Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment Market Demand & Growth 2025 | – openPR.com

Report on the Global Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment Market and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary: Market Overview and SDG Alignment

The Global Algae-Based Wastewater Treatment Market is demonstrating significant growth, driven by a global imperative to achieve key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This technology directly addresses SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by providing an innovative method for purifying water. Furthermore, its capacity to recover resources from waste streams aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and the principles of a circular economy. The market’s expansion reflects a growing investment in sustainable infrastructure and technologies, supporting SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Market Projections and Growth Drivers

The market is projected to expand from a valuation of US$ 2.65 billion in 2024 to US$ 4.19 billion by 2032, reflecting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.89% for the 2025-2032 forecast period. This growth is propelled by the rising adoption of sustainable water management strategies by key industry players, in line with global sustainability targets.

• 2024 Market Value: US$ 2.65 Billion
• 2032 Projected Value: US$ 4.19 Billion
• Forecast CAGR (2025-2032): 5.89%

Regional Developments and SDG Implementation

United States

Recent developments in the United States highlight a strong commitment to environmental protection and sustainable innovation, directly contributing to several SDGs.

1. Industrial Effluent Treatment: The launch of a pilot algae wastewater treatment system by PhycoTech in October 2025 targets high-nutrient industrial effluents, advancing SDG 9 by promoting clean and environmentally sound industrial processes.
2. Nutrient Pollution Reduction: In September 2025, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded projects for algae-based bioremediation. This initiative aims to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, directly supporting SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by preventing eutrophication in water bodies.
3. Enhanced Efficiency: Advances in genetically engineered algae strains in August 2025 improved contaminant removal in municipal plants, enhancing the effectiveness of water treatment infrastructure as per SDG 6.

Japan

Japan’s initiatives focus on integrating algae-based solutions into industrial and urban water management systems, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability.

1. Industrial Water Recycling: Mitsubishi Chemical’s development of integrated algae treatment modules in October 2025 promotes industrial water recycling, a key tenet of SDG 12.
2. Sustainable Urban Water Management: Government support for algae-based treatment initiatives, announced in September 2025, is crucial for building resilient and sustainable cities, aligning with SDG 11.
3. Scalable Technology: Collaborations with research institutes in August 2025 to improve scalable algae cultivation techniques are vital for deploying this technology on a large scale, supporting the infrastructure goals of SDG 9.

Asia-Pacific Region

The market in the Asia-Pacific region has shown steady growth, increasing from US$ 0.81 billion in 2022 to US$ 0.84 billion in 2023. This growth indicates a rising regional focus on adopting sustainable water treatment solutions to meet the objectives of SDG 6.

Corporate Strategy and Circular Economy Initiatives

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Investments

Strategic investments and collaborations in 2025 underscore the market’s shift towards a circular economy model, creating value from waste streams.

• Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT): GWT’s vertical conveyor belt systems efficiently remove nutrients, turning a wastewater treatment process into a resource recovery operation, which supports SDG 12.
• Northumbrian Water: A £6.5 million investment in collaboration with BrightWave and Liqoflux to convert sewage-grown algae into sustainable aviation fuel is a landmark achievement. This project contributes to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by creating a renewable fuel source.
• Nippon Denko Co., Ltd.: Support for startups like Galdieria Co., Ltd. advances microalgae-based resource recycling, promoting sustainable industrial practices in line with SDG 9 and SDG 12.

Recent Technological Innovations

• Pacific Bio: An $8.3 million facility opened in 2025 utilizes RegenAqua technology for chemical-free wastewater treatment, producing valuable by-products like liquid fertilizers. This innovation supports SDG 12 and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by returning nutrients to the soil.
• ALGAEZAP 1: The introduction of slow-release bacteria and algae technology minimizes eutrophication in open water bodies, directly protecting aquatic ecosystems as targeted by SDG 14.

Market Segmentation Analysis

By Type

• Macroalgae: 65%
• Microalgae: 35%

By Technology

• Raceway Ponds: 40%
• Photobioreactors: 35%
• Rotating Biofilm Reactors: 25%

By Application

The application of this technology across various sectors demonstrates its wide-ranging impact on achieving sustainability.

