emirates7 - The world is currently generating 2.1 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year, a number projected to rise sharply to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. The UN Environment Programme’s 2024 Global Waste Management Outlook warns that without urgent intervention, waste generation will surpass population growth, resulting in serious environmental, health, and economic consequences globally.
In response to this mounting challenge, China Economic Net reports that a new artificial intelligence (AI) system unveiled at a high-tech expo in Beijing on Friday may offer a solution by fully automating the waste-to-energy process.
Traditionally, converting waste into electricity through incineration has depended on the expertise of human operators, who monitor factors like flame behavior and furnace temperature to guide operations.
However, Chaoyang Environment Group has developed an AI-powered incineration system that uses cameras and sensors to identify the type and condition of burning waste. With real-time data and predictive algorithms, the system can forecast combustion patterns and emission levels several hours ahead, enabling proactive adjustments.
This technology allows for automatic optimization of the incineration process and flue gas treatment, which enhances energy production while minimizing harmful emissions, according to a Chaoyang engineer interviewed by CEN.
At a Beijing facility currently using the AI system to process 1,800 tonnes of household waste daily, the company has observed a 36%–48% improvement in steam generation stability—vital for electricity output—and up to a 4.2% increase in electricity sent to the grid. Additionally, the use of materials for controlling emissions, such as those used in deacidification and denitrification, has dropped by over 3%.
As of the end of 2023, China’s domestic waste processing capacity stood at 1.14 million tonnes per day, with incineration accounting for 75.3% of this total, according to official figures.
In response to this mounting challenge, China Economic Net reports that a new artificial intelligence (AI) system unveiled at a high-tech expo in Beijing on Friday may offer a solution by fully automating the waste-to-energy process.
Traditionally, converting waste into electricity through incineration has depended on the expertise of human operators, who monitor factors like flame behavior and furnace temperature to guide operations.
However, Chaoyang Environment Group has developed an AI-powered incineration system that uses cameras and sensors to identify the type and condition of burning waste. With real-time data and predictive algorithms, the system can forecast combustion patterns and emission levels several hours ahead, enabling proactive adjustments.
This technology allows for automatic optimization of the incineration process and flue gas treatment, which enhances energy production while minimizing harmful emissions, according to a Chaoyang engineer interviewed by CEN.
At a Beijing facility currently using the AI system to process 1,800 tonnes of household waste daily, the company has observed a 36%–48% improvement in steam generation stability—vital for electricity output—and up to a 4.2% increase in electricity sent to the grid. Additionally, the use of materials for controlling emissions, such as those used in deacidification and denitrification, has dropped by over 3%.
As of the end of 2023, China’s domestic waste processing capacity stood at 1.14 million tonnes per day, with incineration accounting for 75.3% of this total, according to official figures.