United Kingdom (UK) Flue Gas Desulfurization Market Overview, 2031

Key Insights

• According to the research report, "United Kingdom Flue Gas Desulfurization Market Outlook, 2031," published by Bonafide Research, the United Kingdom Flue Gas Desulfurization Market is anticipated to grow at more than 1.81% CAGR from 2026 to 2031.
• The United Kingdom's Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) market is primarily driven by stringent environmental regulations under the Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016 and the Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD). From 1st January 2025, emission limit values for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and dust from existing medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input greater than 5 megawatts came into effect. This regulatory milestone is driving investment in emission-control technologies across industrial sectors.
• The UK's power generation sector has undergone a fundamental transformation, with coal-fired power generation largely phased out. The UK operated its last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, until its closure in September 2024. This structural shift means the UK FGD market is now primarily concentrated in industrial applications including cement manufacturing, steel production, waste-to-energy facilities, and chemical processing, rather than coal-fired power generation.
• The UK cement industry represents a significant end-use sector for FGD technologies. Hanson Cement's Ribblesdale works in Clitheroe, Lancashire, implemented a £6.5 million replacement of its wet gas scrubber – the largest single investment at the site – which removes sulfur and odour from kiln gases. The site was the first UK cement plant to use gas scrubbing technology, installing its first wet scrubber in 1998.
• Integrated steelworks remain among the UK's largest industrial sources of sulfur dioxide emissions, particularly from sinter plants, coke ovens and blast furnace operations
• The UK waste-to-energy sector represents a growing market for flue gas cleaning technologies. In September 2025, Kanadevia Inova completed construction on the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds, featuring the sophisticated XeroSorp® dry flue gas cleaning system. Multiple new waste-to-energy projects across the UK, including Billingham and West Bromwich, are incorporating advanced flue gas cleaning systems.

Market Outlook

• The United Kingdom's Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) market is undergoing a significant structural transformation. With the closure of the UK's last coal-fired power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in September 2024, the market has shifted decisively away from utility-scale coal-fired FGD applications toward industrial emission control across cement manufacturing, steel production, waste-to-energy facilities, chemical processing, and other industrial combustion sectors.
• The UK's waste-to-energy sector represents the most dynamic growth area for flue gas cleaning technologies. In September 2025, Kanadevia Inova completed construction on the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds, a facility processing 410,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually and generating enough electricity to power over 100,000 UK homes. The facility features Kanadevia Inova's advanced moving grate technology and the sophisticated XeroSorp® dry flue gas cleaning system.
• Multiple new waste-to-energy projects are advancing across the UK. In February 2025, CEEC secured a contract for the Billingham 10 MW waste-to-energy project in northeast England, featuring a waste incineration furnace capable of processing 420 tons of waste per day and an 11.5 MW steam turbine generator set, along with a flue gas purification system. Doosan Lentjes has been contracted by Acciona to supply a flue gas cleaning system for a new waste-to-energy plant in West Bromwich. Filter Designs is near completion of a turnkey flue gas cleaning plant for CSS Renewables at a new waste-to-energy plant in Suffolk.
• The UK cement industry continues to invest in emission-control technologies. Hanson Cement's Ribblesdale works in Clitheroe implemented a £6.5 million replacement of its wet gas scrubber, which removes sulfur and odour from kiln gases. The site was the first UK cement plant to use gas scrubbing technology, installing its first wet scrubber in 1998. The UK cement industry continues to operate under the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED), with environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency.
• The UK's integrated steel industry remains an important industrial application for flue gas treatment technologies. Facilities such as Port Talbot and Scunthorpe continue investing in cleaner production technologies, process modernization, and environmental compliance, supporting demand for emission-control systems across sinter plants, coke ovens, and combustion processes.
• The UK industrial air pollution control solution market, which includes FGD and scrubbers, is tracked by industry analysts across multiple applications including power generation, cement, chemical, and iron and steel industries. The market is supported by the UK's robust regulatory framework under the Environmental Permitting Regulations and the Industrial Emissions Directive. The UK FGD market is characterized by retrofit, modernization, and aftermarket opportunities across industrial sectors rather than new coal-fired power plant installations.

