Electrodialysis Equipment Market

Market Overview

The global electrodialysis equipment market size was valued at USD 0.8 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2032, registering a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period (2024-2032).

Electrodialysis equipment is a technology that separates ions from solutions using selective ion exchange membranes and an electric field. This method is beneficial for water desalination, the removal of specific ions from solutions, and various industrial uses.

The growth of the global electrodialysis equipment market is driven by rising water pollution and increased applications for seawater desalination. Furthermore, electrodialysis treatment requires little pretreatment because the salty Water has already been desalted. This saves extra effort and decreases process complexity. Another critical element driving growth in the worldwide Electrodialysis Equipment Market is that Electrodialysis Equipment uses little energy because it does not use phase change to separate ions. Advanced tunable units, in which the electrical power supplied may be adjusted based on the amount of salt that needs to be pushed out of the feed water, are predicted to give new economic opportunities, resulting in rapid electrodialysis equipment market growth.

Market Dynamics

Global Electrodialysis Equipment Market Drivers

Increasing Water Scarcity

Water shortage is a significant global issue, with many areas facing severe water stress due to population increase, climate change, and poor water management techniques. According to the World Resources Institute's Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, one-quarter of the world's population experiences "extremely high water stress" yearly. This indicates that around 4 billion people live in highly water-stressed conditions for at least one month of the year. Furthermore, according to the World Wildlife Fund, freshwater accounts for only 3% of the world's Water, with two-thirds unusable. As a result, around 1.1 billion people globally lack access to Water, while 2.7 billion experience water scarcity for at least one month of the year. According to IDRA, the global desalination capacity in 2023 is 109 million m3/day for CAPEX and 259 million m3/day for OPEX. 

According to Climate-ADAPT, there are around 16,000 desalination plants worldwide, with a total operational capacity of approximately 95.37 million m3/day. According to the World Resources Institute, Qatar is the most vulnerable to water scarcity. The country is a desert with no rivers and relies primarily on seawater desalination technologies to provide drinking water. Similarly, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a desert country with limited freshwater resources, relies extensively on desalination plants to supply its water requirements. The Shuaibah Desalination Plant in Saudi Arabia is among the world's most extensive electrodialysis desalination facilities.

As a result, the increasing global water scarcity highlights the significance of using modern water treatment technologies such as Electrodialysis to ensure access to clean and safe water supplies. The expansion of desalination projects and investments in water infrastructure reflects the importance of addressing water scarcity concerns through creative solutions, influencing the Electrodialysis Equipment Market trend.

Global Electrodialysis Equipment Market Restraints

High Implementation Cost

The installation of electrodialysis equipment incurs significant upfront expenses, which include the purchase of specialized components such as ion exchange membranes, electrodes, and system architecture. These high initial investment requirements can be a substantial impediment, especially for smaller firms, towns, or areas with limited funding. Large-scale desalination plants, which frequently use electrodialysis technology, are capital-intensive undertakings. For example, the Sorek Desalination Plant in Israel, one of the world's most extensive desalination facilities, has adopted electrodialysis reversal (EDR) technology. The Sorek Desalination Plant in Israel cost around USD 500 million and took 2.5 years to complete. Construction started in January 2011. 

According to research by the International Desalination Association (IDA), desalination projects, which typically include Electrodialysis, necessitate large capital expenditures. According to the paper, capital expenses for desalination plants can range between USD 1,000 and USD 3,000 per cubic meter of installed capacity, underscoring the significant financial commitment required. Furthermore, small-scale applications, such as point-of-use electrodialysis systems for specific industrial processes, may need more cost-effectiveness. The economies of scale may be less favorable for smaller installations, restricting their widespread adoption.

Global Electrodialysis Equipment Market Opportunity

Integration with Renewable Energy

Integrating electrodialysis devices with renewable energy sources presents a strategic opportunity to raise the technology's sustainability profile. This integration is consistent with global initiatives to lessen the environmental effect of water treatment operations and facilitates the move to cleaner, more energy-efficient systems.  Sun-powered electrodialysis systems use energy from sun panels to power the ion exchange processes. These systems can function off-grid in areas with plenty of sunlight, making them ideal for rural locales or regions with intermittent access to traditional power sources. Solar-electrodialysis projects can be deployed in decentralized water treatment applications to meet the water demands of off-grid communities.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global renewable energy capacity will expand by 50% in 2023, reaching about 510 gigawatts (GW). This is the 22nd consecutive year renewable capacity additions have set a new record. This trend indicates that renewable energy sources are becoming more available and affordable, making integrating them into electrodialysis systems easier. Government measures supporting the use of renewable energy in water treatment processes foster the convergence of Electrodialysis with clean energy sources. Incentives, incentives, and regulatory frameworks that stimulate the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly technologies help to increase the total opportunity.

Regional Analysis

The global electrodialysis equipment market analysis is conducted in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America.

North America Dominates the Global Market

North America is the most significant global electrodialysis equipment market shareholder and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% over the forecast period. As the population grows, increased demand for freshwater in North America will likely provide new opportunities. Market participants such as GENERAL ELECTRIC, Saltworks Technologies Inc., Electrosynthesis Company, Inc., and others also focus on delivering industry-leading electrodialysis equipment, driving market expansion. 

Furthermore, increased recycling operations in Canada and the United States support market expansion. According to a 2023 analysis, US water systems require USD 625 billion in investment by 2041 to supply clean, safe drinking water. In contrast, Canada withdraws around 44.7 billion cubic meters of freshwater annually, with thermal power generation accounting for 64% of that total. On average, a Canadian consumes 1.5 million cubic meters, or around 4,400 liters per person each day. This makes Canada one of the world's top per capita users. Also, in 2023, the Canadian government announced a significant investment in freshwater. 

