Taiwanese professor wins award in Paris for wastewater-to-energy research

• By Tzeng Yi-shiuan and Ko Lin / Staff reporter, with CNA

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A National Ilan University (NIU) professor received a top prize at the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence ceremony in Paris on Wednesday for his research on using artificial intelligence (AI) to turn wastewater into energy.

Wang Chin-tsan (王金燦), a distinguished professor in NIU’s Department of Mechanical and Electromechanical Engineering, was honored in the Green and Clean Technology category for Excellence in Sustainable and Energy- Efficient Computing.

In a phone interview with CNA, Wang said the technology centers on microbial fuel cells and combines AI forecasting, real-time sensing, digital twins, and thermal- fluid analysis. It can treat wastewater and remove pollutants while recovering electricity generated by microorganisms as they decompose organic matter, he said.

Wang Chin-tsan, a distinguished professor in National Ilan University, attends the 2026 Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence ceremony in Paris on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Wang Chin-tsan

Wang said the award recognized his work integrating technologies across disciplines. His laboratory brings together researchers specializing in biology, environmental engineering, materials science, chemistry, and electrical engineering, while his own expertise is in aerospace engineering, he said.

Describing the research process, Wang said his team uses AI to analyze relationships among water quality, flow rates, voltage, and operating conditions to predict energy output, pollutant removal efficiency, and changes in system performance. The team also uses digital twins to simulate the actual system, helping to improve its operational efficiency and stability, he said.

Wang said he hopes the technology can eventually be applied to decentralized wastewater treatment, smart factories, resource recycling, and energy systems in remote areas.

Established in 2002, the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognize innovation across multiple categories, including artificial intelligence, information technology, green technology, and biotechnology.

Winners of the 2026 awards were officially announced in late July, and the awards ceremony was held in Paris on Wednesday