Nine finalists have been announced in three categories for the 2026 European Sustainable Energy Award (EUSEW Award), which recognizes outstanding individuals and projects for their innovations and initiatives in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Awards are given in three categories: small and medium-sized enterprises promoting energy efficiency, community energy activities, and women in energy.
The winners will be determined by an online public vote, open until May 31, and announced at the EUUSEW Awards Ceremony in Brussels on June 9, 2026.
European Sustainable Energy Awards 2026 Finalists:
Small and medium-sized businesses promoting energy efficiency
The EUSEW SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency Award recognizes small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have developed and deployed innovative business or financing models that advance energy efficiency solutions, particularly in buildings and industry.
Ener2Crowd is an Italian crowdfunding platform that raises millions of euros from citizen investments in energy efficiency projects in buildings and industry.
France’s Water Horizon uses mobile battery technology to provide a low-carbon cooling solution that captures waste heat from one location, stores it, and delivers it as cooling to another location.
RE-LEAF is pioneering an innovative approach to tackling energy poverty by combining mortgage financing with renovation advice in Belgium.
regional energy action
The EUUSEW Local Energy Action Award recognizes sustainable energy actions carried out by groups of citizens or consumers that contribute to the transition to clean energy at community or regional level. It will also encourage other companies to take similar steps and roll them out across the EU, resulting in economic and environmental benefits.
The 100 Project Gas Phasing is Vienna’s portfolio of good practices to phase out fossil gas in existing buildings and drive the city’s clean energy transition to 100% renewable heating.
MultiHome provides a regional cooperation platform for energy renovation in Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city.
Nova Energia Osona has developed energy projects based on partnerships with Spanish municipalities and energy communities.
women in energy
The EUUSEW Women in Energy Award recognizes women who are leading outstanding work to accelerate the transition to clean energy in Europe. Particular attention is given to efforts to advance the gender mainstreaming agenda and support equality and equal opportunity in the energy sector.
Suzanne Renard leads France’s national movement to organize, support and finance citizen-led renewable energy projects, and champions the active involvement of women and sexual minorities across the sector.
Dr. Nadia Horstmann plays a key role in Germany’s energy regulator, the Bundesnetzagentur, and champions women in the energy sector through her work at EU level.
Donna Gartland is driving Ireland’s transition to low carbon heating and promoting gender equality in the energy sector through workplace innovation.
Europe’s largest sustainable energy event
European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is Europe’s largest annual event dedicated to renewable energy and efficient energy use, organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The 20th EUSEW will be held from 9 to 11 June 2026 in a hybrid format, on-site in Brussels and online.
European Sustainable Energy Week consists of three days of policy conferences, a European Sustainable Energy Awards ceremony, an energy fair and activities dedicated to young energy ambassadors. Participants will also have access to uniquely hosted Sustainable Energy Days (SED), which will be held in online and physical formats around the world. Applications to organize an SED are being accepted until May 24th.
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