Europe is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.7% over the forecast period. Europe will likely experience stable growth because of prominent players such as PCCell GmbH and Eurodia Industrie in Germany and other nations. For example, PCCell GmbH provides equipment for electrodialysis research in industrial and laboratory settings. To meet demand, the company produces industrial-scale electrodialysis and lab-scale electrodialysis cells. In 2023, Spain experienced a severe drought that impacted the mid-southern and eastern regions. The drought was triggered by record-breaking temperatures in 2022, a series of heat waves in 2023, and nearly three years of low rainfall. For more than 50 years, Spain has relied heavily on desalination as part of its water policy. In 2020, Revived Water tested a mix of Electrodialysis (ED) and reverse osmosis systems at the Burriana desalination plant in Spain. 

Additionally, European governments are actively financing projects, including water treatment and desalination. Funding programs like those offered by the European Innovation Partnership on Water help develop and implement sophisticated water treatment technologies, including Electrodialysis, to accomplish water sustainability objectives.

Asia-Pacific is expected to have the highest CAGR during the projection period, owing to continual weather changes that cause water stress. The Asia-Pacific area is among the most water-stressed in the world. More than 95% of the region's population is under water stress, and 75% of Asia is Water scarce. Furthermore, the growing demand for fresh Water in the drought-affected region has turned the emphasis to water desalination and recycling procedures. The expanding culinary, agricultural, and industrial sectors in Australia, India, and China drive demand for electrodialysis equipment in these nations. For example, in April 2023, the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board awarded a project to Va Tech Wabag to create a 400 million liter per day (mld) RO-based desalination plant.

In addition, developed economies in Asia-Pacific, such as Japan and South Korea, are early adopters of modern wastewater treatment technologies. Electrodialysis systems are used in various sectors, including electronics manufacturing, where precise water quality control is critical to production operations.

The Middle East and Africa are projected to experience significant growth. Countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE, South Africa, and others are experiencing a need for freshwater resources, driving up demand for freshwater. The ongoing expansion of laboratories and saltwater desalination procedures will drive the electrodialysis system market in South American countries such as Argentina.

Moreover, water shortage has been a persistent issue in Africa for decades, necessitating wastewater treatment to address the situation. In line with this, governments and manufacturers are collaborating and investing heavily in wastewater plants.

Segmental Analysis

The global electrodialysis equipment market is segmented based on type, application, sales channel, and region.

The market is further segmented by type into Continuous Electrodialysis and Batch Electrodialysis.

Continuous Electrodialysis accounts for the largest share of the market. Continuous Electrodialysis is a type of ion separation that occurs in a constant, uninterrupted flow. Feed solutions containing ions are passed through a series of ion-exchange membranes and compartments powered by an electric field. As the solutions pass through the system, ions are selectively transferred across the membranes, causing components to separate. Continuous Electrodialysis is preferred for applications that require a steady and consistent output, such as large-scale industrial processes or water treatment plants. This process provides efficient ion removal or concentration over extended periods, making it suitable for continuous production.

In batch electrodialysis, the ion separation occurs in discrete batches or cycles rather than a continuous flow. Feed solutions are delivered into the electrodialysis system for a set period, after which the process is stopped for product collection or further treatment. This intermittent operation provides more control over the separation process and makes it easier to handle lower volumes. Batch electrodialysis is helpful for applications with changing feed compositions or when careful control of ion concentrations is required. It is useful in laboratory settings, research applications, and scenarios where frequent processing is necessary to meet specific operating needs. The batch nature of the process allows for greater flexibility in handling varied ion concentrations within each cycle, meeting a wide range of application requirements.

The market can be bifurcated by application into Seawater desalination, Laboratory, Food/Pharmaceutical, and Recycling environments.

Seawater Desalination holds a significant market share. The seawater desalination application segment has the most significant revenue, while the recycling environments application segment has the most considerable volume. Electrodialysis is critical in seawater desalination, helping to address the global water scarcity issue. In this application, electrodialysis systems selectively extract ions from seawater, primarily sodium and chloride, to produce fresh drinking water. The technology's efficiency and advances in ion-exchange membranes make it a viable and energy-efficient option for large-scale desalination operations.

In laboratories, Electrodialysis is used in various scientific and research activities. Its applications include sample preparation, ion analysis, and buffer solution production. The accuracy and control of Electrodialysis make it worthwhile for research requiring specified ion concentrations or sample purification in chemistry, biochemistry, and material science.

Based on the Sales channel, the market is sub-segmented into direct and indirect channels.

Direct channel commands the most share in the market. The direct sales channel involves interactions between electrodialysis equipment makers or suppliers and end customers, such as industries, municipalities, or research organizations. This channel allows producers to offer their products directly to customers, eliminating the need for intermediaries. Direct channels enable more tailored approaches, efficient communication, and direct control over sales operations. Manufacturers can build direct ties with key clients, offering customized solutions, technical support, and after-sales services.

The indirect sales channel consists of middlemen or third-party businesses that support the distribution and sale of electrodialysis equipment. These middlemen may be distributors, dealers, or resellers. In the indirect channel, producers sell their products to intermediaries, who distribute the equipment to end customers. This channel can help you access a larger market by using the established networks of intermediaries. Indirect routes may increase market penetration, mainly where local experience and ties are critical in business transactions.

Recent Developments

• December 2023- POSCO Holdings Inc. collaborated with W-Scope Korea Co., a business that manufactures separators for secondary batteries, to create the country's first electrodialysis membrane for lithium production.
• January 2024- AGC plans to build a new facility in Kitakyushu City for FORBLUE™ S-SERIES, a fluorinated ion exchange membrane used for green hydrogen production.
• January 2024- Acwa Power agreed with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to construct a new renewable energy and water desalination development hub on the KACST site.