SK Ecoplant Cuts Harmful Emissions by Half with Introduction of 'AI Incinerator'

300 Days Since AI Incinerator Introduction, 150,000 Tons of Waste Processed
12% Reduction in Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Major Cause of Fine Dust

SK ecoplant's AI incinerator, introduced last year, has been shown to reduce air pollutants by nearly half.

AI analyzes and learns data such as incinerator temperature and pressure to guide the optimal timing for waste input. (Provided by SK Ecoplant)

On the 12th, SK ecoplant announced that after analyzing waste treatment data over 300 days since applying AI to incinerators, emissions of major harmful substances such as carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) decreased by 49.9% and 12.2%, respectively. The analysis was based on a cumulative waste treatment volume of 150,000 tons.

SK ecoplant first applied AI solutions to the Chungcheong Environment Energy incineration facility in December 2021. Subsequently, by October last year, the AI solution was additionally implemented at four other incineration facilities, including Gyeongin Environment Energy. The data analyzed covers the cumulative performance over an average of 300 operating days from the time the AI solution was applied at a total of five incineration facilities under SK ecoplant's incineration subsidiaries until last May.

SK ecoplant's AI incinerator is an operation optimization solution that guides maintaining a consistent incinerator temperature. Approximately 200 data points such as temperature, pressure, and input volume are collected through sensors and measuring instruments installed in the incinerator, which are then converted into about 70 key data points for AI to repeatedly learn.

After repeated learning tailored to the characteristics of the incinerator, the AI derives 10 algorithms that optimize ▲waste input timing ▲optimal incinerator temperature ▲blower volume ▲energy recovery rate, and guides operators accordingly. This minimizes pollutant emissions and detects abnormal vibrations, currents, etc., through sensors, thereby reducing maintenance costs of the incinerator.

Analysis of data from five incinerators with the AI solution applied showed an average carbon monoxide (CO) reduction rate of 49.9% compared to before AI implementation. Nitrogen oxides (NOx), a major cause of fine dust, also decreased by an average of 12.2%.

The introduction of AI also reduced temperature fluctuations in the incinerators, resulting in improved thermal efficiency. Along with efficient operational improvements at each incineration subsidiary, energy sales revenue increased by a total of 720 million KRW over an average of 300 days across the five incinerators. Steam sales per incinerator increased by an average of 230 million KRW annually, and electricity sales increased by 130 million KRW annually. SK ecoplant sells the heat energy generated from incinerators as waste heat or steam to local industries or supplies heating to nearby residential areas.

Export achievements have also been made. In March, a business agreement was signed to apply the AI solution to an incineration plant with a daily processing capacity of 180 tons located in Bac Ninh, northern Vietnam. Currently, negotiations are underway to export the AI solution to Cenviro, Malaysia's only state-owned industrial waste incineration company.

Park Kyung-il, CEO of SK ecoplant, said, "Through the digital transformation of the existing waste industry, we have achieved three goals: reducing pollutants, accelerating waste-to-energy conversion, and elevating environmental industry management capabilities to the next level." He added, "We will continue to lead the advancement of the environmental industry through digital technology."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.