The anaerobic digestion and renewable energy sectors are continuing to embrace digital innovation, and a recent announcement from the Environmental Biotechnology Network highlights just how significant this transformation could become.
BiofuelAI, an artificial intelligence platform developed to optimise biogas production, has been shortlisted as one of only ten finalists for the UK’s prestigious

Manchester Prize — a £1 million award recognising breakthrough AI solutions capable of delivering major societal impact.

The shortlisting marks an important milestone not only for the BiofuelAI project itself, but also for the wider bioenergy sector as artificial intelligence begins to play an increasingly important role in improving plant performance, operational efficiency, and renewable energy generation.

The project originated from research at the University of Surrey through the AI4AD programme (“Artificial Intelligence Enabling Future Optimal Flexible Biogas Production for Net-Zero”), which focuses on applying advanced machine learning to anaerobic digestion systems.

Anaerobic digestion is a highly complex biological process. Operators must constantly balance changing feedstocks, fluctuating process conditions, and biological stability while maintaining efficient gas production. Traditionally, many operational decisions have relied heavily on operator experience and manual interpretation of plant data.

BiofuelAi aims to support these challenges by using AI-driven modelling and predictive analytics to help operators make more informed decisions in real time. The technology has the potential to improve biomethane yields, optimise feedstock management, reduce operational downtime, and improve overall plant stability.
According to the University of Surrey, the technology could help increase biogas production by up to 20% using existing infrastructure and feedstocks — a significant opportunity for the UK’s growing AD sector.

The project has also demonstrated the importance of collaboration between academia and industry. BiofuelAi has been developed alongside a number of major organisations across the renewable energy and engineering sectors, including ENGIE, Future Biogas, Siemens, SLR Consulting, Nephin Renewables, and ALPS Ecoscience.

For ALPS Ecoscience, involvement in innovative projects such as BiofuelAi reflects the company’s continued commitment to supporting technological advancement within anaerobic digestion and sustainable energy production. As the industry evolves, data-driven optimisation and intelligent process control are expected to become increasingly important tools for improving efficiency, reducing emissions, and maximising renewable energy output.

The Manchester Prize, funded by the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, was established to accelerate AI technologies capable of addressing major national and global challenges, particularly in areas linked to Net Zero and clean growth. As a shortlisted finalist, BiofuelAI has already secured development funding and will now enter a ten-month accelerator programme before competing for the final £1 million award in 2026.

The recognition highlights the growing role artificial intelligence could play within the future of biogas production and the wider renewable energy sector. As operators face increasing pressure to maximise efficiency, reduce carbon intensity, and improve sustainability, AI-driven solutions such as BiofuelAi may soon become a key part of modern AD plant operations.

You can read the original article from the Environmental Biotechnology Network here:
Environmental Biotechnology Network article

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