• Industrial (38%): Supports SDG 9 by enabling cleaner production processes.
• Municipal (22%): Contributes to SDG 11 by improving urban sanitation infrastructure.
• Agricultural (20%): Aligns with SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 by treating agricultural runoff and enabling water reuse.
• Mining (12%): Addresses environmental challenges in the mining sector, supporting responsible production under SDG 12.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The entire article focuses on algae-based wastewater treatment, a technology designed to purify water and manage sanitation by treating effluents from municipal, industrial, and agricultural sources. This directly aligns with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  The article highlights significant innovation, investment, and development in the wastewater treatment industry. It discusses new technologies like vertical conveyor belt systems and genetically engineered algae, funding for research by the EPA, and collaborations between companies and research institutes, all of which contribute to building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The technology’s application in “municipal wastewater plants” and Japan’s Ministry of Environment supporting initiatives for “sustainable urban water management” directly connect to making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by improving waste management.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article describes circular economy principles in action, such as Northumbrian Water’s project to convert “sewage-grown algae into sustainable aviation fuel” and Pacific Bio’s creation of “liquid fertilizers” as by-products. This demonstrates a shift towards sustainable production patterns and resource recycling.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  By focusing on removing nutrients like “nitrogen and phosphorus” from wastewater, the technology helps prevent and reduce nutrient pollution. The article explicitly mentions that one startup’s technology aims to “minimize eutrophication… in open water bodies,” which is a direct action to protect marine and aquatic ecosystems from land-based pollution.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article’s central theme is the treatment of wastewater from industrial, municipal, and agricultural sources to remove contaminants, directly contributing to improving water quality and enabling water recycling, as seen in Mitsubishi Chemical’s “integrated algae treatment modules for industrial wastewater recycling.”
• Under SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable… with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies. The development and adoption of algae-based systems represent an upgrade to wastewater treatment infrastructure with a clean, environmentally sound technology.
  • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation. The article provides multiple examples, such as EPA funding for projects, collaborations with research institutes in Japan, and startups like Galdieria Co., Ltd. advancing microalgae technology.
• Under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management. The focus on treating “municipal wastewater” and promoting “sustainable urban water management” directly addresses the need for better waste management in cities to reduce their environmental impact.
• Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
  • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The practice of converting waste (sewage) into valuable resources like “sustainable aviation fuel” and “liquid fertilizers” is a clear example of creating a circular economy and using resources more efficiently.
• Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
  • Target 14.1: By 2030, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution. The technology’s ability to efficiently remove “nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus” from wastewater directly tackles nutrient pollution, a primary cause of eutrophication in water bodies.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 6.3:
  • Indicator: Reduction in nutrient concentrations in treated wastewater. The article repeatedly mentions the removal of “nitrogen and phosphorus,” which can be measured to track improvements in water quality.
  • Indicator: Volume of wastewater treated by algae-based systems. The market growth from “$2.65 billion in 2024” to a projected “$4.19 billion by 2032” implies an increasing capacity and volume of treated wastewater.
• For Target 9.4 & 9.5:
  • Indicator: Investment in green technology and R&D. The article provides specific figures, such as Northumbrian Water’s “£6.5 million” investment and Pacific Bio’s “$8.3 million facility,” which serve as direct financial indicators of progress.
  • Indicator: Number of new technologies and innovations launched. The article lists several, including “PhycoTech launched a pilot algae wastewater treatment system” and “Gross-Wen Technologies launched its vertical belt algae system,” which can be counted to measure innovation.
• For Target 12.2:
  • Indicator: Amount of resources recovered from waste. The creation of “sustainable aviation fuel” and “liquid fertilizers” from wastewater treatment by-products can be quantified to measure the efficiency of resource recovery and circular economy practices.
• For Target 14.1:
  • Indicator: Reduction in nutrient load discharged into water bodies. The primary function of the technology is to remove nutrients. Measuring the total reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from treatment facilities using this technology would be a direct indicator of progress toward preventing eutrophication.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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