The waste-to-energy (WtE) sector is rapidly evolving, driven by the urgent need for sustainable waste management and renewable energy solutions. Recent advancements in WtE technologies have sparked significant interest, with new waste to energy companies emerging to address the complex challenges of waste disposal and energy production. Trending areas in WtE include anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis, each offering unique benefits and applications. Anaerobic digestion, for instance, is being optimized for higher efficiency in biogas production, while gasification technologies are being refined to convert a broader range of waste materials into syngas with minimal emissions. Pyrolysis, on the other hand, is gaining traction for its ability to produce valuable byproducts like biochar and synthetic fuels.
Emerging waste to energy companies are leveraging these technologies to advance waste management practices. By integrating AI and IoT solutions, these innovators enhance process efficiency, monitor operational performance in real time, and reduce environmental impact. Additionally, the incorporation of circular economy principles ensures that waste resources are utilized to their fullest potential, minimizing landfill reliance and contributing to a more sustainable future. This article explores 10 new waste to energy companies that are shaping the future of waste management and energy production.
Continue reading to gain up-to-date and data-driven insights on:
- Profiles of 10 Emerging Waste to Energy Companies
- How to Scout the Best Waste to Energy Companies Easily
Key Takeaways
Drawing insights from the Big Data & AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform that provides data on over 4.7+ million emerging companies globally, we explore the evolving landscape of the waste to energy industry. This sector is marked by key trends and a substantial workforce, shaping its future. This report was last updated 5 days ago. Spot an error or missing detail? Help us fix it by getting in touch! Here are some key insights at a glance:
- Current Waste to Energy Trends: Some of the major trends advancing waste to energy are low emission waste to energy converter machines, organic waste to biogas and biofuels, energy generation from plastic waste, wastewater upcycling for clean energy, and hydrogen recovery from waste.
- Waste to Energy Industry Statistics: The sector comprises 25K+ organizations worldwide. Out of these, 3K+ new waste to energy companies were founded in the last five years. On average, each of these organizations employs about 30 people and witnesses 2020 as the average founding year. Moreover, the average funding received by these 3K+ companies per round in the same span is USD 27.4 million.
- Top 10 Waste to Energy Companies to Watch:
- ZERO-X – Low Emission Waste to Energy Converters
- Saaf Energy – Organic Waste to Natural Gas
- Enewate – Wastewater to Biogas
- TorenOil – Plastic Waste to Reusable Energy
- BlueRevo – Waste to Hydrogen Rich Syngas
- Esylys – Waste to High Pressure Biogas
- GreenAL – Biodigesters for Waste to Gas Fuels
- Fluid Renewables – Biogas Production Catalyst
- Vertus Energy – Renewable Natural Gas Production
- Clever Power – Hydrogen Recovery from Waste
Meet 10 out of 3K+ Emerging Waste to Energy Companies
In this section, we spotlight 10 new waste to energy companies enabling low emission converters, organic waste to natural gas conversion, biogas production catalysts, and hydrogen recovery from waste. These entities integrate advanced WtE technologies and AI to optimize efficiency and reduce emissions. Low emission waste converters minimize pollutants while maximizing energy output.
Organic waste to natural gas conversion technologies transform biodegradable materials into valuable natural gas. Biogas production catalysts enhance the efficiency and yield of biogas from organic waste, ensuring higher energy output. Hydrogen recovery from waste extracts hydrogen from various waste streams, providing a clean energy source. Read on to explore many more innovative solutions that these companies offer!
Note on Signal Strength
One of the unique metrics we feature for each company is Signal Strength, a proprietary data point generated by our Discovery Platform. It gauges the extent to which a company’s influence has permeated the global ecosystem of startups, scaleups, and emerging companies. This proprietary metric serves as a valuable guidepost for understanding a company’s standing in the broader market landscape.
