Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Size and Outlook 2031

Report Description

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 750.53 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.99%
Fastest Growing Segment	Ultra Supercritical
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 1328.88 Million

Market Overview

The Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market will grow from USD 750.53 Million in 2025 to USD 1328.88 Million by 2031 at a 9.99% CAGR. Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) boilers are industrial combustion systems that utilize a suspended bed of solid particles to facilitate efficient fuel burning at controlled temperatures. The primary drivers supporting market growth include the critical need for fuel flexibility, which allows operators to utilize diverse feedstocks such as low-grade coal, biomass, and refuse-derived fuel. Furthermore, stringent environmental mandates regarding emissions compel industries to adopt this technology due to its inherent ability to capture sulfur dioxide and minimize nitrogen oxide formation during the combustion process.

One significant challenge impeding broader market expansion is the substantial initial capital investment and higher maintenance costs associated with the refractory lining compared to conventional pulverized coal units. Despite these financial hurdles, the requirement for reliable baseload power sustains the sector. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2024, global electricity generation from coal was projected to reach a record level of 10,700 terawatt-hours. This persistent reliance on thermal power underscores the continued necessity for efficient combustion technologies in the global energy infrastructure.

Key Market Drivers

The increasing adoption of biomass and waste-to-energy power generation technologies serves as a primary growth catalyst for the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market. CFB boilers are technically superior for this application due to their high fuel flexibility, which enables the efficient combustion of diverse, low-grade feedstocks such as agricultural residues and refuse-derived fuel. This operational advantage drives substantial investment in modernizing existing infrastructure to meet renewable energy targets. For example, according to Sumitomo SHI FW, March 2025, in the 'Sumitomo SHI FW and Fortum partner to decarbonize the Częstochowa CHP plant' press release, the company signed a turnkey contract worth approximately 100 million euros to convert a CFB boiler in Poland to operate on 100% certified renewable biomass.

Concurrently, the implementation of stringent environmental regulations mandating low emission standards is forcing heavy industries and utilities to upgrade their combustion systems. Regulatory bodies are increasingly enforcing compliance measures that necessitate the retrofitting of coal-fired units or the integration of co-firing capabilities to mitigate pollution. According to Bioenergy Insight, August 2025, in the '71 thermal power plants across India now co-fire biomass, says CAQM' article, strict government mandates led to 71 thermal power plants in India adopting biomass co-firing mechanisms. This regulatory push is supporting extensive capacity expansion in key regions; according to the Global Times, in 2025, the total number of waste incineration plants in China had reached 1,010, underscoring the rapid deployment of advanced boiler technologies to address environmental challenges.

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Key Market Challenges

The substantial initial capital investment and elevated maintenance expenses, particularly those linked to refractory lining wear, constitute a formidable barrier to the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boilers Market. These financial requirements significantly increase the Levelized Cost of Electricity, making CFB technology less economically attractive compared to conventional pulverized coal systems or increasingly cost-competitive renewable energy solutions. For power plant operators and industrial users, the prospect of frequent downtime for complex refractory repairs translates into unpredictable operational expenditure and reduced availability, which directly undermines the economic feasibility of new projects.

This heavy financial burden forces capital allocations toward more cost-effective energy alternatives, thereby stifling the deployment rate of CFB units even in dominant markets. The impact of these economic constraints is evident in the slowing expansion of thermal power relative to other technologies. According to the China Electricity Council, in 2024, coal-fired power capacity accounted for 35.7 percent of the country's total installed power generation capacity, representing a year-on-year decrease of 4.2 percentage points. This decline in market share underscores how the high cost structures associated with advanced combustion technologies are actively discouraging broader financial commitment and impeding the sector's ability to keep pace with more affordable infrastructure developments.

Key Market Trends

The market is witnessing a decisive structural shift towards Ultra-Supercritical (USC) and Supercritical CFB technologies, driven by the imperative to maximize thermodynamic efficiency and scale up unit capacities. Manufacturers are successfully overcoming previous engineering limitations to deploy large-scale CFB units that rival the thermal performance of conventional pulverized coal systems while retaining superior emissions control profiles. This technological progression is exemplified by recent industrial milestones; according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, March 2025, in the 'World's First 700MW Ultra-Supercritical CFB Coal-Fired Power Unit Connected to Grid' announcement, Dongfang Electric Corporation successfully connected a massive 700-megawatt ultra-supercritical CFB boiler to the power grid, setting a new global benchmark for capacity in fluidized bed combustion.