Policies & Regulatory Landscape

• Environmental Permitting Regulations (England and Wales) 2016: The EPR 2016 serves as the primary regulatory framework controlling pollution from industry, including power generation, in England and Wales. Sites are required to obtain environmental permits and meet limits on emissions of air pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. In August 2025, the Environment Agency launched a consultation on proposals to modernise the Environmental Permitting Regulations with a view to streamlining regulation, enabling innovation, and supporting the UK's clean energy ambitions.
• Medium Combustion Plant Directive (MCPD) Implementation: From 1st January 2025, emission limit values for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and dust from existing medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input greater than 5 megawatts came into effect. This regulatory milestone requires operators of medium combustion plants between 5 and 50 MW to hold a permit and meet emission limits. From 1st January 2030, emission limit values will apply to existing medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input of 5 megawatts or less.
• Industrial Emissions Directive (IED): The IED remains a significant piece of legislation aimed at reducing pollution from industrial activities. The UK Environment Agency continues to issue environmental permits under the IED, with permits published regularly. The IED establishes Best Available Techniques (BAT) for various industrial sectors, including cement manufacturing and steel production. For cement manufacturing processes, wet scrubbing is an established technique for reducing SO₂ emissions. For iron and steel production, BAT for reducing SOx emissions includes desulphurisation by absorption systems.
• UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS): In May 2025, the UK and EU announced their intention to link the UK and EU ETSs. Initially, the first phase of the UK ETS was due to run from 2021 to 2025 and the second phase from 2026 to 2030. Although the UK ETS regulates greenhouse gas emissions rather than sulfur dioxide directly, investments in cleaner combustion technologies and plant modernization often deliver co-benefits through reduced SO₂ emissions and improved environmental performance.
• Devolved Environmental Regulation: Regulation of emissions of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides is a devolved matter. While the Environmental Permitting Regulations apply to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own regulatory frameworks. The UK Parliament continues to address air quality through written questions and statements.

FGD Procurement & Industry Impact

• The UK's FGD procurement market is increasingly driven by retrofit, modernization, and aftermarket projects across waste-to-energy, cement, steel, and industrial combustion sectors rather than new coal-fired power plant installations. The closure of the UK's last coal-fired power plant in September 2024 has fundamentally reshaped the market toward industrial applications.
• The UK waste-to-energy sector represents the most significant procurement opportunity for flue gas cleaning technologies. Kanadevia Inova completed construction on the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds in September 2025, featuring the XeroSorp® dry flue gas cleaning system. CEEC secured a contract for the Billingham 10 MW waste-to-energy project with a flue gas purification system. Doosan Lentjes was contracted by Acciona to supply a flue gas cleaning system for a new waste-to-energy plant in West Bromwich. Filter Designs is near completion of a turnkey flue gas cleaning plant for CSS Renewables at a new waste-to-energy plant in Suffolk.
• The UK cement industry continues to generate procurement opportunities for FGD technologies. Hanson Cement's Ribblesdale works implemented a £6.5 million replacement of its wet gas scrubber. The UK cement industry continues to operate under IED requirements, with environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency. The replacement of wet scrubbers and other emission-control equipment represents ongoing procurement opportunities across the cement sector.
• The UK steel industry continues to require emission-control technologies, with the sector contributing approximately 17% of UK SO₂ emissions. Major integrated steelworks including Port Talbot (4.9 million tonnes capacity) and Scunthorpe (4.5 million tonnes capacity) represent significant procurement opportunities for FGD and emission-control systems. In November 2024, British Steel launched a carbon capture trial at its Scunthorpe plant using technology developed by the University of Sheffield.
• The UK aftermarket remains a significant revenue source for FGD suppliers, with growing demand for spare parts, consumables, inspection services, equipment refurbishment, and digital monitoring solutions. Major Global players active in the UK market include Babcock & Wilcox, Mitsubishi Power, ANDRITZ AG, and Doosan Lentjes. Babcock & Wilcox has operated wet FGD systems since 1971, with current designs achieving more than 99% SO₂ removal.

Industry News

• September 2025: Kanadevia Inova completed construction on the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds, a facility processing 410,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste annually and generating enough electricity to power over 100,000 UK homes. The facility features the XeroSorp® dry flue gas cleaning system.
• August 2025: The Environment Agency launched a consultation on proposals to modernise the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016, with a view to streamlining regulation, enabling innovation, and supporting the UK's clean energy ambitions.
• May 2025: The UK and EU announced their intention to link the UK and EU Emissions Trading Schemes.
• February 2025: CEEC secured a contract for the Billingham 10 MW waste-to-energy project in northeast England, featuring a waste incineration furnace capable of processing 420 tons of waste per day and an 11.5 MW steam turbine generator set with a flue gas purification system.
• January 2025: From 1st January 2025, emission limit values for sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and dust from existing medium combustion plants with a rated thermal input greater than 5 megawatts came into effect. The UK government published updated guidance on obtaining environmental permits for Medium Combustion Plants.
• 2025: Doosan Lentjes was contracted by Acciona to supply a flue gas cleaning system for a new waste-to-energy plant in West Bromwich, UK.
• 2025: Filter Designs is near completion of a turnkey flue gas cleaning plant for CSS Renewables at a new waste-to-energy plant in Suffolk.
• 2024: The UK's last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, closed in September 2024, marking the end of coal-fired power generation in the UK.

