New research by Frost & Sullivan shows that the biological waste to energy plant market in Europe – which is already the world’s largest – should reach US$3.6 billion in 2016 if all goes well. Germany has the largest sector of this market – worth US$998.3 million in 2009 – which has grown exponentially over the last decade due to government policy and the support of the banking sector. Similar policies are now being introduced in other European countries – Italy being one – and consultants expect strong growth in these markets over the nest 5-10 years.
This growth is due to the commercialization of new biological waste to energy systems. These innovative plants provide an ideal opportunity to deal with the problem of biowaste and produce energy. Government can see the benefits of the solution which helps them fight climate change and facilitates energy independence. The market is growing ever more competitive which is a good thing globally.
Outside Europe the market is still in its early stages. Frost & Sullivan Senior Analyst Nuno Oscar Branco says: 'In the Asian, North, and South American regions the market remains underdeveloped, for three main reasons: first, governments in these regions have yet to introduce biogas or green energy policies; second, quantity, availability, quality and management of feedstock are not appropriate for investments or long term growth of this market; and finally the biogas industry, mostly European and German based, is not committing resources to develop these markets'.
Other countries, such as the USA and India, are taking steps towards sustainable biowaste processing by making policy changes to encourage it. Market growth in some countries of Europe - such as Italy or Czech Republic, North and South America - Brazil, USA and Canada, and the Asia Pacific region - such as India and Australia, could become exponential.