Simultaneously, the integration of Artificial Intelligence and IoT for predictive maintenance is reshaping the operational landscape, allowing utilities to manage the complexities of flexible load cycling in renewable-heavy grids. Advanced digital twins and automated control systems are being deployed to monitor component health in real-time, thereby preventing tube failures and optimizing combustion stability during rapid ramp-up periods. Emphasizing this digital transformation, according to Valmet, September 2025, in the 'Valmet showcased a solution to enhance thermal power flexibility and efficiency at Flex India 2025' press release, the company revealed that its advanced automation collaborations now support flexible operations for over 4,260 megawatts of installed power capacity, leveraging smart technologies to minimize downtime and enhance plant responsiveness.

Segmental Insights

The Ultra Supercritical segment is currently the fastest-growing category in the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, primarily driven by the escalating demand for High-Efficiency Low-Emission (HELE) power generation technologies. By operating at elevated steam pressures and temperatures, these boilers achieve superior thermodynamic efficiency compared to subcritical counterparts, allowing energy producers to maximize output while minimizing fuel consumption. This shift is accelerating as utilities seek compliance with stringent decarbonization mandates and environmental standards set by national governments and organizations like the International Energy Agency, which advocate for cleaner thermal energy transitions.

Regional Insights

North America leads the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) Boilers Market, driven by stringent environmental mandates and a strong industrial shift toward sustainable energy. This regional dominance is largely supported by the enforcement of rigorous emission standards by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which compels power generation and industrial facilities to adopt cleaner combustion technologies. CFB boilers are heavily utilized for their ability to significantly mitigate sulfur and nitrogen oxide emissions while offering high fuel flexibility. This capability allows operators to efficiently burn diverse feedstocks, including biomass and waste materials, aligning with the region's ambitious carbon reduction goals.

Recent Developments

In October 2025, Sumitomo SHI FW was selected to supply a new biomass-fueled circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler plant for a pulp and paper mill in Ružomberok, Slovakia. The boiler will replace an existing bark boiler and is designed to increase the mill's energy self-sufficiency from 75% to 90% while enabling the supply of fossil-free district heating to the surrounding community. The project will also improve air quality by significantly reducing dust and nitrogen oxide emissions. The new facility is expected to start commercial operations by 2027, supporting the client's transition toward sustainable energy production.
In March 2025, Sumitomo SHI FW signed a turnkey contract worth approximately €100 million to modernize a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler at a combined heat and power plant in Częstochowa, Poland. The decarbonization project entails converting the boiler's fuel mix from a coal-biomass blend to 100% certified renewable biomass, which is expected to reduce the plant's carbon dioxide emissions by 99%. The scope of work includes a comprehensive upgrade of the fuel feeding system, furnace enhancements, and improvements to the air and flue gas cleaning systems, with commercial operations anticipated to begin in late 2026.
In December 2024, Harbin Electric Corporation successfully completed the 168-hour full-load trial operation of the world's first 660 MW high-efficiency ultra-supercritical circulating fluidized bed (CFB) power generation unit at the Binchang Power Plant in Shaanxi, China. The domestically developed boiler achieves a main steam pressure of 29.3 MPa and temperatures exceeding 600°C, setting a new global benchmark for CFB parameters and capacity. Designed to utilize low-calorific coal and mining residues, the unit incorporates advanced desulfurization efficiency to ensure ultra-low emissions, demonstrating the viability of large-scale CFB technology for cleaner industrial power generation.
In February 2024, Valmet agreed to supply a partial bioconversion retrofit for a coal-fired circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boiler at a power plant in Babelan, Indonesia. The project involves the engineering and installation of a new biomass fuel feeding system and a flue gas recirculation system to enable the co-firing of woodchips and other biofuels. This modification will allow the operator to replace up to 25% of the coal consumption with renewable fuels, supporting their target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030. The upgraded boiler is scheduled to commence operations in the first quarter of 2025.

