Real-Time Biological Insights for Wastewater & Biogas
ActiSense gives you minute-by-minute visibility into microbial health, organic loading, and early signs of process imbalance — long before traditional sampling reveals a problem.
- Stay ahead of upsets — real-time detection of toxicity, VFAs, and instability
- Stabilise operations by understanding microbial health minute-by-minute
- Reduce energy and recovery costs by correcting issues before they impact performance.
- Installed in 200+ facilities worldwide
- Trusted by 650+ operators
ActiSense provides real-time insight into the biological health of anaerobic digesters.
By monitoring microbial metabolism inside the reactor, ActiSense helps you detect imbalance, optimise organic loading, and maximise biogas yield.
What is ActiSense?
ActiSense is a microbial fuel cell-based sensor system that continuously measures the metabolic activity of microbes in wastewater and anaerobic digestion.
Traditional tools rely on delayed lab samples or indirect proxies. ActiSense instead provides direct, real-time microbial respiration data — a clear signal of biological performance.
Think of it as a “heart rate monitor for your biology”: instant visibility into microbial health so you can keep processes efficient, stable, and profitable.
Do you struggle with variable feedstocks that sometimes cause costly process upsets?
Are you aiming to safely increase organic loading and biogas production?
Do you want to safely take advantage of opportunistic feedstocks and gate fees?
Can you afford not to use ActiSense?
Early Warning System
Detect toxic shocks, overloading, and imbalances days before traditional sampling.
Optimised Efficiency
Fine-tune aeration, chemical dosing, and feed strategies for predictable performance.
Cost & Energy Savings
Typical facilities report £75k+ annual savings by reducing downtime and unnecessary aeration.
Continuous Real-Time Data
Minute-by-minute monitoring of biomass activity and organic loading, updated every 60 seconds.
Low Maintenance
No calibration, cleaning, or consumables. Sensors thrive in the fouling conditions that disable conventional probes.
How it works
How ActiSense Works
ActiSense combines three components into a simple, plug-and-play system:
Patented Bio-Electrode Sensors
- Installed via drop-in or in-line configurations
- Pre-loaded microbes acclimate within 1–3 days
- As they metabolise organics, they generate an electrical signal reflecting microbial activity
Control Panel
- Supports up to four sensors.
- Provides power and connectivity (Ethernet, Wi-Fi, analog outputs).
- Live data within 30 minutes of installation
Cloud Dashboard
- Real-time signals refreshed every 60 seconds
- Alerts for toxicity, VFAs, and variable influent
- Integrates with SCADA systems
- Access from any device
Actisense
Applications
ActiSense is proven across municipal, industrial, and agricultural facilities.
Wastewater Treatment
- Detect variable influent early
- Identify industrial discharges causing toxicity
- Optimise aeration efficiency and cut energy costs
- Stabilise effluent quality and improve compliance
Anaerobic Digestion
- Prevent souring and downtime
- Track VFAs and microbial health in real time
- Optimise co-digestion and loading strategies
- Increase methane yield and volatile solids destruction
Industrial Wastewater
- Monitor process streams in pulp & paper, F&B, and chemical industries
- Detect toxicity events and shock loads
- Improve process control and dosing decisions
Before & After ActiSense
Before ActiSense
- No early warning — issues only appear once pH drops or gas output falls
- Reactive operations based on delayed lab samples
- Unpredictable upsets and risk of souring or foaming
- Higher aeration, chemical use, and unnecessary OPEX
- Costly downtime from events detected too late
After ActiSense
- Early detection of toxicity, VFAs, and instability — hours or days sooner
- Proactive control with minute-by-minute microbial data
- Stable biology and predictable day-to-day operation
- Optimised aeration and dosing — lower operating costs
- Prevented failures and protected revenue with early intervention
Microbial Metabolism Monitoring - Not Optics or Membranes
Unlike light- or membrane-based probes, ActiSense measures the metabolic signal of living microbes.
That means no routine calibration, no replacement parts, and no drift in wastewater environments.
Technology
Accuracy
Maintenance
Limitations
Water oxidation High High
✅ High
❌ High upkeep
❌ Tubing clog, costly calibration
UV-LED spectroscopy
⚠️ Medium
❌ Frequent cleaning
❌ Inaccurate in wastewater
ActiSense (Biofilm)
✅ High
Low
✅ Works in real wastewater
Result: ActiSense enables operators to run closer to design capacity by providing continuous biological insight.
It’s like having an operator that never
Traditional Sensors
ActiSense
How ActiSense Works in Practice
Condition
Biological State
VFA (mg/L acetate)
Operator Action
< 250
Healthy
Safe zone
No action
250–500
Struggling
Protective zone
No action
> 500
Toxic
⚠️ Danger zone
No action
Early intervention prevents toxicity, stabilises biogas output, and protects revenue.
ActiSense FAQs
How is ActiSense installed?
How often is maintenance required?
What data does it provide?
What problems can it detect?
What savings can I expect?
Typical facilities see £75k+ per year in reduced energy use, avoided downtime, & unnecessary staff overhead.
Case Studies
Woodard & Curran
How real-time biological visibility helped industrial AD operators avoid over $80,000 per facility per year in downtime and recovery costs. Client Overview Client: Woodard &
Biocore Environmental
Biocore operates a large-scale co-digestion facility processing highly variable organic feedstocks. While this flexibility supports throughput and gate-fee revenue, it also introduces operational risk. Client
Modela
Following the introduction of ActiCH4R™, Modela observed a 28% uplift in biogas production, alongside improved methane conversion efficiency and greater biological stability under non-ideal operating
Ready to Stay Ahead of Process Upsets?
Register your interest today and discover how ActiSense helps you improve stability, cut costs, and protect operations.
Our catalyst that delivers higher methane output, cleaner gas, and more predictable operations.
Our sensor system for real-time monitoring of biomass health and organic loading.
About RAFT Energy
RAFT Energy develops technologies that turn waste into wealth. Our product suite combines chemistry and monitoring to help operators maximise performance and profitability.
Together, they provide a powerful combination: ActiCH4R improves performance inside your digester, while ActiSense gives you the live data to optimise every decision.
Register Your Interest in ActiSense
Get in touch with RAFT Energy to learn how ActiSense can help you detect imbalance, optimise organic loading, and maximise biogas yield.