Zero Liquid Discharge Systems Market

The market for zero liquid discharge systems is expected to achieve a valuation of USD 9.9 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.2%. The growing demand for ZLD systems in emerging regions like Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa is propelling the market for these systems. The global ZLD systems market is also being driven by increased demand from various industries such as energy & power, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals & petrochemicals.

ZLD systems Market Dynamics
Driver: High efficiency of ZLD systems
Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems are utilized for managing wastewater in a manner that prevents any discharge of industrial wastewater into the environment. These systems employ advanced treatment technologies to process industrial brine wastewater, significantly reducing it to dry solids. A well-designed and advanced ZLD system can recover approximately 95% of liquid waste for reuse and also extract valuable byproducts like salts and brines, thereby reducing operational expenses. In contrast, conventional wastewater treatment systems often generate brine waste and result in the loss of valuable materials. Such conventional methods, as well as other chemical treatment approaches, fail to meet acceptable discharge standards for the effluent. Furthermore, the water recovery efficiency of these methods is lower compared to ZLD systems. These factors highlight the effectiveness and economic viability of ZLD systems as a solution for wastewater treatment.

Restrain: High installation & operational cost of ZLD systems
Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) and turnkey companies are responsible for installing zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems in industrial plants according to their specific requirements. These systems consist of a combination of membranes and components sourced from various equipment manufacturers. They perform a range of processes including pretreatment (biological or chemical), filtration, evaporation, and crystallization of concentrated wastewater. Consequently, the procurement of raw materials for designing and engineering ZLD systems, as well as their installation, requires substantial capital investment. Additionally, factors such as the desired level of system automation, shipping costs, environmental regulatory fees, and taxes should be taken into account when determining the pricing of ZLD systems.

Opportunity: Increasing concerns over disposal of brine concentrate into oceans
The disposal of concentrated brine, generated from various processes such as desalination, into the oceans has emerged as a significant environmental concern. Desalination plants release dense brine directly into the ocean, potentially causing detrimental effects on marine ecosystems. The brine concentrates are a byproduct of the reverse osmosis (RO) process, which is employed to remove salts from water. These concentrates contain chemical additives and, when the RO technology is utilized for treating wastewater and groundwater, the presence of contaminants and other components in the water renders the resulting brine concentrates more toxic. This toxicity can negatively impact marine life and disrupt weather patterns.

Challenge: Lack of awareness regarding disposal of wastewater concentrates
The use of ZLD systems is still a new concept in various regions, such as the Middle East & Africa, Asia Pacific, and South America, due to the use of various traditional methods such as pond evaporation, solar drying, and thermal evaporation, among others for the treatment of wastewater sludge. The lack of awareness among the masses regarding various environmental regulations related to wastewater management might hamper the growth of the ZLD systems market. For instance, Nigeria is an oil-rich country, and it is observed that there are no regulations for flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) and cooling tower blowdown in the country. However, this scenario is expected to change with increasing industrial growth in these regions in the coming years.

Conventional segment accounted for the largest share amongst systems in the ZLD systems market
The conventional ZLD systems segment is expected to dominate the ZLD systems market in 2021. This is because conventional ZLD systems are widely adopted by various industries, thanks to their standardized designs that encompass pre-defined stages such as pretreatment, filtration, evaporation, and crystallization. These systems are suitable for both small and medium-sized plants that do not have specialized requirements.

Evaporation & crystallization segment to lead the process in the overall ZLD systems market
The evaporation and crystallization process stands out as the dominant and widely adopted method in ZLD systems. This particular process finds extensive application across various industries, including power, chemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. Evaporators and crystallizers play a crucial role in zero-liquid discharge systems by ensuring minimal to zero liquid discharge. This key factor contributes to the growth and popularity of the evaporation and crystallization process in the ZLD systems market.

Energy & Power segment holds the largest market of all the end-use industries in the ZLD systems market
The energy and power segment holds the largest market share in the end-use industry of the ZLD systems market. This significant market position is primarily due to the substantial increase in demand for ZLD systems in energy and power applications. Compared to other sectors, installations in the energy and power sector are characterized by larger sizes, with flow rates exceeding 10 cubic meters. The thermal power industry, which relies on coal energy, is particularly instrumental in driving the market in this end-use industry. Countries like China have implemented mandates for the installation of ZLD plants in the energy sector. Key processes such as CTX and Coal to Liquid (CTL) necessitate the use of ZLD systems, and since coal plants are often located in non-coastal regions, the disposal of brine concentrates becomes more challenging. These factors are anticipated to drive the ZLD systems market in the energy and power sector throughout the forecast period.

Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at the fastest growth rate in the global ZLD systems market
In 2021, the Asia Pacific region held the largest market share, and it is projected to exhibit the highest compound annual growth rate (CAGR) during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including stringent regulations pertaining to wastewater treatment, rapid industrialization, and a growing population. Moreover, there is an increasing awareness regarding water treatment and the re-use of industrial wastewater, which is expected to drive the demand for ZLD systems in the region.

Key Market Players
Aquatech International (US), Veolia (France), GEA Group AG (Germany), Alfa Laval AB (Sweden), Praj Industries (India), Andritz AG (Austria), H20 GmbH (Germany), Aquarion AG (Switzerland), Condorchem Envitech (Spain), Safbon Water Technology (US), Ion Exchange India Ltd (India), Toshiba Infrastructure Systems and Solutions Corporation (Japan), and Petro Sep (Canada) are among the prominent players in the ZLD systems market. These companies have established a strong market presence by implementing various strategies, including the introduction of new products, forming strategic partnerships, investing in expansion initiatives, and engaging in acquisitions between 2019 and 2022.

This research report categorizes the ZLD systems market based on System, Process, Technology, End-use Industry and Region.

By System:
• Hybrid
• Conventional

By Process:
• Pre-treatment
• Filtration
• Evaporation/Crystallization

By Technology:
• Reverse Osmosis
• Ultrafiltration
• Evaporation/Crystallization

By End-use Industry:
• Energy & Power
• Chemicals & Petrochemicals
• Food & Beverage
• Textile
• Pharmaceuticals
• Electronics & Semiconductors
• Others

By Region:
• North America
• Asia Pacific
• Europe
• Middle East & Africa
• South America
• The ZLD systems market has been further analyzed based on key countries in each of these regions.

Recent Developments

• Veolia Water Technologies announced a collaboration with Orange Business Services in September 2022. This partnership aims to enhance Veolia Water Technologies' infrastructure for business data collection and its digital solutions platform called hubgrade. The hubgrade digital platform enables customers to remotely monitor, anticipate, and optimize water treatment plants and equipment.
• In June 2021, Aquatech International revealed a joint venture with Upwell Water, a prominent technology-driven water asset company. This collaboration introduces AQUIOS, a comprehensive platform that allows Aquatech to provide customers with integrated water treatment solutions and services, incorporating their top-tier technology and operational expertise without any upfront cost.