Key Market Players

Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd.
Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd.
Harbin Boiler Co., Ltd.
Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.
Alstom SA
Amec Foster Wheeler plc
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Thermax Limited
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd

By Product	By Feedstock	By Capacity	By Fuel Type	By Application	By Region
Subcritical Supercritical Ultra Supercritical	Coal Petcoke Biomass	Less than 100 MW 100-200 MW 200-300 MW 300 MW & Above	Coal Biomass Others	Energy & Power Oil & Gas Industrial Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Product:

Subcritical
Supercritical
Ultra Supercritical

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Feedstock:

Coal
Petcoke
Biomass

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Capacity:

Less than 100 MW
100-200 MW
200-300 MW
300 MW & Above

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Fuel Type:

Coal
Biomass
Others

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Application:

Energy & Power
Oil & Gas
Industrial
Others

Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market, By Region:

North America

United States
Canada
Mexico

Europe

France
United Kingdom
Italy
Germany
Spain

Asia Pacific

China
India
Japan
Australia
South Korea

South America

Brazil
Argentina
Colombia

Middle East & Africa

South Africa
Saudi Arabia
UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market is an upcoming report to be released soon. If you wish an early delivery of this report or want to confirm the date of release, please contact us at [email protected]

Table of content

1. Product Overview

1.1. Market Definition

1.2. Scope of the Market

1.2.1. Markets Covered

1.2.2. Years Considered for Study

1.2.3. Key Market Segmentations

2. Research Methodology

2.1. Objective of the Study

2.2. Baseline Methodology

2.3. Key Industry Partners

2.4. Major Association and Secondary Sources

2.5. Forecasting Methodology

2.6. Data Triangulation & Validation

2.7. Assumptions and Limitations

3. Executive Summary

3.1. Overview of the Market

3.2. Overview of Key Market Segmentations

3.3. Overview of Key Market Players

3.4. Overview of Key Regions/Countries

3.5. Overview of Market Drivers, Challenges, Trends

4. Voice of Customer

5. Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

5.1. Market Size & Forecast

5.1.1. By Value

5.2. Market Share & Forecast

5.2.1. By Product (Subcritical, Supercritical, Ultra Supercritical)

5.2.2. By Feedstock (Coal, Petcoke, Biomass)

5.2.3. By Capacity (Less than 100 MW, 100-200 MW, 200-300 MW, 300 MW & Above)

5.2.4. By Fuel Type (Coal, Biomass, Others)

5.2.5. By Application (Energy & Power, Oil & Gas, Industrial, Others)

5.2.6. By Region

5.2.7. By Company (2025)

5.3. Market Map

6. North America Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Product

6.2.2. By Feedstock

6.2.3. By Capacity

6.2.4. By Fuel Type

6.2.5. By Application

6.2.6. By Country

6.3. North America: Country Analysis

6.3.1. United States Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

6.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.1.1.1. By Value

6.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.1.2.1. By Product

6.3.1.2.2. By Feedstock

6.3.1.2.3. By Capacity

6.3.1.2.4. By Fuel Type

6.3.1.2.5. By Application

6.3.2. Canada Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

6.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.2.1.1. By Value

6.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.2.2.1. By Product

6.3.2.2.2. By Feedstock

6.3.2.2.3. By Capacity

6.3.2.2.4. By Fuel Type

6.3.2.2.5. By Application

6.3.3. Mexico Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

6.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.3.3.1.1. By Value

6.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.3.3.2.1. By Product

6.3.3.2.2. By Feedstock

6.3.3.2.3. By Capacity

6.3.3.2.4. By Fuel Type

6.3.3.2.5. By Application

7. Europe Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Product

7.2.2. By Feedstock

7.2.3. By Capacity

7.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.2.5. By Application

7.2.6. By Country

7.3. Europe: Country Analysis

7.3.1. Germany Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.1.1.1. By Value

7.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.1.2.1. By Product

7.3.1.2.2. By Feedstock

7.3.1.2.3. By Capacity

7.3.1.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.3.1.2.5. By Application

7.3.2. France Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.2.1.1. By Value

7.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.2.2.1. By Product

7.3.2.2.2. By Feedstock

7.3.2.2.3. By Capacity

7.3.2.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.3.2.2.5. By Application

7.3.3. United Kingdom Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.3.1.1. By Value

7.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.3.2.1. By Product

7.3.3.2.2. By Feedstock

7.3.3.2.3. By Capacity

7.3.3.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.3.3.2.5. By Application

7.3.4. Italy Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.4.1.1. By Value

7.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.4.2.1. By Product

7.3.4.2.2. By Feedstock

7.3.4.2.3. By Capacity

7.3.4.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.3.4.2.5. By Application

7.3.5. Spain Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

7.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.3.5.1.1. By Value

7.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.3.5.2.1. By Product

7.3.5.2.2. By Feedstock

7.3.5.2.3. By Capacity

7.3.5.2.4. By Fuel Type

7.3.5.2.5. By Application

8. Asia Pacific Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Product

8.2.2. By Feedstock

8.2.3. By Capacity

8.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.2.5. By Application

8.2.6. By Country

8.3. Asia Pacific: Country Analysis

8.3.1. China Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.1.1.1. By Value

8.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.1.2.1. By Product

8.3.1.2.2. By Feedstock

8.3.1.2.3. By Capacity

8.3.1.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.3.1.2.5. By Application

