This week at the Digital Enterprise Show (DES) in Malaga, the Eurecat technology centre presents the results of increased efficiency in the use and reuse of wastewater with the application of artificial intelligence technologies to water management systems.

Across various talks, the centre showcases the success stories of the innovative processes and digital solutions based on the combination of AI and knowledge management technologies aimed at improving the management of water and associated resources, and the sustainability of the industrial sector.

The director of Eurecat Innova Malaga, Ignacio de la Vega, underscores the role of AI technologies “in promoting new, more sustainable production models and business strategies for saving and reusing water, to contribute to industrial competitiveness and resilience in a period of water emergency like we have today”.

“Digital technologies have great potential to optimise the distribution, use and reuse of water in all the processes of its cycle and across the entire value chain”, Ignacio de la Vega added.

Eurecat, operating in Malaga through the joint innovation unit Eurecat Innova, shares tools for monitoring, predicting and guaranteeing the quality of water distribution networks with companies and public managers at the DES.

Specifically, it presents a system for the efficient management of wastewater treatment processes, which integrates virtual sensors, digital twins, variable prediction and optimal autonomous control agents, to minimise the environmental impact and energy consumption of the process and guarantee water quality.

The system is in operation at Amsterdam’s main wastewater treatment plant, managed by Waternet, the public authority in the Netherlands responsible for managing the city’s water cycle.

“This intelligent and autonomous system uses reinforcement learning techniques to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by over 50%, while optimising overall costs and maintaining effluent water quality”, explains the director of the Applied Artificial Intelligence Unit, Xavier Domingo.

The tool allows recommendations to be received and the simulation of situations with models created with artificial intelligence that learn and continuously improve with the data collected, to maximise efficiency in management and service.

As the director of Eurecat’s Digital Division, Lali Soler, explains, “the managers of these infrastructures must make many decisions every day, and this online platform with artificial intelligence helps them improve efficiency in management decisions”.

At DES Malaga, Eurecat (a partner of the event), also provides companies with technology solutions geared towards the digital transformation and competitiveness of the industry.

“Digital technologies, data analytics and artificial intelligence are a driver of advantages to improve the processes, products and services of companies, in terms of their competitiveness, profitability and efficiency”, says Lali Soler.

These technologies are promoted by Eurecat Innova, the joint technology innovation and development unit set up by the Eurecat technology centre in partnership with the Ricardo Valle Innovation Institute Foundation (Innova IRV) to bring its industrial, digital, biotechnological and sustainability capabilities to the innovation and business ecosystem in Malaga and Andalusia.

As Eurecat’s director of International Development and R+D+I Policies, Joan Guasch, points out, at the technology centre “we know that physical proximity is not the only condition for success in knowledge transfer, but it is fundamental for a digital innovation ecosystem to grow cohesive and robust, making it easier for new technologies to have an impact in this territory”. For this reason, he adds, “we have strengthened our presence in the Malaga technology hub thanks to the collaboration agreement we have with the company organising the DES”.