1. ZERO-X
- Founding Year: 2020
- Employee Range: 11-50
- Location: USA
- Signal Strength: Medium Strong
- What they do: ZERO-X converts municipal solid waste into clean energy through a single-stage gasification process. Its X-Series machines convert waste into gas in seconds, with biochar as the only byproduct. The Zero-X15, a containerized unit, is ideal for research and localized testing, processing 350 Kg of dry waste and producing customized outputs. The Zero-X50, another containerized system for commercial use, tackles larger volumes, converting 1 ton of dry waste or 5-6 tons of wet waste into clean gas, power, and biochar. It even handles mixed waste streams and offers combined heat and power options. Finally, the Zero-X200, targeted for industrial applications, is a modular system combining four Zero-X50 units for a high capacity of 25 tons per day. Further, ZERO-X uses a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that significantly increases efficiency by tripling the energy output from the gasification process.
2. Saaf Energy
- Founding Year: 2019
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: India
- Signal Strength: Very Strong
- What they do: Saaf Energy makes modular waste to energy systems that use anaerobic digestion to convert waste into biogas. Its Waste Bin Tipping Station accommodates multiple bin sizes, operates automatically with an electro-hydraulic system, and can be mobile or fixed, streamlining waste management. The Membrane Biogas Upgradation System consistently achieves high methane purity, operates efficiently with semi-skilled manpower, and has zero replacement costs for four to six years. This system flexibly handles varying plant capacities and ensures efficient biogas upgrading to CBG with low power consumption. Beneficiaries of Saaf Energy include bulk waste generators, agro-processing units, and system integrators, who gain from reduced waste and energy costs while supporting sustainable energy solutions and environmental compliance.
3. Enewate
- Founding Year: 2019
- Employee Range: 11-50
- Location: India
- Signal Strength: Weak
- What they do: Enewate develops a proprietary technology, ARBiT that treats wastewater for reuse while simultaneously generating biogas through anaerobic digestion. This eliminates the need for noisy blowers, diffusers, and enzymes, and minimizes sludge production. ARBiT systems also have minimal odor and a low footprint, making them suitable for urban environments. The biogas generated can then be converted into electricity or compressed natural gas for various applications. Enewate also provides biomethanation plants that process organic waste into biogas, further contributing to waste diversion and renewable energy production.
4. TorenOil
- Founding Year: 2021
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: Turkiye
- Signal Strength: Weak
- What they do: TorenOil offers a solution for converting plastic waste into reusable energy through a thermolysis process within its containerized WASTX Plastic P1000 system. This system utilizes heat to break down mixed plastic waste in an oxygen-free environment. This process recovers almost 90% of the plastic waste’s chemical energy and minimizes energy consumption for the process itself. The resulting product is high-quality, low-sulfur paraffin oil — a clean-burning fuel compatible with existing industrial and commercial infrastructure. This paraffin oil is capable of directly substituting conventional crude oil for energy generation and even plastic production, promoting circularity.
5. BlueRevo
- Founding Year: 2021
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: Netherlands
- Signal Strength: Weak
- What they do: BlueRevo utilizes a proprietary autothermal steam reforming to convert biodegradable waste into clean energy. The process involves the introduction of the waste in the system followed by the application of controlled heat and steam. It undergoes a reforming process in an oxygen-free environment. This process yields syngas or hydrogen, depending on the desired output. The system captures, stores, or utilizes carbon dioxide released during the process, achieving near-zero carbon emissions. The resulting syngas are used for combined heat and power generation, while the hydrogen is suitable for fuel cell applications. Moreover, BlueRevo’s system accepts various forms of biodegradable waste with up to 50% moisture content, eliminating the need for preprocessing.
6. Esylys
- Founding Year: 2020
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: India
- Signal Strength: Strong
- What they do: Esylys manufactures HiPrBio, a portable biogas plant that converts food and biowaste into high-pressure methane-rich biogas. This eliminates the need for additional compressors or scrubbers, making it suitable for decentralized applications. The company also offers RENLE, a digital twin platform that facilitates the simulation of energy systems through a library of industrial components. This allows for virtual prototyping and process optimization without disrupting real-world operations. Additionally, their DECENT WASTE solution proposes a future model for waste collection and processing. It combines the HiPrBio system with AI-powered waste segregation and real-time mapping for on-site waste processing, reducing reliance on landfills while also generating renewable biogas.
