We’re delighted to share that Biofuel Ai has been selected as a finalist in the Manchester Prize, a landmark clean energy challenge led by Nesta and supported by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).

It’s a significant milestone—not just for our team, but for the wider potential of artificial intelligence in transforming bioenergy. Being one of just ten UK innovators chosen signals that our work sits at the cutting edge of sustainable energy technology.

As described by Nesta’s Karmel Edmonds in her recent article, the Manchester Prize is designed to accelerate scalable, early-stage innovations with the power to reshape how clean energy is produced, managed and distributed across the UK. It’s about more than funding—it’s about impact, partnerships, and visibility.

• Optimise anaerobic digestion and biofuel processes in real time,
• Maximise energy yields from local and often underused biomass,
• Reduce operational inefficiencies through predictive analytics,
• And accelerate decarbonisation through smarter system control.

The relevance of our work goes well beyond technology. It touches three key national priorities:

Green energy production
By improving conversion rates and reducing methane slip, we help decarbonise one of the UK’s most important renewable energy sectors.

Energy security
Local bioenergy, optimised and scaled, reduces dependence on volatile international energy markets—and builds resilient, distributed energy systems across the UK.

Pathway to net zero
As the UK pushes toward its climate targets, Biofuel AI’s platform acts as an accelerant—helping existing infrastructure perform better, faster, and cleaner.

These aren’t side benefits—they are the foundation of what we do.

Beyond recognition, the Manchester Prize provides Biofuel AI with access to expert mentorship, a network of industry peers and potential collaborators, and the opportunity to bring our innovation to a national audience. It validates the commercial and environmental value of our approach—and gives us a platform to scale faster.

A Word from one of our founders:

“We’re proud to be part of this cohort. Biofuel AI exists to bridge the gap between advanced technology and real-world energy production. Being named a finalist in the Manchester Prize affirms the importance of that mission and the quality of the team behind it. This is just the beginning.”
Alan Beesley

Learn more about the finalists and the Manchester Prize… 

• Bioenergy plant operators and developers,
• Sustainability-focused investors,
• Research partners and technology clusters.