Segment Analysis

United Kingdom Flue Gas Desulfurization Market By Technology
• Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems remain the preferred SO₂ control technology for large industrial facilities, including cement plants and steelworks, because of their ability to routinely achieve over 90% SO₂ removal efficiency. Babcock & Wilcox, a heritage leader in FGD system design, has operated wet FGD systems since 1971, with current designs achieving more than 99% SO₂ removal and system availability greater than 99.5%. For cement manufacturing processes, wet scrubbing is an established technique for reducing SO₂ emissions. Hanson Cement's Ribblesdale works implemented a £6.5 million wet gas scrubber replacement.
• Spray Dry Absorber (SDA) and semi-dry systems are deployed across medium-capacity industrial facilities, waste-to-energy plants, and selected industrial applications where lower water consumption and simpler operation are priorities. Semi-dry systems provide an effective balance between emission reduction, operating cost, and installation flexibility, making them suitable for retrofit projects across the UK's industrial sector.
• Dry and Semi-Dry FGD technologies continue to support emission control across waste-to-energy, cement manufacturing, chemical processing, and other industrial facilities. The XeroSorp® dry flue gas cleaning system deployed at the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds demonstrates the growing adoption of dry technologies in the UK waste-to-energy sector.
United Kingdom Flue Gas Desulfurization Market By End-use Industry
• Waste-to-Energy represents the fastest-growing end-use sector for flue gas cleaning technologies in the UK. Kanadevia Inova completed construction on the Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds in September 2025. CEEC secured a contract for the Billingham 10 MW waste-to-energy project with a flue gas purification system. Doosan Lentjes was contracted to supply a flue gas cleaning system for a new waste-to-energy plant in West Bromwich. Filter Designs is near completion of a turnkey flue gas cleaning plant for CSS Renewables in Suffolk. The Grimsby Energy from Waste facility uses hydrated lime for flue gas treatment, reducing acid gas emissions including sulfuric acids.
• Cement Manufacturing represents a significant end-use sector for FGD technologies in the UK. Hanson Cement's Ribblesdale works in Clitheroe, Lancashire, implemented a £6.5 million replacement of its wet gas scrubber. The site was the first UK cement plant to use gas scrubbing technology, installing its first wet scrubber in 1998. The UK cement industry operates under IED requirements, with environmental permits issued by the Environment Agency.
• Steel Production continues to generate demand for flue gas treatment and emission-control technologies. Integrated steelworks remain important users of industrial sulfur dioxide (SO₂) control systems because emissions arise from sinter plants, coke ovens, blast furnaces, and other combustion processes. Major integrated steelmaking facilities include Port Talbot and Scunthorpe, which continue to invest in environmental upgrades, process modernization, and cleaner production technologies. Environmental permits based on Best Available Techniques (BAT) under the Industrial Emissions Directive continue to support investments in emission-control systems, with desulphurisation by absorption and other flue gas cleaning technologies remaining established methods for reducing SOₓ emissions from integrated steel production.
• Power Generation represents a declining end-use sector for FGD systems in the UK following the closure of the last coal-fired power plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in September 2024. While the UK power sector historically deployed significant FGD capacity, current FGD demand is primarily driven by industrial applications rather than utility-scale power generation.
United Kingdom Flue Gas Desulfurization Market By Installation Type
• Brownfield Installations dominate the UK FGD market as industrial operators prioritize modernization of existing emission-control systems over construction of new coal-fired facilities. Investments focus on absorber refurbishment, slurry pumps, mist eliminators, corrosion-resistant materials, process controls, and digital monitoring systems to improve reliability, efficiency, and regulatory compliance across aging industrial assets. Hanson Cement's £6.5 million wet gas scrubber replacement at Ribblesdale works exemplifies brownfield investment. The MCPD requirements from January 2025 are accelerating brownfield retrofits across medium combustion plants.
• Greenfield Installations account for a growing share of the UK market, primarily associated with new waste-to-energy facilities and industrial expansion projects. The Skelton Grange Waste to Energy Hub in Leeds, completed in September 2025, represents a significant greenfield opportunity for advanced flue gas cleaning technologies. The Billingham waste-to-energy project, the West Bromwich waste-to-energy plant, and the Suffolk waste-to-energy plant represent additional greenfield installations with flue gas cleaning systems. Greenfield FGD installations are expected to remain concentrated within waste-to-energy and industrial expansion projects rather than new fossil-fuel power generation.


Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2020
• Base year: 2025
• Estimated year: 2026
• Forecast year: 2031



Aspects covered in this report
• Flue Gas Desulfurization Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Technology
• Wet FGD Systems
• Spray Dry FGD Systems
• Dry & Semi-Dry FGD Systems

By End-use Industry
• Power Generation
• Cement
• Iron & Steel
• Chemical & Petrochemical
• Metal Processing & Mining
• Oil & Gas Refineries
• Waste-to-Energy
• Others



By Installation
• Greenfield
• Brownfield (Retrofit)