Rising electricity consumption to boost the adoption of flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems
The energy produced in the United States in 2018 had been equal to nearly 95.7 quads which amounted to 95% of the overall consumption of energy in the country.
Growing environmental concerns and unanimous efforts to minimize the effect of harmful emissions drive flue gas desulphurization (FGD) systems demand in the coming years. FGD systems are technologies that are generally used to eliminate sulphur dioxide (SO2) from the exhaust flue gases of the fossil-fuel power plants, including other processes that emit the gas.
Power plants tend to exude harmful gases like SO2 that is known to be detrimental to the environment as well as responsible for acid rain. Increasing population has encouraged massive electricity demand across the world, influencing the increase in coal-powered electricity generation. The energy produced in the United States in 2018 had been equal to nearly 95.7 quads which amounted to 95% of the overall consumption of energy in the country.
Fossil fuels had accounted for nearly 79% of the overall production of the U.S.’ primary energy production. This further emphasizes the need for coal-fired power generation and the potential adoption of flue gas desulphurization systems in the coming years. Global FGD market size has been projected to reach US$27 billion by 2025.
Stringent government measures
Governments across the world have been taking serious measures as well as making heavy investments that could contribute to the goals of limiting the emission of harmful gases and meet grim challenges of climate change. Recently, Serbia has taken certain severe steps to control pollution as the levels of harmful suspended particles in the air have risen above the permitted limits.
In its national emission reduction plans, Serbia committed to the EU that it shall invest around €800 million for EPS to help thermal power plants meet environmental regulations and bring down pollution. Around EUR 600 million shall be spent to eliminate sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and dust emission. This shall prove to be a major boost for flue gas desulphurization systems industry outlook in the forthcoming years.
Emission control in shipping
FGD systems will have extensive use across maritime shipping as vessels emit a high amount of sulphur oxide causing major environmental issues. Most vessels tend to run on heavy fuel oil wherein the sulphur content is as high as 3.5% causing serious harm to the water bodies. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reportedly tightened the limits on the emission of SO2 in the ship’s flue gas.
Vessels that travelled through certain emission control areas (ECA) like the Baltic Sea and the North Sea were expected to use flue gas desulphurization systems and the sulphur limit in 2020 will be going from 3.5% to 0.5%.
Lower emission in power plants
Wet flue gas desulphurization systems have been under high demand by thermal power plants on account of their greater efficiency in the removal of sulphur dioxide. Wet FGD is capable of removing more than 90% of the harmful gas. With the reduced prices of reagents, the cost of installation has reduced significantly that has led to increased adoption of the product.
Wet scrubbing mostly uses magnesium-enhanced lime that contains around 3–8% of magnesium oxide as it offers a high amount of alkalinity which accelerates the SO2 removal capacity as well as lowers the potential for scaling. More than 80% of the thermal power plants across the globe tend to opt for wet scrubbers, driving flue gas desulphurization systems market trends.
