Congratulations to Prof Jhuma Sadhukhan and colleagues on a new paper that combines several areas of interest for EBNet members, including microbial H2 production, utilisation of waste feedstocks to generate high-value products, and tools for sustainability assessment. The paper, published in Nature Chemistry, demonstrates a novel strategy for coupling cogenerated …
In March 2024, EBNet supported Prof Tom Curtis and Angela Bywater to attend a meeting on anaerobic digestion (AD) in remote and off-grid applications, hosted by the US National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) and funded by NATO Science for Peace and Security (NATO SPS): see here for more details of …
A new report by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) and Zero Waste Europe considers the case for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for food products in the European Union. Although the EU mandated separate collection of bio-waste under the revised Waste Framework Directive in 2025, it is estimated that only 26% of around 60 …
Planned outputs for the next few months include feedback from the fascinating Microenvironments workshop led by Dr Joe Weaver, then of Newcastle, now at Durham University. Journal papers in preparation or review include those based on a study of the implications of emerging biotech for bioreactor materials, and from the …
This month, the EU introduced mandatory systematic monitoring requirements for per and polyfluoroalkyl-substances (PFAS) in drinking water, aimed at promoting compliance with new limit values in the revised EU Drinking Water Directive (2024/2184). The new limits are 0.5 µg/L for total PFAS and 0.1 µg/L for the sum of 20 …
The AF Working Group is working on follow‑on outputs from its Anaerobic Fermentation workshop, with a detailed outcomes report and a WG Position Statement to be published later in 2026. In parallel, the WG has been carrying out small-scale proof‑of‑concept studies investigating chemical‑free product extraction as a means to facilitate …
Dr Yongqiang Liu and colleagues in the Aerobic Granulation Processes WG have been working with water companies to take samples of granular sludge and conventional activated sludge (AS) from full-scale wastewater treatment plants in the UK. One aim of the study is to investigate the performance of granular sludge in …
A recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Delivering Sustainable Fuels: Pathways to 2035 highlights the benefits to the energy sector and to wider economic and environmental sustainability. Liquid biofuels, biogases, low-emissions hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels enable and support the energy transition. They are particularly important for sectors …
EBNet’s official UKRI funding ends on 31 Jan 2026, but some of our activities will continue – directly, and in conjunction with EBIC, Better Water 4 All and others. We will: Continue to publish and promote forthcoming reports and papers based on EBNet’s work Keep updating the website pages, especially …
IEA Bioenergy has published an Inter-Task report on Synergies of green hydrogen and biobased value chains deployment (see here for accompanying blog). An associated webinar is available here. Dr Luca Alibardi of Cranfield University, co-Lead of EBNet’s Anaerobic Fermentation WG, welcomed the report with the following comment: “The case study targeted a carbohydrate-rich wastewater, …
There has recently been a strong and very welcome resurgence of interest in biofilters as a powerful and sustainable water treatment technology. Examples include outputs from EBNet’s Water Biofilms WG, and funding awards for the SandSCAPE project and for the EPSRC Network+ Better Water 4 All, as well as ongoing …
While the European Union is updating some of its sustainability and supply chain rules to simplify reporting requirements,  its new Bioeconomy Strategy published on 27 Nov 2025 shows both commitment and ambition. The new Strategy revises the 2012 version and its 2018 update. The four main goals identified in the Strategy …
Deadline:Â Fri 9 Jan 2026 at 23:00 UKÂ The Better Water 4 All Network+ is inviting members to propose Working Groups (WG) on focused topics within the broad scope of the Network (https://water4allnet.ac.uk/technical-themes). WG activities include: developing partnerships and joint programmes/events with various stakeholders, co-developing strategic roadmaps, horizon scanning, organizing …
Huge thanks to Angela Bywater for her timely and thorough update from the 2025 ADBA National Conference – she is a major motivating force in this area, both within and well beyond EBNet. Another excellent Summary of Key Insights from the event is now available from the ADBA team on …
Angela Bywater from the Global Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), who is also our former EBNet Network Co-Manager and a pillar of the AD WG, reports on some highlights of ADBA‘s recent National Conference: “With a packed house and a long waiting list, the 2025 ADBA National Conference had a buzz …
