Report Overview

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market - Industry Trends & Forecast Report, 2030

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market size was estimated to be worth USD 643.18 million in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.07%, reaching a value of USD 941.15 million by 2030. Major growth factors for the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market include increasing power consumption owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization, increasing focus on sustainability, and growing emphasis on emissions of greenhouse gases. In addition, advancements in WtE technologies are anticipated to present lucrative growth opportunities to the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market.

Waste to Energy (WtE) – Overview

Waste to energy (WtE) refers to the sector within a country's energy and waste management industry that involves converting various forms of waste into usable energy, typically in the form of electricity and heat. The WtE technologies offer a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to two critical challenges: waste disposal and energy generation. Various types of waste materials, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste, agricultural residue, and biomass, are utilized as feedstock in this sector. These waste materials are processed using different conversion methods, including incineration, anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, among others. The primary objective of the waste to energy sector is twofold: first, to reduce the volume of waste going into landfills and thus alleviate the strain on existing landfill capacity, and second, to produce clean and renewable energy from the waste stream.

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market

Growth Drivers

Rising Investments in Waste to Energy (WtE) Sector

South Africa is emerging as a lucrative market for the WtE sector owing to the high waste generation and lack of infrastructure for efficient waste management. As a result, government as well as private industry players are significantly investing to develop the waste management infrastructure in the country. The Waste to Energy International (WETI), a company based in Estonia and specializing in investment and construction of WtE and alternative energy plants, announced the construction of 100,000 tpa waste to energy plant in South Africa. Such investments are anticipated to drive the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market over the forecast period.

Challenges

High Capital Requirements for WtE Infrastructure and Technology

Waste to energy (WtE) methods are being used by the South African government and relevant agencies to improve waste management in the nation. The South African waste-to-energy sector is, however, severely constrained by the high cost of building waste-to-energy plants. It costs about USD 440 million to develop a typical plant with an annual energy output capacity of 400 GWh. In addition, when compared to other fossil fuel-powered options, WtE is frequently seen as an expensive choice for energy production and waste management. These factors act as major barriers to the growth of the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market.

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market

Segmental Coverage

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Technology

Based on technology, the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market is segmented into thermochemical, biochemical, and others. The thermochemical segment is further classified into incineration, pyrolysis, and gasification and holds the largest share in the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market. Thermochemical conversion is often less product-specific and performs better with feedstocks that have a lower moisture content at higher temperatures and conversion rates. In addition to treating municipal and industrial solid waste and producing electricity, MSWI is a useful technique for commercial applications as it enables the recovery of energy, minerals, and metals from the waste stream.

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Waste Type

Based on waste type, the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market is segmented into municipal solid waste, process waste, agriculture waste, and others. The municipal solid waste segment accounts for the largest market share. The growing population directly results in the increasing volume of municipal solid waste in the country, which demands efficient waste management. According to the UN Environmental Programme, South Africa generates a total of 12.7 million tons of waste per annum domestically, of which around 3.67 metric tons are dumped illegally in the country. As a result, demand for effective waste management solutions is rising, propelling the growth of the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market.

South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Application

Based on application, the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market is segmented into electricity and heat. The electricity segment dominates the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market. The increasing power consumption owing to rapid urbanization directly influences the growth of the segment. Electricity generation from waste is emerging as an effective technique to solve the problem of waste disposal and the pressing issue of landfills and garbage dumps. Furthermore, waste-to-electricity generation is an economical method that makes cities self-reliant on power demand.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market include Suez Environnement S.A., Veolia Environnement S.A., Covanta Energy Corporation, Biotherm Energy, Mondi Group, Interwaste Holdings Ltd, EnviroServ Waste Management, New Horizons Energy, Clean Energy Africa, Averda South Africa, and Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Ltd. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches.

Recent Developments

• In April 2024 – Astra Energy Inc., an electric power generation company based in the United States, and Powertron Global, a US headquartered energy saving solutions provider, formed a joint venture to launch waste to energy (WtE) initiatives across Africa, including South Africa.

