During its "New Solutions for Water" conference in Hungary, Veolia laid out ambitious plans to accelerate its growth in the water technology sector, with a target to expand at a rate three times faster than the market. This strategic move forms part of Veolia’s broader GreenUp program, aimed at leveraging the expected surge in demand for advanced water treatment solutions.
Several key global trends—ranging from increasing water scarcity and climate change adaptation to health concerns and the rising need for water in strategic industries like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and data centers—are driving this market growth. Veolia estimates that the water technology market is currently valued at approximately €220 billion, with a steady annual growth rate of 2 to 3%.
As the global leader in the sector, Veolia is well-positioned to capitalize on this momentum. The company anticipates an annual growth rate of 6 to 10%, far outpacing the market. Veolia's approach centers on its wide-ranging portfolio of technologies and its ability to create value through the integration of its diverse business operations.
To support this accelerated growth, Veolia is focusing on five key areas of innovation, including:
- Advanced treatment of micropollutants in water, such as PFAS, pesticide residues, endocrine disruptors, and microplastics
- Biological wastewater treatment, water reuse, and bioenergy production from sludge
- Recovery of valuable metals and salts
- Production of ultrapure water for industries like pharmaceuticals and microelectronics
- Energy-efficient desalination solutions to enhance sustainability and performance
“It is crucial to meet the growing demand in key water technology sectors to strengthen the competitiveness of territories and industries and to meet the challenges of sustainable resource management. Thanks to our global technological leadership and the combination of innovations and know-how from all our businesses, we have a unique ability to develop tailor-made offers at the best price for communities and strategic industries such as microelectronics or pharmaceuticals, and to grow two to three times faster than the market,” says Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia.
