enfinium, a leading UK energy-from-waste (EfW) operator, announces the integration of innovative visual-artificial intelligence technology to improve the efficiency of its Ferrybridge 2 facility in Knottingley, West Yorkshire. The technology was supplied by Wasteer, a German provider of cutting-edge analysis software for energy-from-waste plants.
With the new system, advanced camera technology powered by AI will automatically analyse incoming waste to detect contaminants before they cause operational problems. The system can also issue real-time alerts and will record data on the waste stream. Wasteer employs a proprietary database as well as Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI.
The automation will enable enfinium to analyse its waste streams more accurately, improving plant efficiency and reliability, and maximising uptime. This approach can, for instance, reduce plant downtimes by about 30%, cut operating supplies by up to 8%, and increase throughput by around 2%.
Wasteer’s technology has been adopted by several leading European energy-from-waste companies, however, this is the first time the technology is being deployed in the UK.
Chris Bebbington, Group Head of Asset Management at enfinium, said: “enfinium is always looking for innovations in technology that can optimise our plant efficiency. Wasteer’s AI technology, which allows real-time, automated analysis of incoming waste, will give us a wealth of data to base operational decisions on and enable early detection of impurities in the waste stream, preventing any issues before they arise. By partnering with Wasteer, who have a strong track record in Europe, we’re continuing to drive innovation and efficiency in the UK’s energy-from-waste sector.”
Benedict von Spankeren, Founder of Wasteer said: “We are thrilled to partner with enfinium, our first UK client, and to support their commitment to be a leading innovator in the UK’s energy-from-waste sector. enfinium has shown a clear dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technologies, and we’re excited to contribute to their efforts with our AI-powered solutions.”
