Event Recap Argus Biomass Conference 2026 - London
IBTC at the Argus Biomass Conference 2026 in London
The Argus Biomass Conference in London once again demonstrated how rapidly the discussion around biomass and Circular Biocarbon is evolving.
IBTC hosted an exhibition pavilion throughout all three conference days, together with our members John Cockerill, Polytechnik and Yilkins B.V. The pavilion served as a meeting point for members, industrial stakeholders, project developers and visitors and created space for many valuable conversations across the value chain.
At the same time, IBTC contributed actively to the conference programme with several panels addressing the transition of Circular Biocarbon from niche applications towards industrial scale implementation.
From niche to commodity
One of the central discussions was moderated by IBTC President Michael Wild under the title: "Biocoal, Biocarbon, Biochar - From Niche to Commodity"
And the conversation made one thing very clear: the discussion has fundamentally changed.
Compared to previous years, the debate has become far more practical and implementation-oriented. We are no longer discussing theoretical possibilities or distant future scenarios. Real industrial testing, qualification work and application development are now happening across different sectors.
Particularly encouraging was the level of understanding regarding the interdependencies across the value chain. Topics such as terminology, product definitions and standardisation - areas where IBTC has invested considerable effort over recent years - are increasingly translating into practical industrial relevance.
The panel also highlighted the growing importance of agricultural residues as future feedstocks for Circular Biocarbon production, while industrial users shared concrete experiences from testing programmes, especially in metallurgical applications.
At the same time, the discussion showed clearly that important challenges remain unresolved. Standardisation, production scaling and shipping safety continue to be central issues for market growth. Nevertheless, the overall tone of the discussion was distinctly optimistic. Across the panel, there was a strong sense that the sector is moving in the right direction and that industrial momentum is building steadily.
Special thanks to Zainab Afailal, Patrick Lapointe, Ivan Fadel and Chris Wiberg for their valuable insights and expertise. The transition from niche to commodity has started.
From ambition to application
Another important discussion at the conference focused on industrial demand.
IBTC Secretary General Lisa Schmidt moderated the panel: "The Role of Biomass in Industrial Decarbonisation - Buyers' Perspectives"
Together with Steve Sirdey (ArcelorMittal), Nicolas Strunden (Terval) and Frank Van Der Zon (Tata Steel), the discussion explored what still needs to happen to bridge the gap between ambition and large-scale industrial implementation.
One message from the panel stood out particularly clearly: interest is no longer the issue.
For years, many industrial decarbonisation strategies focused heavily on hydrogen. While hydrogen will undoubtedly remain important, the pace of implementation has been slower than expected. Circular Biocarbon is therefore increasingly gaining attention as a practical and available solution for immediate carbon substitution.
What also became obvious throughout the discussion was the increasing level of sophistication in buyer requirements. Industrial users are no longer asking whether Biocarbon could potentially work. They are now defining very precise technical specifications and operational requirements for their individual processes.
At the same time, the challenge of scaling reliable supply remains central. Access to representative product volumes, stable logistics infrastructure and long-term delivery structures are still key barriers for broader industrial adoption. Compared to only a few years ago, however, the maturity of the discussion has changed fundamentally.
The sector has moved beyond vision and pilot concepts. We are now seeing real industrial trials, serious qualification programmes and concrete project development across the value chain.
The technologies exist. Industrial willingness exists. The next challenge is coordinated scaling. And that is not the task of a single company alone, but of the entire ecosystem.