enfinium: An AI Revolution in the Energy-from-Waste Sector

Artificial intelligence is not just a tech trend; it's an operational revolution spanning various sectors.

Industries worldwide are harnessing AI to streamline operations, predict trends and enhance process optimisation.

This is evident from its myriad applications across sectors, from automating mundane tasks and sifting through large data pools to predicting equipment failures and streamlining processes.

Advancing EfW with sophisticated AI

In the realm of energy-from-waste (EfW), AI's impact is becoming increasingly significant.

Companies like enfinium have joined forces with leading energy data specialists Cognitive Business to deploy advanced AI technology across their facilities. The primary goal? To enhance the efficiency, availability, and reliability of EfW plants.

One of the standout technologies being harnessed is Advanced Pattern Recognition (APR).

This technology scrutinises heaps of operational data to pinpoint potential problems before they escalate, predict equipment malfunctions and refine maintenance schedules. Such proactive measures are vital in avoiding costly, unplanned downtime and ensuring consistent energy production.

The trial of APR technology is underway at four enfinium facilities.

By leveraging vast amounts of operational data, APR enables these facilities to not only troubleshoot and mitigate issues quickly but also fine-tunes maintenance schedules for peak efficiency.

Benefits of implementing APR technology include:

• Early detection of issues: The technology enables the identification of potential operational problems before they escalate
• Predictive maintenance: It enhances the accuracy of predicting equipment failures, allowing for timely interventions
• Optimised scheduling: Maintenance schedules can be fine-tuned for improved efficiency
• Enhanced reliability: Overall plant availability is expected to rise significantly.

The broad adoption of this technology aims to enhance plant reliability significantly. Alongside these advancements, AI-driven computer vision systems serve as additional safeguards, spotting non-conforming items in waste streams to avert blockages and further enhance operational effectiveness.

AI's capability to automate repetitive tasks and furnish real-time insights frees up human operators to concentrate on more strategic, high-value activities, therefore enhancing overall productivity and safety in facilities.

Pioneering AI in EfW operations

The collaboration between enfinium and Cognitive Business marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI and data analytics into waste management.

This partnership is setting precedent not just in waste management but also in climate technology's broader role within this sector.

Chris Bebbington, Group Head of Asset Management at enfinium, says: “Our aim is to pioneer trailblazing technology in the EfW sector, adopting forward-thinking and innovative solutions that enable us to improve the performance of our day-to-day operations. 

“Cognitive Business are industry-leading for advanced analytics and AI and this partnership aligns with our vision to use AI and big data analytics to manage our facilities more effectively.”

This technological evolution promises not only to increase the operational efficiency of EfW plants but also to optimise resource utilisation, reduce emissions and raise the energy output of these facilities.

About enfinium

enfinium stands as the UK's largest pure play waste-to-energy business, transforming non-recyclable residential and commercial waste into heat and partially renewable power.

Despite the UK recycling rate at 45%, more than 40% of non-recyclable waste still ends up in landfills.

To address this, enfinium's facilities convert vast amounts of waste into valuable energy, supplying the National Grid and supporting the UK’s circular economy.

Its AI trial with Cognitive Business is a step towards transforming their facilities into local decarbonisation hubs.

The company aims to utilise millions of tonnes of non-recyclable waste produced in the UK to generate energy for homes, contribute to heat networks and produce electrolytic hydrogen.

And its investment in and application of climate tech doesn’t stop there. Earlier in 2024, the company unveiled plans to invest around £200m US$260m) in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at one of its facilities in Wales.

enfinium’s CEO Mike Maudsley says: “Today, enfinium uses waste that cannot be recycled — which would otherwise go to climate damaging landfill — to generate low carbon homegrown energy.

“Installing carbon capture technology will allow us to go further and remove more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.

“Carbon removals is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the waste sector globally. With bold leadership and in partnership with governments we can pioneer a credible and affordable pathway to zero emissions and green growth.”

Make sure you check out the latest edition of Energy Digital Magazine and also sign up to our global conference series - Sustainability LIVE 2024

Energy Digital is a BizClik brand