Renewables pipelines will need remediation equipment, due to inherent corrosion, reports a new study by SBI Energy.

In Washington, SBI Energy has recently published a report on specialty pipelines, titled “Specialty Pipelines for Renewable and Alternative Energy Substances.”

The report notes that because a number of renewable fuels can be corrosive and because of concerns regarding contamination, SBI Energy expects the specialty pipeline market to expand 30% per year, to reach $3 billion worldwide by 2015. This includes carbon dioxide pipelines, for such uses as enhanced oil recovery in Texas oil fields.

This is largely due to the corrosion inherent in either ethanol or carbon dioxide, this will provide a market for products not normally associated with say, petroleum pipelines, such as protective coatings, large diameter plastic and resin pipes, compressors and pumps designed for use with corrosives, as well as leak detection technologies.