A University of Surrey spinout that uses artificial intelligence to help biogas plants produce more renewable energy at lower cost and with reduced carbon emissions has won the Manchester Prize – the UK government’s flagship AI innovation challenge. The prestigious prize comes with a £1 million government award.
BiofuelAi, co-founded by Professor Michael Short from the University of Surrey, has developed an AI-powered decision support platform that transforms how biogas plant operators manage production.
Where plants have historically relied on experience, know-how and intuition – adjusting inputs and monitoring slow-moving biological processes without reliable predictive tools – BiofuelAi’s platform gives operators a real-time picture of what is happening inside their digesters and what action will produce the best outcome.
Pilot trials have demonstrated revenue increases of 6–10 per cent and profit improvements of 7–13 per cent per site, alongside a 28 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.
The Manchester Prize is a multi-million-pound challenge prize from the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, awarded annually for a decade to UK-led breakthroughs in artificial intelligence for public good. Designed to reward innovations that transform lives and cement the UK’s position as a leader in AI, the prize is delivered by Challenge Works – part of UK innovation foundation Nesta.
BiofuelAi is a spinout from Surrey’s AI4AD research project, and has attracted more than £1.5m in research funding. The founding team – which includes Dr Benaissa Dekhici, Dr Rohit Murali and Dr Ruosi Zhang alongside Professor Short and Alan Beesley – combines over 40 years of modelling expertise with practical operational experience of the biogas industry.
BiofuelAi is based at the Surrey Technology Centre in Guildford and is currently expanding. The company welcomes approaches from biogas plant operators, industry partners and investors.
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