1999 was a record year for pyrolysis and gasification of waste,
according to data announced by Juniper Consultancy Services
Limited, Gloucestershire England. The company monitors orders
for new thermal treatment plants around the world and has just
completed analysis of 1999 starts.
Since the mid 1990s there has
been widespread interest in examining alternatives to the traditional
methods of disposing of waste (such as landfill and incineration).
Pyrolysis and gasification techniques have already attracted
a lot of attention - and are seen as the main emerging technologies.
Juniper's latest analysis is
published in a new two volume report: Pyrolysis and Gasification
of Waste: A Worldwide Technology & Business Review." Volume
1 "Markets & Trends" provides their forecast of market development
and reviews applications and geographical markets. Volume 2
Technologies & Processes contains the independent reviews of
60+ processes, a comparative analysis, and a cross referenced
directory of suppliers. The two volume report also includes
an extensive and comprehensive review of pyrolysis and gasification
applications for treating scrap tires.
With increasing amounts of scrap
tires worldwide the disposal of tires has become a real issue
the report said. Decreasing landfill options, risk of fires,
and serious operational difficulties experienced at incineration
plants, have all led to renewed interest in pyrolysis technologies
as an alternative to co-combustion and incineration, according
to Juniper's report. The ability to produce useful end products
such as carbon black, steel and pyrolysis oil, add to the attractiveness
of this option, the report said.
After more than a year of detailed
research, during which the company talked to governments, industry
experts, potential customers and equipment makers across the
world, Juniper has concluded that, while these processes will
play an increasingly important role in recovering value from
waste, their analysis also shows that many decision makers remain
cautious about adopting such systems.
One of the major concerns with
tire pyrolysis has proved to be the difficulty of securing long
term contracts for the produced carbon black and pyrolysis oil
at attractive prices. In fact, today most projects assume the
oil will be combusted to produce energy , rather than used as
feedstock for petrochemical applications. Customers still regard
many of the new processes currently being marketed as relatively
unproven - and therefore risky. For this reason, Juniper's conclusion
from its research is that while these new technologies will
gain market share, the majority of thermal treatment facilities
ordered will still utilize conventional incineration technology.
Juniper recently published the
first analysis of the market potential on a worldwide basis
and they are forecasting that more than 200 facilities will
be built between 1999 and 2008. This represents a value of $9
billion over this period.
The 500 page report contains
more than 350 charts, figures and tables and is available directly
from:
Juniper at Sheppards Mill
Uley Gloucestershire GL 11 5SP England; phone: 44 (0) 1453 860750;
fax: 44 (0) 1453 860883; email: [email protected]
For further information on the
research and content of the report visit Juniper's website:
www.juniper.co.uk/gasification
Why are people turning to pyrolysis
and gasification for scrap tire treatment?
• Desire to recover valuable
product and/or energy from wastes
•Operational difficulties and negative image of incineration
•Preception of new processes as "greener, high technology
solutions"
•Constraints on landfilling scrap tires
•Helps meeting recycling targets
•Reduces greenhouse gas production - helps meet Kyoto Protocol
targets
•Marketing efforts of suppliers
Source: Juniper Consultancy
