REPORT SCOPE
INTRODUCTION
STUDY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES
This comprehensive market research report evaluates the global market for membrane bioreactors (MBRs) used for wastewater treatment. Existing and potential markets for MBRs on the global stage are identified. The goals are to provide meaningful information, unbiased analysis, and an assessment of the roles that MBR systems can play now and in the future of wastewater treatment technology. Twenty-eight countries’ water needs are evaluated in four global regions.
REASONS FOR DOING THE STUDY
The need for pure water is a problem of global proportions. In the earth’s hydrologic cycle, fresh water supplies are fixed and constant, while global water demand is growing. With each passing year, the quality of the planet’s water measurably deteriorates, presenting challenges for the major users: the municipal, industrial, and environmental sectors. Water treatment has become an area of global concern as individuals, communities, industries, countries, and their national institutions strive for ways to keep this essential resource available and suitable for use. Membrane bioreactor systems (MBRs) have, over the past 10 years, emerged as an effective solution to transforming various wastewaters into high-quality effluent suitable for discharge to the environment and increasingly into a reusable product.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
This report is designed to be as comprehensive as possible and to be useable by a broad audience of business, technical, and regulatory practitioners on a global scale. The document is an information source on the industry, a reference manual on an advanced technology and its system components, and a resource that provides information to decision-makers who need to stay abreast of the state of the art.
This report presents analysis and forward-thinking knowledge that will be of advantage to manufacturers, suppliers, and to local, state, and federal government as well as foreign governments. Engineers, utilities, and corporate planners will benefit in accessing the global demand for membrane bioreactors.
SCOPE OF REPORT
The study is divided into chapters dealing with the membrane component of MBRs, the biological component, system configurations, typical MBR performance, cost analyses, system applications, companies active in the market, market share, and industry structure. Quantitative evaluations are given for the major market segments, historically and for a 5-year horizon. The global scope of the MBR market is identified within four major geographical regions with information on regional economics, water needs, MBR experience, and proposed projects.
The MBR market in this study is centered on biological/membrane wastewater treatment for the municipal, industrial, and environmental sectors. The evaluated market does not include catalytic membrane reactors or enzymatic membrane reactors.
METHODOLOGY
Both primary and secondary research methodologies were used in preparing this study. Research for this report began with a re-analysis of the available technical and business literature, as well as an evaluation of the personal records of the water treatment industry available to the author. Conversations with industry experts and company representatives and a review of their published works provide the backbone for an evaluation of the water treatment equipment industry. Other sources of information include product literature from system suppliers, patent information, and annual reports. .
Growth rates of MBR systems are not the same for all world regions and are not increasing from the same base. Common to all regions, however, is the fact that sales of the technology are growing faster than the gross domestic products (GDPs) of countries installing the systems and more rapidly than the industries that use them. Forecasts in this report are based on announced projects and anticipated capacity additions over the next 5 years.
MBR costs are based on published data and interviews with industry participants. MBR “systems” include headworks (screens, pumps, grit chamber) and other pretreatment systems, membrane units, reactor vessels, and other process tanks. Site costs, system installation costs, piping, instrumentation, and electrical/electronic controls are not included in the cost analysis.
The capital cost of a 50,000 gpd plant is estimated at $350,000, a 100,000 gpd plant at $500,000, and a 500,000 gpd plant at $2 million. For systems 1 mgd and larger, capital costs start at $3.5 million. The largest percentage of new system installations, 90% or more, will continue to fall into the 5,000 gpd to 500,000 gpd range (most of those, 60% or so, will have capacities of less than 25,000 gpd). About 5% or fewer will be larger than 1 mgd.
Currency conversions are normalized in so far as possible. Much of the historic information is from BCC data.
INFORMATION SOURCES
The information sources for this study include online research, patent literature, technical journals, and interviews with principals in the industry. In evaluating the global market for membrane bioreactors, information was obtained from the U.S. Department of Commerce; U.S. Department of State; Aquastat, the United Nations’ global water information system; and publications from the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, the European Commission, the Water Resources Institute, and various academic institutions. Projections for each market are made in terms of constant dollars. Historical values are for the year given.
ANALYST CREDENTIALS
During the past 14 years, Susan Hanft has authored more than 30 market research reports for BCC Research in the fields of membrane technology, water and wastewater treatment, and separations used in food and beverage manufacture, medicine, and biotechnology.
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DISCLAIMER
The information developed in this report is intended to be as reliable as possible at the time of publication and of a professional nature. This information does not constitute managerial, legal, or accounting advice; nor should it serve as a corporate policy guide, laboratory manual, or an endorsement of any product, as much of the information is speculative in nature. The authors assume no responsibility for any loss or damage that might result from reliance on the reported information or its use.
