, Dalkia, Enerkem, Siemens, Tetra Tech, Viresco Solutions, Biogas Energy, CapitaSymonds, Bioenergy Infrastructure Group, MRF Solutions, Plasco Energy Group, Green Energy Technologies, Klean Industries, Amec Foster Wheeler, RWE AG, A2A, Remondis, O2 Energy, ReEnergy Holdings, GWE Biogas, 8 Rivers Networks, INDEMA.

Europe was the largest region in the waste to energy market share in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the waste to energy market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the waste to energy market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The waste-to-energy process is a method that involves converting municipal solid waste, generated by industrial, commercial, and domestic sectors, into energy. The energy produced can be utilized directly by the plant or exported to the local utility or nearby businesses.

The types of waste typically involved in the waste-to-energy market include municipal solid waste, agricultural waste, and other waste categories. Municipal solid waste encompasses waste collected by the municipality or disposed of at the municipal waste disposal site. This category includes residential, industrial, institutional, commercial, municipal, construction, and demolition waste. Various technologies are employed in the waste-to-energy process, including thermal and biochemical methods, among others. These technologies are utilized for the generation of heat and electricity applications.

The waste-to-energy market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides waste-to-energy market statistics, including waste-to-energy industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with waste-to-energy market share, detailed waste-to-energy market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the waste to the energy industry. This waste-to-energy market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

The waste-to-energy market includes revenues earned by entities by the combustion of wastes, which heats water, generates steam, or makes electricity via a steam-powered turbine. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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