The positioning of the waste-to-energy sector at the intersection of material flows enables our operations to be at the heart of circular economy development. For this reason, promoting the circular economy is one of Westenergy’s strategic objectives. By participating in innovative development projects, we enable the development of new knowledge and solutions for the use of players in the circular economy sector.
The Ekoälyä project progressed through piloting
Ekoälyä is a nationwide initiative co-funded by the European Union, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance municipal waste sorting and recycling. The project is carried out in collaboration with Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, the University of Turku, and Westenergy. The project progressed in its second operational year particularly through successful pilot projects for waste identification solutions.
Ekoälyä is a nationwide initiative, focusing on the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance municipal waste sorting and recycling.
In the first pilot, a commercially available solution already found on the market was utilised. The solution was chosen based on a thorough investigation of the suitability of alternatives for identifying varying waste materials. Based on the investigation, Advian Oy was selected as the more suitable service provider, and the piloting of their identification system began in the summer of 2025. The system utilised data from Westenergy’s previous waste quality inspections as well as new data from waste batches delivered during the piloting period to train the artificial intelligence. The second pilot was initiated at the end of 2025 with a solution developed by the University of Turku. The results of this pilot will be clarified in more detail during 2026.
During 2025, plenty of practical experience was gained in the implementation, development, and operation of the solutions. This is a key achievement in promoting the project. Based on the pilots, the solutions have proven to be viable for identifying materials from a data source composed of challenging, varying materials such as municipal waste. The inspection environment creates additional requirements when there is no line available for material batches to pass through individually, but identification must be done from the mass of waste loads. However, technology has improved sufficiently that further development of these solutions can achieve benefits in monitoring waste quality even in demanding environments. These results represent a clear step forward for both the project and Westenergy’s operations. The results from the pilot projects in 2026 will provide valuable information on the possibilities of utilising artificial intelligence in the waste sector.
The results from the pilot projects demonstrate the further development possibilities of technology for monitoring waste quality even in demanding environments, which is a clear step forward for both the project and Westenergy’s operations.
Kiemura – turning circular economy into business
Although we live in a digital society, skills and job opportunities do not always meet. The Kiemura project aims to bridge this gap in the circular economy sector and create skilled professionals that can develop the circular economy business. The project utilises a multidisciplinary network of expertise, where players from different sectors provide a multisectoral view of the opportunities in the circular economy. In 2025, Westenergy joined the initiative as part of this network, contributing a practical perspective on the need for circular economy expertise in the waste-to-energy sector.
Westenergy provides the project with a practical perspective on the need for circular economy professionals in the waste-to-energy sector.
The project is implemented by the RDI research platform Smart Design at Vaasa University of Applied Sciences. The project also involves all municipalities in the Ostrobothnia region, which are also part of Westenergy’s operational area. The project is co-funded by the European Union and focuses on developing an educational programme for circular economy entrepreneurship. A diverse range of training materials are being developed for educational use, which will be published in an online learning environment based on the principles of continuous learning. The established network of expertise is a valuable resource for identifying the need for professionals in the circular economy sector and creates a clear link between the educational programme and the wider circular economy ecosystem.
The network of expertise is a valuable resource for identifying the need for professionals in the circular economy sector and creates a clear link between the educational programme and the wider circular economy ecosystem.
We are also involved in several other significant research and development projects that support Finland’s and the EU’s circular economy objectives and enable increasingly practical solutions to the challenges of the circular economy. Read more about our circular economy projects on our website.