7. GreenAL
- Founding Year: 2021
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: Algeria
- Signal Strength: Medium
- What they do: GreenAl offers anaerobic digestion systems for converting organic waste into biogas and biofertilizer. Its bioreactors, available in various sizes, are designed for easy setup and use by farmers with limited access to energy. The systems break down organic waste and produce biogas that can be used for cooking via its Tabio stove or converted to electricity with the Adabio adapter. GreenAl also offers BoosTam accelerators to enhance biogas production. The resulting biofertilizer, a byproduct of the process, is a nutrient-rich liquid that improves crop growth. These solutions benefit off-grid communities and farmers seeking sustainable waste management, renewable energy generation, and organic fertilizer.
8. Fluid Renewables
- Founding Year: 2022
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: UK
- Signal Strength: Weak
- What they do: Fluid Renewables advances biogas optimization within anaerobic digestion (AD) systems through its Biogas Catalyst additive. This probiotic powder introduces two key components — bacteria that secrete digestive enzymes to accelerate the breakdown of organic matter and a mineral carrier that promotes bacterial growth within the AD unit. Biogas Catalyst specifically increases methane (CH₄) content, the most valuable biogas component for energy generation. The company tailors dosage strategies to individual AD systems, considering factors like feedstock composition and existing bacterial populations.
9. Vertus Energy
- Founding Year: 2021
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: Austria
- Signal Strength: Very Strong
- What they do: Vertus Energy simplifies anaerobic digestion. Its Brio unit integrates within existing AD systems, functioning internally to accelerate the breakdown of organic waste. This tripling of processing capacity within the same tank size significantly improves efficiency. Further, Brio enhances the energy potential of biogas, increasing the yield of usable renewable energy from waste streams. Additionally, its Boda technology offers carbon capture and conversion solutions. It upgrades biogas into biomethane, a more readily usable fuel source, or captures raw carbon dioxide and converts it directly into renewable natural gas. Vertus Energy thus benefits operators of anaerobic digesters and renewable energy producers by providing solutions to optimize waste processing, maximize biogas output, and capture and utilize carbon emissions,
10. Clever Power
- Founding Year: 2020
- Employee Range: 2-10
- Location: Australia
- Signal Strength: Weak
- What they do: Clever Power utilizes waste to generate renewable energy and resources through its ENCON200 system. This adaptable conversion plant processes refuse derived fuel (RDF) and green waste using high-temperature gasification to produce syngas. The company then recovers hydrogen from the syngas for various applications. The remaining processed gas fuels electricity production and generates heat for further processes or fertilizer production. Waste heat sterilization and nutrient recovery from biomass contribute to the creation of organic fertilizer. This way, Clever Power benefits waste management companies and energy producers seeking sustainable solutions for waste conversion, energy generation, and resource recovery.
Quick Tip to Find New Waste to Energy Companies
Utilizing a SaaS platform like the Discovery Platform for identifying new waste to energy companies provides significant benefits compared to traditional scouting methods:
- Increased Efficiency: The Discovery Platform offers advanced tools that streamline the scouting process. It replaces your hours of conventional desk research, saving time and resources in identifying waste to energy innovations.
- Access to Real-time Insights: Gain a competitive edge with up-to-date information on the latest trends in the waste to energy industry. The platform keeps you informed with near real-time updates on emerging waste-to-energy companies and news, enabling you to make swift and informed decisions.
- Precise Scouting: Customize your search to focus on specific niches within the waste to energy sector, such as advanced waste to energy converters, high pressure biogas generation, or hydrogen recovery solutions. The platform’s diverse filtering options allow you to target your scouting efforts precisely, ensuring that you find the most relevant and groundbreaking companies in the field.
Ready to Explore All New Waste to Energy Companies?
We’ve explored the dynamic landscape of the waste to energy industry, examining the latest trends and spotlighting exceptional companies driving innovation. To dive deeper, download our free Renewables Report or schedule a demo of the Discovery Platform for a customized exploration of these groundbreaking developments. Interested in contributing your expertise on startups and tech? We’d love to hear from you.
