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Water M&A: Trends and Deal Flow, Q1 2023 

The year 2022 demonstrated volatility for the global water market, with significant variance in M&A by sector. As digital water activity slowed, private water investment, particularly in the U.S., has remained robust and continues to exceed the five-year average.

Top Companies in Water: Financial Signals and Market Trends, Q1 2023 

The largest increases in Q1 earnings were reported by Alfa Laval, Algonquin Power & Utilities, H2O Innovation, and Kemira. Strong product demand, large project wins, and M&A activity underlie these companies’ strong growth. The 50 companies tracked by Bluefield are segmented by treatment technologies & solutions, hardware & infrastructure, engineering services, digital water solutions, and utility services. The data and analysis highlight key factors shaping not only the segments but also the individual companies.

Induction Ovens, Heat Pumps, and Electric Vehicles: Why the Water Industry Should Care about Electricity. 

Regardless of your opinion on the hotly debated topic of gas versus electric stovetops, there has certainly been an uptick in adoption of electric technologies in recent years. The prevalence of elect...

Water for Power: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2023–2030 

Water and electricity generation (power) are intrinsically linked due to water’s role in thermoelectric power plants. For water solutions providers, the electric power industry vertical presents a range of opportunities, from emerging markets to advancing renewable technologies (e.g., hydrogen). Underlying these opportunities are changing regulatory policies, water-related risks (e.g., drought, flooding), and corporate sustainability initiatives.

Veolia Tunes Portfolio, Selling Water Positions 

On 18 April 2023, it was reported that Veolia is preparing to sell its French water pipe installation business, Sade, for an estimated asking price of €300 million (US$329 million). This comes on the heels of talks with Italy's largest gas distributor Italgas to sell stakes in Italian water companies owned by the French firm.

Digital Water: Key Trends, Project Activity, and Market Outlook, Q1 2023 

2022 was a year of ups and downs for the global digital water market. The onset of the Russia-Ukraine war, persistent inflationary pressures, and lingering supply chain challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic made investors skittish, curtailing strategic and financial investment in the digital water startup ecosystem.

Amazon Expands Sidewalk, Water Products 

Amazon’s water business took another potentially significant step this past month by opening its Sidewalk platform to third-party developers. Amazon is also rolling out software and hardware developer tool kits, in parallel, to enable integration of Sidewalk radios and APIs into existing products.

Water for Semiconductors: Market Trends and Forecasts, 2023–2030 

In the wake of global supply chain bottlenecks, semiconductor manufacturers are accelerating production to meet chip quotas. The US$573 billion semiconductor industry is expected to exceed US$1 trillion by 2030, primarily driven by soaring demand from the consumer electronics and automotive sectors. In the rapid expansion of the semiconductor industry, water requirements and expenditures are particularly relevant since a fabrication plant uses millions of gallons of water per day. For water solutions providers, opportunity is present on the treatment side, as ultrapure water is a required input.

U.S. Desalination: Market Drivers, Trends, and Project Activity 

Climate change, population growth, and industrialization are increasingly straining global water supplies. At the same time, baseload demand for water is rising. Advanced water treatment options such as desalination continue to be considered as a key alternative water solution, both municipally and industrially.

Finding the Fit: Water Utilities Adjust to Ongoing Challenges 

A mainstay in our annual event schedule, Bluefield Research keenly participated in the AWWA’s Utility Management Conference in Sacramento, California, this past 28–30 March. Well attende...