Chapter 5: Slovakia
(continued)
Demand in the air sector was found to be moderate, with technologies related to gaseous emissions in higher demand than products related to ambient air. High demand was identified for instrumentation and process control/software for gaseous emissions. Growing demand was expected for technologies related to emission abatement and cleaner production; equipment for air sampling/laboratory analysis for both ambient air and gaseous emisions; and air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment. Demand for air pollution control equipment in the energy sector is likely to grow due to upcoming new and stricter regulations on air emissions.
Demand for water and wastewater technologies was high. Technologies for industrial and municipal wastewater treatment tended to be in higher demand than those related to potable water and surface and ground water. High demand was identified for technologies for inspection and reconditioning of existing water supply and municipal wastewater collection networks; monitoring equipment for industrial wastewater; equipment for clean-up, decontamination, and quality restoration of surface and ground water; and for technologies for the construction of municipal and industrial wastewater collection networks. Increasing demand was expected for technologies related to standard wastewater treatment processes for water and wastewater; instrumentation, process control, and software for industrial wastewater; and sampling/laboratory analysis equipment. A growth in demand was also expected for technologies related to the construction of water supply networks; sludge treatment and disposal of municipal and industrial wastewater); and advanced (tertiary) treatment processes for water and wastewater.
Demand for waste management technologies was found to be highest among the five surveyed sectors. Significant opportunities are expected in hazardous waste disposal, followed by radioactive and industrial waste management. Very high demand was identified for technologies related to landfill disposal (all waste categories); equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste site remediation and contaminated land clean-up; equipment for waste collection/transportation and storage (all waste categories); and technologies related to recycling and resource recovery in the area of hazardous waste. Other technologies in high demand included pollution prevention/waste minimization equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste; equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste site monitoring, and radioactive waste sample analysis/waste characterization; and technologies for hazardous waste incineration.
Increasing demand was expected for technologies related to spillage control/decontamination for industrial, hazardous, and radioactive waste; technologies for recycling and resource recovery for industrial and municipal waste; sample analysis/waste characterization equipment for industrial and municipal waste; and equipment related to industrial waste site monitoring, remediation, and clean-up.
Demand for energy-related technologies was generally moderate. Specific technologies in high demand included: new/efficient energy and heat generation systems; and alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants. Growing demand was expected for instrumentation; process management and control equipment; and, in "other industrial sectors" for technologies related to retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing systems. Surprisingly, only moderate demand was identified for heat recovery and energy savings technologies, and for retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing systems in the energy sector.
Demand for technologies related to noise, vibration, and occupational health and safety was low.
The following scale was used in ranking: 5 - highest, and rapidly growing demand, 4 - high demand, likely to grow, 3 - moderate, slowly growing demand, 2 - low demand, will not grow, 1 - very low and decreasing demand, blank - no opinion.
The first figure in the tables show the average score, while those in brackets indicate the number of responses.
| TABLE 5.15: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - AIR | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ambient air | Gaseous emissions | |
| Air sampling/laboratory analysis | 3.5 (13) | 3.7 (11) |
| Continuous-basis monitoring | 3.1 (15) | 2.2 (12) |
| Air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment (e.g. filters, scrubbers) | 3.2 (12) | 3.6 (12) |
| Gas detection/warning devices | 2.4 (9) | 3.3 (9) |
| Emission abatement/cleaner production (e.g. low emission burners) | 2.7 (11) | 3.7 (12) |
| Instrumentation and process control/software | 3.3 (13) | 4.1 (6) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 Instrumentation and process control/software (gaseous emissions) Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #2 Emission abatement/cleaner production (gaseous emissions); #3 Air sampling/laboratory analysis (gaseous emissions and ambient air); #4 Air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment (gaseous emissions). |
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High demand was identified for instrumentation, and process control/software for gaseous emissions. Increasing demand was expected for technologies related to emission abatement and cleaner production; equipment for air sampling/laboratory analysis for both ambient air and gaseous emisions; and air pollution control/flue gas purification equipment.
It is worth to note that demand for air pollution control in the energy sector is likely to grow due to upcoming new and stricter regulations on air emissions. Existing power plants (including those under construction and which will be operational before March 31, 1998) have to comply with new air emission standards for existing sources by Dec. 31, 1998. All new plants constructed after March 31, 1998 are subject to even stricter standards. Existing sources will then be required to meet the standards for new sources by Dec. 31, 2009.
