FGD Market to Reach $8.8 Bil. in 2011

These revenue forecasts reflect only the amounts paid for new systems. They do not reflect consumables, repairs and upgrades of existing systems. When this segment of the market is included, McIlvaine says the size nearly doubles to $17 billion. While the new system market fluctuates from year-to-year, the total market is showing a steady increase as more desulfurization units are put into operation. It should be noted that these forecasts do not reflect the revenues booked by the suppliers. Suppliers start reporting sales several years prior to the final startup and often report the final 10 percent of sales after commissioning and approval.

Wet calcium systems account for the large majority of the units, according to McIlvaine. These units use either limestone or lime and produce calcium sulfate or gypsum. If an additional oxidizing step is incorporated, the gypsum is suitable for wallboard. In fact, in Europe most wallboard is produced from FGD gypsum.

The dry systems are segmented into spray driers and circulating dry scrubbers (CDS). McIlvaine says the CDS systems are carving out a larger market share due to the ability to handle coals with higher sulfur levels.

McIlvaine says China will continue to be the largest purchaser of FGD systems, but the big retrofit and new boiler surge is at least temporarily over. So the market will remain large but flat. India has the biggest growth potential, and the repair and retrofit market is significant in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea.

U.S., European and Japanese suppliers of systems compete globally. Many are divisions of boiler companies and are capable of providing complete generation plants. A number of Chinese companies will also be contending in the international market in the future.