Report Overview

An increasingly high demand for waste management and energy driven by rapid urbanization and industrialization, booming tourism sector, high consumption levels, and increasing burden of solid waste on landfills is expected to boost the growth of UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market during the forecast period between 2024 and 2030.

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

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market size was estimated to be worth USD 189.35 million in 2023. During the forecast period between 2024 and 2030, the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.81%, reaching a value of USD 232.12 million by 2030. Major growth factors for the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market include rising population and increasing volumes of municipal solid waste and stringent government policies and regulations to efficiently manage the waste and reduce the greenhouse gasses emissions in the environment. In addition, rising digitization in waste management techniques is anticipated to present lucrative growth opportunities to the Waste to Energy (WtE) Market over the forecast period.

Waste to Energy – 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. Waste to energy 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.

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market

Growth Drivers

Favorable Government Policies and Public-Private Investment

With the increasing volume of waste and rising concerns around its environmental repercussions, the UAE Government is targeting to reduce the amount of waste ending in landing and launching various initiatives under its National Agenda to achieve the same. The high potential of waste to energy sector in the UAE is also attracting significant private-public infrastructure, which is anticipated to drive the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market during the forecast period. ALEC Engineering and Contracting and BUTEC announced their joint venture for the construction of Abu Dhabi’s first waste-to-energy plant with the capacity of processing 900,000 tons of non-recyclable waste annually over three decades.

Challenges

High Capital Requirement to Establish Waste to Energy (WtE) Plant

The government and concerned authorities in the UAE are adopting waste to energy techniques for better waste management in the country. However, the high cost involved in the construction of waste to energy plants acts as a major restraining factor for the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market. Since the UAE is an oil-based country, waste to energy is less economical compared to fossil fuels for energy generation and waste management. Furthermore, construction of a WtE plant with a capacity of 40,000 tons per year costs around USD 41 million. As a result, the sector is highly dependent on investment from either the government or major industry players, limiting its market growth.

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market

Segmental Coverage

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Technology

Based on technology, the UAE 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 Saudi Arabia Waste to Energy (WtE) Market. With higher temperatures and conversion rates, thermochemical conversion works best with feedstocks with lower moisture content and is typically less product specific. MSWI is an effective method in commercial applications because it allows the recovery of energy, minerals, and metals from the waste stream in addition to treating municipal and industrial solid waste and generating power.

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Waste Type

Based on waste type, the UAE 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 rapid population growth and economic development are directly contributing to the increased volumes of municipal solid waste generation in the country. According to the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the UAE has one of the highest per capita solid waste generation rates in the world, with 1.8 kg per person daily. As a result, the UAE authorities are adopting innovative waste management solutions and technologies to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills, which is anticipated to drive the waste to the energy market in the country.

UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market – By Application

Based on application, the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market is segmented into electricity and heat. The electricity segment dominates the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market. The market is growing due to increased attention being paid to sustainability, lowering CO2 emissions, and growing demand for renewable energy. The fast economic expansion in the region is also driving up demand for power from key end users industries, which in turn is driving up waste to electricity energy and market growth. Due to strong demand from the industrial and residential sectors, the heat category does, however, also account for a sizable portion of the market.

Competitive Landscape

Major players operating in the UAE Waste to Energy (WtE) Market include Babcock & Wilcox, Veolia Environnement S.A., Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC, Masdar, Emirates Waste to Energy, Ramboll, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Inc., BEE'AH Group, and Suez Environnement Company.

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 – Emirates Water and Electricity Company and Tadweer Group signed an agreement as key partners with a Japan-based consortium, which comprises Marubeni Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development, to develop an Abu Dhabi Waste-to-Energy (WtE) independent waste to energy (WtE) plant.

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