| TABLE 5.16: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - WATER AND WASTEWATER | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surface and Ground Water | Potable (Drinking) Water | Municipal Wastewater | Industrial Wastewater | |
| Monitoring | 3.5 (20) | 3.6 (17) | 3.4 (13) | 4.3 (15) |
| Sampling/laboratory analysis | 3.4 (16) | 3.8 (13) | 3.8 (12) | 3.6 (16) |
| Construction of collection/supply networks | 3.2 (8) | 3.8 (11) | 4.0 (13) | 4.0 (11) |
| Inspection and reconditioning of existing supply and collection network | 3.0 (7) | 4.4 (9) | 4.1 (10) | 3.7 (9) |
| Standard physical, chemical and biological treatment processes | 3.0 (10) | 3.6 (9) | 3.9 (14) | 3.9 (16) |
| Advanced (tertiary) treatment processes (e.g. UV/ozonation, activated carbon, phosphate removal, reverse osmosis) | 3.7 (6) | 3.6 (10) | 3.7 (12) | 3.6 (16) |
| Sludge treatment and disposal | 3.5 (8) | 3.8 (7) | 3.7 (16) | 3.6 (11) |
| Pollution prevention/waste minimization | 3.3 (9) | 3.5 (8) | 3.6 (10) | 3.4 (16) |
| Water recycling and reuse | 3.1 (9) | 3.3 (8) | 3.0 (10) | 3.4 (18) |
| Containment/clean-up | 4.1 (19) | 4.0 (18) | 4.0 (12) | 3.7 (21) |
| Quality restoration and decontamination | 4.3 (14) | 3.9 (12) | 3.6 (9) | 4.0 (13) |
| Instrumentation/process control/software | 3.3 (12) | 3.5 (11) | 3.6 (13) | 3.9 (16) |
| Technologies in high demand:#1 Inspection and reconditioning of existing water supply and municipal wastewater collection networks; #2 Monitoring (industrial wastewater); #3 Clean-up, decontamination, and quality restoration (surface and ground water); #4 Construction of municipal and industrial wastewater collection networks; Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #5 Standard wastewater treatment processes for water and wastewater; #6 Instrumentation, process control, and software (industrial wastewater); #7 Sampling/laboratory analysis; #8 Construction of water supply networks; #9 Sludge treatment and disposal (municipal and industrial wastewater); #10 Advanced (tertiary) treatment processes for water and wastewater. |
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High demand was identified for technologies for inspection and reconditioning of existing water supply and municipal wastewater collection networks; monitoring equipment for industrial wastewater; equipment for clean-up, decontamination, and quality restoration of surface and ground water; and technologies for the construction of municipal and industrial wastewater collection networks.
Increasing demand was expected for technologies related to standard wastewater treatment processes for water and wastewater; instrumentation, process control, and software for industrial wastewater; and sampling/laboratory analysis equipment. A growth in demand was also expected for technologies related to the construction of water supply networks; sludge treatment and disposal (municipal and industrial wastewater); and advanced (tertiary) treatment processes for water and wastewater.
Many respondents stressed the need for the reconditioning of existing networks for drinking water supply and collection of municipal wastewater. Water losses in distribution networks are estimated at 20 percent, and seepage of sewage into the ground is also a significant problem. Demand for spill control/containment/clean-up and decontamination in all sub-categories was high as well.
Surprisingly, compared to other technologies in this category, demand ratings were relatively low for advanced treatment processes, and for water recycling and reuse technologies. However, several respondents expressed an opinion that the demand for waste minimization and water recycling and reuse technologies will increase as prices of water supply and fees for wastewater discharge rise.
| TABLE 5.17: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - WASTE MANAGEMENT | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Municipal Solid Waste | Industrial Waste | Hazardous Waste | Radioactive Waste | |
| Waste collection/transportation and storage | 4.0 (20) | 4.0 (19) | 4.6 (19) | 4.6 (14) |
| Sample analysis/waste characterization | 3.7 (17) | 3.7 (20) | 3.3 (22) | 4.2 (11) |
| Site monitoring | 3.4 (18) | 3.7 (17) | 4.0 (17) | 4.1 (13) |
| Landfill disposal | 4.0 (19) | 4.1 (19) | 4.9 (17) | 4.2 (15) |
| Incineration | 3.5 (17) | 3.2 (20) | 4.0 (18) | 3.7 (6) |
| Composting/biomass conversion | 3.0 (16) | 2.6 (12) | 3.2 (8) | 3.0 (3) |
| Pollution prevention/waste minimization | 3.6 (15) | 3.6 (18) | 4.1 (15) | 4.3 (8) |
| Recycling/resource recovery | 3.7 (18) | 3.9 (22) | 4.3 (16) | 3.4 (10) |
| Spillage control/decontamination | 3.2 (19) | 3.9 (18) | 3.8 (18) | 3.9 (13) |
| Site remediation/clean-up of contaminated land | 3.5 (22) | 3.8 (18) | 4.3 (18) | 4.7 (12) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 Landfill disposal (all waste categories); #2 Site remediation/clean-up of contaminated land (hazardous waste and radioactive waste); #3 Waste collection/ transportation and storage (all waste categories); #4 Recycling and resource recovery (hazardous waste); #5 Pollution prevention/ waste minimization (hazardous waste and radioactive waste); #6 Site monitoring (hazardous waste and radioactive waste); #7 Sample analysis/waste characterization (radioactive waste); #8 Hazardous waste incineration. Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #9 Spillage control/decontamination (industrial, hazardous, and radioactive waste); #10 Recycling and resource recovery (industrial and municipal waste); #11 Sample analysis/waste characterization (industrial and municipal waste); #12 Industrial waste site monitoring, remediation, and clean-up. |
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The demand identified for waste management technologies was found to be high. Significant opportunities are expected in hazardous waste disposal (practically all technologies related to hazardous waste were in high demand), followed by radioactive and industrial waste management.
