Submission deadline: 31 December 2025
Judging period: January/ February 2026
Shortlist announcement: March 2026
Awards Ceremony & Gala Dinner: 8 July 2026
- Provide evidence to support every claim you make. Evidence should be, where possible, robust and independent
- Do not submit the same, untailored entry to every category
- Do not submit marketing or promotional materials
All entrants to any of the categories MUST include:
- A summary of the submission (one paragraph)
- High resolution photo or logo
- Geographical location (town, country)
- An explanation of the contribution it has made or could make to the AD industry, and why it was outstanding
- Robust and verifiable evidence to document the claims being made
- Multiple entries are welcome, but every entry should be specific to the entered category
- ADBA/WBA team to check the awarded winners and shortlist for any issues with entries.
The Women in Biogas Award recognises the achievements of women in a sector where they are substantially underrepresented. It rewards the achievements of women working within the biogas industry, with the aim of raising the profile of biogas as an attractive career path and inspiring others to enter the industry as well as encouraging excellence.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- A CV/detailed description of the nominated woman, company supporting women or group of women in biogas
- Details of the role performed
- 300-word summary of how this employee has made a difference to the performance of the business. This could be related to a change in culture or operational practice that has increased efficiency, or by simply being brilliant and innovative in an aspect of biogas that has taken the business to another level.
Who Should Enter?
Any woman or group of women involved in any aspect of biogas development, from design through to process and operation. Company that is furthering, supporting and actively empowering women in a sector where they are substantially underrepresented.
We want to know about any individual, organisation or company making an outstanding contribution to the development of anaerobic digestion in the UK or global biogas industry.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- Provide a 300-word summary of how the nominated person, project, organisation or company has contributed to the development of anaerobic digestion and biogas in the UK or internationally, quantifying, if possible, the value of that contribution.
Who Should Enter?
Any individual, project, organisation or company making an outstanding contribution to the development of AD and biogas in the UK or global industry. You can nominate someone else, or your own individual, project, organisation or company.
We want to hear about any person, company or team that provides outstanding support in the AD and biogas industry (UK and globally). Entries should ideally come from those who have been the recipients of the outstanding support, rather than those providing it, or be accompanied by testimonials from the recipients. You CAN have previously entered or won this award.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- A summary of what support was provided, and why it was outstanding
- Any relevant data or information to support the claim
- Any difficulties or challenges that the support provider addressed and helped to overcome
- Two testimonials outlining why the entrant should win this award
Who Should Enter?
AD designers; builders; developers; operators; technology and equipment suppliers; food and drink businesses; waste management companies; technical, legal and accounting consultants and academics.
The Education Campaign of the Year award recognises exceptional efforts in raising awareness and understanding of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas. It celebrates campaigns, outreach programmes, and public engagement initiatives that have made a measurable impact in promoting the benefits and potential of AD, whether nationally or internationally.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
Entrants must submit a 500-word summary outlining:
- How the campaign advanced the education and awareness of AD and biogas within a specific region, nation, or globally;
- The origin of the initiative and the outcomes achieved; and
- A link or reference to the campaign materials or activity for review.
Who Should Enter?
Open to any individual, organisation, or company that has actively launched an educational or outreach campaign, public engagement initiative, or communication programme related to AD or biogas.
The IEA states AD sits at the heart of the circular economy, recycling organic wastes and serving to reduce food waste. The outputs serve to reduce the carbon footprint of heat supply, transport, agriculture, food manufacture and wastewater treatment. We want to hear about any person, company or team in the value chain who can demonstrate how they have closed the loop, turning waste into a product. To deliver global net zero targets, we need carbon negative technologies. AD, coupled with CCU technology, can deliver this.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- How the AD operation delivers a closed loop system, minimising the use of virgin materials
- Evidence will need to show feedstock supply and off-takers for products; biomethane/electricity, bio-CO2, and biofertilizer e.g., domestic food waste delivering a local heat network or biomethane as transport fuel, food manufacturer utilizing all four outputs, manures and slurries powering cheese production. Ideally, additional evidence on maximizing resource efficiency across the operation would be welcome.
Or/and Candidates will need to demonstrate how their operation is delivering net zero:
- Evidence of steps taken and controls to prevent fugitive emissions. Use of all outputs from the AD facility – biogas, bio-fertiliser, bio-CO2 Innovative steps to reduce indirect impacts – i.e., pumping digestate to lagoons to avoid transportation
- Innovative steps taken to mitigate/offset GHG emissions – such as private wires, local heat networks, biomethane-fuelled logistics, use of CO2 in growing.
Who Should Enter?
- Local authorities with separate food waste collections, delivering electricity/biogas for heat and/or public transport
- Food manufacturers deploying biogas to reduce the carbon foot print of their products
- Fleet managers for deploying RNG fuelled trucks
- AD operators who have enabled the above
- An AD facility that has deployed CCU
- CO2 supply chain offtakers (Biocarbonics)
- Food manufacturers deploying AD to decarbonise logistics fleet, heat and capturing CO2 to carbonate products.
The ADBA UK Biogas Plant of the Year award recognises a UK-based facility that exemplifies excellence, innovation and sustainability in anaerobic digestion. It honours a plant demonstrating outstanding performance in feedstock management, process efficiency, energy generation and environmental impact, while contributing meaningfully to the UK circular economy and nation’s net zero ambitions.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- Please provide a statement of a maximum of 500 words as to why this plant should win the ADBA UK Biogas Plant of the Year;
- Please provide an explanation of the feedstock, process, outputs and main technologies used, an outline business case as well as the objectives and criteria for success;
- How the plant makes the most of its feedstock, biogas and digestate and if appropriate the benefits delivered to the business with supporting data/information;
- Details of any specific challenges that you overcame in the development of this plant.