Scope of the Report

By Technology

• Thermochemical

• Incineration

• Pyrolysis

• Gasification

• Biochemical

• Others

By Waste Type

• Municipal Solid Waste

• Process Waste

• Agriculture Waste

• Others

By Application

• Electricity

• Heat

1. Research Framework
   1. Research Objective
   2. Product Overview
   3. Market Segmentation
2. Executive Summary
3. South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Insights
   1. Industry Value Chain Analysis
   2. DROC Analysis
      1. Growth Drivers
         1. South Africa faces a significant energy shortage due to an imbalance between supply and demand
         2. Urbanization and rising consumption levels lead to increased waste generation.
         3. Supportive government policies
      2. Restraints
         1. Establishing WtE plants requires substantial investment in infrastructure and technology
         2. Concerns exist around air pollution emissions and ash residue management from WtE plants
         3. Lack of waste segregation in South Africa
      3. Opportunities
         1. Advancements in WtE technologies are making them cleaner and more efficient
         2. WtE plants can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making them attractive in the carbon credit market.
         3. Collaboration between public and private sectors
      4. Challenges
         1. Competition from landfills
         2. Connecting WtE plants to the national grid can be complex and time-consuming.
         3. Skilled labor shortage
   3. Technological Advancements/Recent Developments
   4. Regulatory Framework
   5. Porter’s Five Forces Analysis
      1. Bargaining Power of Suppliers
      2. Bargaining Power of Buyers
      3. Threat of New Entrants
      4. Threat of Substitutes
      5. Intensity of Rivalry
4. South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market: Marketing Strategies
5. South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Overview
   1. Market Size & Forecast, 2019–2030
      1. By Value (USD Million)
   2. Market Share & Forecast
      1. By Technology
         1. Thermochemical
            1. Incineration
            2. Pyrolysis
            3. Gasification
         2. Biochemical
         3. Others
      2. By Waste Type
         1. Municipal Solid Waste
         2. Process Waste
         3. Agriculture Waste
         4. Others
      3. By Application
         1. Electricity
         2. Heat
6.  Competitive Landscape
   1. List of Key Players and Their Offerings
   2. South Africa Waste to Energy Company Market Share Analysis, 2023
   3. Competitive Benchmarking, By Operating Parameters
   4. Key Strategic Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, Partnerships, etc.)
7. Impact of Escalating Geopolitical Tensions on South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market
8. Company Profiles (Company Overview, Financial Matrix, Competitive Landscape, Key Personnel, Key Competitors, Contact Address, Strategic Outlook, and SWOT Analysis)
   1. Suez Environment S.A.
   2. Veolia Environment S.A.
   3. Covanta Energy Corporation
   4. Biotherm Energy
   5. Mondi Group
   6. Interwaste Holdings Ltd
   7. EnviroServ Waste Management
   8. New Horizons Energy
   9. Clean Energy Africa
   10. Averda South Africa
   11. Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Ltd
   12. Other Prominent Players
9. Key Strategic Recommendations
10. Research Methodology
    1. Qualitative Research
       1. Primary & Secondary Research
    2. Quantitative Research
    3.  Market Breakdown & Data Triangulation
       1.  Secondary Research
       2.  Primary Research
    4.  Breakdown of Primary Research Respondents, By Region
    5.  Assumptions & Limitations

*Financial information of non-listed companies can be provided as per availability.

**The segmentation and the companies are subject to modifications based on in-depth secondary research for the final deliverable.

List of Figures

Figure 1       South Africa Waste to Energy Segmentation 

Figure 2       South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Value Chain Analysis

Figure 3       Company Market Share Analysis, 2023

Figure 4       South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Technology, By Value (USD Million), 2019–2030       

Figure 5       South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Waste Type, By Value, 2019–2030 

Figure 6       South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Application, By Value, 2019–2030          

List of Tables

Table 1        South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Technology, By Value (USD Million), 2019–2030       

Table 2        South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Waste Type, By Value, 2019–2030 

Table 3        South Africa Waste to Energy (WtE) Market Share, By Application, By Value, 2019–2030          

Table 4        Suez Environment S.A. Company Overview

Table 5        Suez Environment S.A. Financial Overview

Table 6        Veolia Environment S.A. Company Overview

Table 7        Veolia Environment S.A. Financial Overview

Table 8        Covanta Energy Corporation Company Overview

Table 9        Covanta Energy Corporation Financial Overview

Table 10      Biotherm Energy Company Overview

Table 11      Biotherm Energy Financial Overview

Table 12      Mondi Group Company Overview

Table 13      Mondi Group Financial Overview

Table 14      Interwaste Holdings Ltd Company Overview

Table 15      Interwaste Holdings Ltd Financial Overview

Table 16      EnviroServ Waste Management Company Overview

Table 17      EnviroServ Waste Management Financial Overview

Table 18      New Horizons Energy Company Overview

Table 19      New Horizons Energy Financial Overview

Table 20      Clean Energy Africa Company Overview

Table 21      Clean Energy Africa Financial Overview

Table 22      Averda South Africa Company Overview

Table 23      Averda South Africa Financial Overview

Table 24      Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Ltd Company Overview

Table 25      Yokogawa South Africa (Pty) Ltd Financial Overview

Table 26      Other Prominent Players Company Overview

Table 27      Other Prominent Players Financial Overview