Very high demand was identified for technologies related to landfill disposal (all waste categories); equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste site remediation and contaminated land clean-up; equipment for waste collection/transportation and storage (all waste categories); and technologies related to recycling and resource recovery in the area of hazardous waste. Other technologies in high demand included pollution prevention/waste minimization equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste; equipment for hazardous and radioactive waste site monitoring, and radioactive waste sample analysis/waste characterization; and technologies for hazardous waste incineration.
Increasing demand was expected for technologies related to spillage control/decontamination for industrial, hazardous, and radioactive waste; technologies for recycling and resource recovery for industrial and municipal waste; sample analysis/waste characterization equipment for industrial and municipal waste; and equipment related to industrial waste site monitoring, remediation, and clean-up.
Disposal of radioactive waste is an acute problem at present and technology demand was estimated to be between high and very high. However, although disposal of radioactive waste is a priority issue for the government, in general, the field does not account for a major portion of the waste management market.
| TABLE 5.18: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - ENERGY | ||
|---|---|---|
| Energy and Power Generation | Other Industrial Sectors (e.g. manufacturing, chemicals) | |
| New/efficient energy and heat generation systems | 3.4 (12) | 5.0 (6) |
| Retrofitting/rehabilitation of existing systems | 3.1 (13) | 3.6 (6) |
| Process management and control (e.g. tune-ups, process optimization) | 3.3 (14) | 3.8 (9) |
| Heat recovery and energy savings (e.g. insulation) | 3.2 (12) | 3.0 (8) |
| Alternative/renewable energy systems (e.g. geothermal, biomass, solar) | 2.3 (10) | 2.8 (7) |
| Alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants | 3.4 (7) | 4.2 (6) |
| Instrumentation | 3.0 (10) | 3.9 (9) |
| Technologies in high demand: #1 New/efficient energy and heat generation systems; #2 Alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants. Technologies where demand is expected to rise: #3 Instrumentation; #4 Process management and control; #5 Retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing systems. |
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Specific technologies in high demand included: new/efficient energy and heat generation systems; and alternative (non-CFC) refrigerants. Growing demand was expected for instrumentation; process management and control equipment; and technologies related to retrofitting and rehabilitation of existing systems.
Surprisingly, only moderate demand was identified for heat recovery and energy savings technologies. This area was usually ranked higher in the other surveyed countries. Technologies for the use of alternative energy sources were in low demand.
As regards the relatively low demand identified for environmental technologies in the energy and power generation (especially compared to "other industrial sectors"), the findings most likely resulted from the fact that small and medium-sized companies (the majority of survey respondents) have little knowledge of the problems within the state-controlled energy sector, and do not expect to take part in multi-million Crown projects; hence, the lower ratings. In the researcher's opinion, the received responses do not adequately reflect the high investment needs in the energy sector, as outlined in the National Environmental Action Plan (see Section 5.3 for more detail).
| TABLE 5.19: DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES - NOISE, VIBRATION AND OHS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Noise and Vibration | Occupational Health & Safety | |
| Instrumentation devices | 2.8 (5) | 2.2 (5) |
| Protection equipment | 2.0 (7) | 2.5 (8) |
| Abatement (insulation, absorbtion) | 2.1 (8) | 2.2 (9) |
| Electromagnetic field exposure | 1.5 (2) | 1.6 (5) |
The respondents expected only minimum growth in demand in the area of measuring and control devices and protection equipment. Exposure to electromagnetic fields was not considered at all.
| TABLE 5.20: MAJOR END-USERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES | |
|---|---|
| Sector | End-users |
| Air | 1) Energy sector, 2) Chemical industry, 3) Transport |
| Water and Wastewater | 1) Local governments, 2) Chemical industry, 3) Production in general |
| Waste | 1) Chemical industry, 2) Local governments, 3) Mining, 4) Energy sector |
| Energy | 1) Energy sector, 2) Chemical industry, 3) Mining and processing of mineral resources |
| Noise and Vibration and OHS | 1) Production in general, 2) Construction, 3) Chemical industry |
It is worth noting that the question related to major end-users of environmental technologies was among the least popular among the interviewed experts. Many respondents either did not answer at all, or used only vague categories, such as "production in general." In the researcher's opinion, this reflects the tendency among interviewees not to point out sectors with potentially lucrative contracts.
