The 34th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition was held from 19 to 22 May in The Hague, the Netherlands
ISP-UVa researchers Dr. Raquel Lebrero and PhD Silvia García, both members of the ENVIROENG Unit at ISP, represented the institute at the EUBCE 2026 Conference and Exhibition, held in The Hague, the Netherlands. The event brought together more than 1,500 participants from academia, industry and policymaking, reaffirming its role as a leading international forum for biomass, bioenergy and the circular bioeconomy.
Their contributions focused on the bioconversion of carbon-rich gases using mixed microbial communities for the production of renewable fuels and value-added compounds. Raquel Lebrero presented her work on syngas biomethanation, exploring its potential to convert waste-derived gases into renewable biomethane through anaerobic microbial consortia. Her presentation highlighted how temperature and microbial cooperation can influence metabolic pathways and improve the efficiency and stability of biomethane production.
Silvia García contributed to the program section on “Platforms for bio-based chemicals and polymers” with a presentation on gas fermentation dynamics using mixed cultures. Her study examined how operational variables such as pH, temperature and syngas load influence microbial community dynamics and product yield during syngas fermentation. The results showed that operational conditions can be used as a control strategy to direct microbial activity towards specific products, from acetate under mild conditions to more complex and potentially higher-value compounds through solventogenesis and chain elongation at higher syngas loads.
ISP’s participation in EUBCE 2026 reinforces the institute’s positioning within the European research and innovation landscape in biomass, bioenergy and circular bioeconomy.