8.3.2. India Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.2.1.1. By Value

8.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.2.2.1. By Product

8.3.2.2.2. By Feedstock

8.3.2.2.3. By Capacity

8.3.2.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.3.2.2.5. By Application

8.3.3. Japan Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.3.1.1. By Value

8.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.3.2.1. By Product

8.3.3.2.2. By Feedstock

8.3.3.2.3. By Capacity

8.3.3.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.3.3.2.5. By Application

8.3.4. South Korea Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.3.4.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.4.1.1. By Value

8.3.4.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.4.2.1. By Product

8.3.4.2.2. By Feedstock

8.3.4.2.3. By Capacity

8.3.4.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.3.4.2.5. By Application

8.3.5. Australia Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

8.3.5.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.3.5.1.1. By Value

8.3.5.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.3.5.2.1. By Product

8.3.5.2.2. By Feedstock

8.3.5.2.3. By Capacity

8.3.5.2.4. By Fuel Type

8.3.5.2.5. By Application

9. Middle East & Africa Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.1.1. By Value

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.2.1. By Product

9.2.2. By Feedstock

9.2.3. By Capacity

9.2.4. By Fuel Type

9.2.5. By Application

9.2.6. By Country

9.3. Middle East & Africa: Country Analysis

9.3.1. Saudi Arabia Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

9.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.1.1.1. By Value

9.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.1.2.1. By Product

9.3.1.2.2. By Feedstock

9.3.1.2.3. By Capacity

9.3.1.2.4. By Fuel Type

9.3.1.2.5. By Application

9.3.2. UAE Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

9.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.2.1.1. By Value

9.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.2.2.1. By Product

9.3.2.2.2. By Feedstock

9.3.2.2.3. By Capacity

9.3.2.2.4. By Fuel Type

9.3.2.2.5. By Application

9.3.3. South Africa Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

9.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.3.3.1.1. By Value

9.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.3.3.2.1. By Product

9.3.3.2.2. By Feedstock

9.3.3.2.3. By Capacity

9.3.3.2.4. By Fuel Type

9.3.3.2.5. By Application

10. South America Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.1.1. By Value

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.2.1. By Product

10.2.2. By Feedstock

10.2.3. By Capacity

10.2.4. By Fuel Type

10.2.5. By Application

10.2.6. By Country

10.3. South America: Country Analysis

10.3.1. Brazil Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

10.3.1.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.1.1.1. By Value

10.3.1.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.1.2.1. By Product

10.3.1.2.2. By Feedstock

10.3.1.2.3. By Capacity

10.3.1.2.4. By Fuel Type

10.3.1.2.5. By Application

10.3.2. Colombia Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

10.3.2.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.2.1.1. By Value

10.3.2.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.2.2.1. By Product

10.3.2.2.2. By Feedstock

10.3.2.2.3. By Capacity

10.3.2.2.4. By Fuel Type

10.3.2.2.5. By Application

10.3.3. Argentina Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market Outlook

10.3.3.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.3.3.1.1. By Value

10.3.3.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.3.3.2.1. By Product

10.3.3.2.2. By Feedstock

10.3.3.2.3. By Capacity

10.3.3.2.4. By Fuel Type

10.3.3.2.5. By Application

11. Market Dynamics

11.1. Drivers

11.2. Challenges

12. Market Trends & Developments

12.1. Merger & Acquisition (If Any)

12.2. Product Launches (If Any)

12.3. Recent Developments

13. Global Circulating Fluidized Bed Boilers Market: SWOT Analysis

14. Porter's Five Forces Analysis

14.1. Competition in the Industry

14.2. Potential of New Entrants

14.3. Power of Suppliers

14.4. Power of Customers

14.5. Threat of Substitute Products

15. Competitive Landscape

15.1. Dongfang Boiler Group Co., Ltd.

15.1.1. Business Overview

15.1.2. Products & Services

15.1.3. Recent Developments

15.1.4. Key Personnel

15.1.5. SWOT Analysis

15.2. Shanghai Boiler Works Co., Ltd.

15.3. Harbin Boiler Co., Ltd.

15.4. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc.

15.5. Alstom SA

15.6. Amec Foster Wheeler plc

15.7. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

15.8. Thermax Limited

15.9. Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited

15.10. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd

16. Strategic Recommendations

17. About Us & Disclaimer

Report Description

Table of content

Figures and Tables

Frequently asked questions

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