- Please submit any current certifications and accreditations achieved by the plant – ADCS, PAS110 , ABPR, ISO`s or any other that will be relevant.
Who Should Enter?
- Operators;
- Third party operators/ O&M contractors;
- Possible developers that are operating temporarily;
- Plants that are currently inside the commissioning stage;
The Micro & Small-Scale On-Farm AD of the Year award celebrates excellence and innovation in small-scale anaerobic digestion systems. It recognises projects that demonstrate the practical, sustainable and efficient use of biogas technologies at the farm or community level.
This category highlights on-site waste processing operations that do not import external waste or crops for energy production. It focuses on plants designed primarily for local energy use, whether for internal business operations or to meet community energy demand
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- A summary of the project, how it has led to the development of Micro-AD or Small-Scale plants and the impact of the initiative;
- Details of any specific challenges that were overcome in the development of the Micro AD and Small-Scale project;
- Any further supporting data/information.
Additional information the judges will be looking for:
- Explanation of the feedstock, process, outputs and main technologies used, an outline business case as well as the objectives and criteria for success;
- Clear statements of differentiation. This may involve: Details about how the plant makes the most of its feedstock, biogas and digestate and if appropriate the benefits delivered to the business with supporting data/information;
- Details of the feedstock, efficiency of the digester, and how this project efficiently utilises the products the digester produces with supporting data/information;
Who Should Enter?
- Any AD plant below 0.2 MW
- Entries from around the world are welcome
- Farmers, individuals, companies or initiatives who have built and operate a Micro/Small AD or Small Scale on Farm AD (SOFAD)
- Developers of Micro/Small AD or SOFAD solutions who also play a role in operating their plants
- Community groups
- Digestate treatment companies
- Equipment suppliers
- Farmers (including combines and joint ventures)
- Land managers
- Operators
- Seed manufacturers and consultants
- Hospitality
- Other
This award recognises exemplary performance and innovation in biogas plant design, operation, and impact across a global stage. It celebrates plants that demonstrate technical excellence, sustainability, and a strong contribution to the circular economy.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- The plant should have been operating from October 2024 onwards
- 300 word summary: an explanation of the feedstock, process, outputs and main technologies used;
- An outline business case as well as the objectives and criteria for success;
- How the plant makes the most of its feedstock, biogas and digestate and if appropriate the benefits delivered to the business with supporting data/information. Details of any specific challenges that you overcame in the development of this plant.
- Details of any certification, lifecycle assessments and sustainability assessments undertaken
- How is the feedstock use advancing the local landscape,
- Circular economy contribution (digestate, feedstock, CO2 etc…)
Who Should Enter?
- International and UK plants can enter
This award recognises an individual, organisation, company or educational body in the industry that has made an outstanding contribution to the development of anaerobic digestion and biogas in the UK or globally through innovation or research.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- 300-word summary of how the nominee has contributed to the development of biogas and anaerobic digestion in the UK or elsewhere, quantifying, if possible, the value of that contribution;
- Any relevant data or information to support this;
- Any difficulties or challenges that the research and innovation provider addressed and helped to overcome
- Two testimonials outlining why the entrant should win this award
Who Should Enter?
Any Individual, company, organisation or education body making an outstanding contribution to the development of anaerobic digestion and biogas in the UK or globally through innovation or research. You can nominate an individual either in your own business or in another organisation.
The AD Solution Provider Award recognises organisations or individuals that have delivered exceptional solutions to advance the anaerobic digestion (AD) industry. This category celebrates those who have identified and effectively addressed key challenges in the design, development, construction, or operation of AD facilities, demonstrating innovation, collaboration, and measurable impact.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- Please provide a 500 word summary of the issue and how the solution has contributed to overcome that problem within biogas and anaerobic digestion in the UK or internationally, quantifying, if possible, the value of that contribution;
- A 500 word summary of the innovation and effectiveness of the solution provided and the impact on AD plant performance, efficiency, or sustainability;
- Please provide a 300 word summary about collaboration and execution, including multi-stakeholder involvement;
- Please provide a 300 word summary about the overall contribution to advancing the AD sector and wider impact through overcoming this issue/problem;
- Any relevant data or information to support this;
- Two testimonials outlining why the entrant should win this award
Who Should Enter?
- Developers;
- Technology providers;
- Consultants who took part in more than one aspect for example: design, provided technology, helped with financing or permitting, general development of plant, built, operate the plant.
The AD Developer of the Year recognises outstanding achievement in the development and delivery of anaerobic digestion (AD) projects. It celebrates developers who demonstrate technical excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to sustainable and commercially viable project outcomes.
Entry Criteria
This award will be judged by reference to the following information:
- The scale and performance of projects delivered;
- Demonstrated technical innovation and efficiency;
- The sustainability of feedstock and digestate management practices; and
- Overall contribution to sector growth and advancement.
Entrants must have:
- Developed and commissioned at least one AD project between 2024 and 2025;
- Ensured that all submitted projects are fully completed and operational within the 2025 calendar year (projects still in development or within the pipeline are not eligible).
Please provide a submission that should include the following details (be please as detailed as possible):
- The combined energy generation of all plants commissioned within the past 12 months; (normalised to kWh for electricity);
- The number and size of plants developed;
- The throughput of feedstock, normalised for biogas yield; and
- Digestate management strategies, demonstrating effective and sustainable utilisation solutions;
- Any additional information that you believe may be relevant.
Who Should Enter?
This category is open to all developers operating within the AD sector and its interlinked industries.