PUBLISHER: Orion Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1749615
PUBLISHER: Orion Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1749615
Waste-to-Energy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Application (Electricity and Heat), by Technology (Thermochemical and Biochemical), and by Waste type (Municipal Solid Waste, Process Waste, Agricultural Waste, and Others) Forecast Period (2025-2035)
Industry Overview
Waste-to-Energy market was valued at $44.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $78.1 billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of 6.3% from 2025 to 2035. Waste to Energy (WtE), also known as energy from waste, uses thermochemical and biochemical technologies to recover energy from urban waste, producing electricity, steam, and fuels. These new technologies can reduce the original waste volume by 90%, depending on the composition and use of outputs. WtE plants offer two significant benefits environmentally safe waste management and disposal and clean electric power generation. The growing use of WtE as a method to dispose of solid and liquid wastes and produce electricity has dramatically reduced the environmental impacts of municipal solid waste management, including emissions of greenhouse gases. In 2023, the United States operated approximately 60 Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plants, generating around 14,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity annually this makes less than 1% of all the electricity produced in the U.S.
Market Dynamics
Increasing Waste Generation and Environmental Concerns
The increasing generation of Waste worldwide is a major driver for the growth of the waste-to-energy technology market industry. As populations grow and economies develop, so does the amount of Waste produced. This Waste can hurt the environment, polluting the air, water, and land. Waste-to-energy (WtE) technologies offer a way to reduce the environmental impact of Waste by converting it into energy. By incinerating Waste or using other thermal processes, WtE technologies can generate Electricity, heat, or steam.
This can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, WtE technologies can help reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfills, which can conserve valuable land resources and reduce the risk of contamination
Technological Advancements
Technological advancements are significantly propelling the growth of the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) industry. Innovations have led to the development of more efficient and cost-effective WtE technologies, making investments in such projects increasingly viable for businesses and governments. Additionally, improvements in emissions control technologies are mitigating the environmental impact of WtE facilities. For instance, modern incinerator designs now incorporate advanced emission controls that significantly reduce toxic pollution. Enhanced energy recovery methods, such as cogeneration-which utilizes leftover steam for heating buildings-have also improved efficiency.
Market Segmentation
Municipal Solid Waste: A Key Driver in the Global Waste-to-Energy Market
Among the waste types, the municipal solid waste sub-segment is expected to hold a prominent share of the global waste-to-energy technologies market across the globe, owing to the large volume of waste generated across the globe and the need for sustainable waste management solutions. In addition, the global population's growth, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns have resulted in a significant increase in municipal solid waste generation. Waste-to-energy technologies offer an efficient and sustainable solution to manage and convert this waste into valuable energy resources. An enabling atmosphere for waste-to-energy technology has been created by stringent environmental rules and policies that aim to reduce landfill trash and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Governments all over the world are encouraging the adoption of these technologies through encouraging policies and financial incentives.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced nearly $34 million in funding for 11 projects that will support high-impact research and development to improve and produce biofuels, biopower, and bioproducts. These biomass resources, otherwise known as feedstocks, can be produced by municipal solid waste (MSW) streams and algae and converted into low-carbon fuels that can significantly contribute to the decarbonization of transportation sectors that face barriers to electrification, such as aviation and marine.
Agricultural Waste in the Clean Energy Transition
Agricultural waste such as crop stalks, husks, and animal manure provides major potential for renewable energy generation. Using biomass not only helps to reduce environmental pollution and landfill use but also decreases dependence on fossil fuels. Importantly, it creates an additional source of income for farmers. By seeing these benefits, several governments around the world have launched initiatives to tap into this. In the United States, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) launched a joint initiative in February 2024 to help farmers adopt renewable technologies, including small-scale wind and waste-to-energy systems, aimed at lowering energy costs and boosting farm incomes. In India, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) is running the Waste to Energy Programmed (2021-2026), which supports projects that generate biogas, bio-CNG, and electricity from agricultural and other organic waste. Meanwhile, the European Union is supporting projects like ALFA, which promotes biogas production from livestock farms to increase renewable energy use and reduce emissions from untreated animal waste. These initiatives reflect a growing global commitment to transforming agricultural waste into a valuable, sustainable energy resource.
The global waste-to-energy market is further segmented based on geography including North America (the US, and Canada), Europe (Italy, Spain, Germany, France, and Others), Asia-Pacific (India, China, Japan, South Korea, and Others), and the Rest of the World (the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America). Among these, the Asia-Pacific region is expected to hold a prominent growth over the forecast period owing to the increasing waste generation along with supportive government policies and a growing focus on renewable energy.
North America Region Dominates the Market with Major Share
North America is anticipated to cater to prominent growth over the forecast period owing to favorable government policies, advanced technology adoption, energy security goals, and organic waste valorization. Advanced waste-to-energy technologies include advanced incineration systems, anaerobic digestion with biogas recovery, and thermal gasification. These technologies offer higher efficiency, lower emissions, and improved waste treatment capabilities. In this region, the governments have implemented stringent waste management regulations and environmental policies. These initiatives promote the adoption of waste-to-energy technologies as an environmentally friendly alternative to landfilling. In March 2024, the US Department of Energy's Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) launched the Waste Analysis and Strategies for Transportation End-Uses funding initiative. With up to $17.5 million in support, the program aims to help communities develop cost-effective waste-to-energy solutions, particularly focused on converting organic waste into clean transportation fuels. This effort supports local clean energy goals and improved waste management practices.
The major companies serving the global waste-to-energy technologies market include Veolia Environnement S.A., Hitachi Zosen Inova Steinmuller GmbH, JFE Engineering Corporation, Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc., and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. and others. The market players are considerably contributing to the market growth by the adoption of various strategies including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, funding, and new product launches, to stay competitive in the market.
Recent Developments