Meet the EUSEW Awards 2025 winners
During the 2025 EUSEW Awards Ceremony, three prizes were awarded to changemakers in the categories of Innovation, Local Energy Action and Woman in Energy, celebrating their remarkable contributions to advancing renewable energy and powering a fair and competitive green transition across Europe and beyond.
You can find the videos of all nine finalists in the 2025 Award finalists press announcement.
Check out the projects and individuals who took home the trophies for the Innovation, Local Energy Action and Woman in Energy categories.
Innovation
Aquabattery claimed the 2025 Innovation Award for its breakthrough energy storage system that uses only salt and water to store and release electricity. The technology stands out for being safe, scalable, and sustainable, three essential features for Europe's clean energy future.
This innovative solution helps balance renewable energy supply and demand, increases grid stability, and reduces dependence on imported materials.
The EUSEW Innovation Award recognises outstanding ongoing or recently completed EU-funded projects that show an original and innovative path towards the clean energy transition.
'By using table salt and water – abundant and environmentally friendly materials – we can eliminate Europe’s dependence on critical raw materials, avoid the environmental destruction caused by open-pit mining of lithium and rare earth, and eliminate the fire, toxicity, and explosion risks to people and habitats near battery sites'
Jiajun Cen, co-founder and CEO
Local Energy Action
Community Energy for Social Housing in Otterbeek won the award in the Local Energy Action category. In Mechelen’s Otterbeek district, 200 social housing units now run on solar power thanks to a community-led energy project focused on fairness and sustainability. The project didn’t stop at installing panels, it created partnerships, trust, and a model for inclusive energy transition that can be replicated across Europe.
The EUSEW Local Energy Action Award recognises sustainable energy actions, implemented by a group of citizens or consumers (associated with a municipality or other stakeholders), which contribute to the clean energy transition at the community or local level.
'By demonstrating how social inclusion can accelerate the clean energy transition, we advocate policies that support energy sharing, community-driven renewable projects, and affordable access to clean energy for low-income households.'
JBart De Bruyne, Energy Sharing Expert
Woman in Energy
Dr Stella Tsani, Associate Professor at the University of Athens, won the award in the Woman in Energy category for her powerful role in shaping fair and evidence-based energy policy in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Her work bridges economics and sustainability, helping guide governments toward climate-resilient energy systems. Dr Tsani also mentors young women in the energy sector, highlighting the importance of inclusive leadership in the clean energy transition.
The EUSEW Woman in Energy Award recognises women who lead outstanding activities that help to advance the clean energy transition in Europe. Particular attention is placed on efforts to drive the gender mainstreaming agenda and support equality and equal opportunities in the energy sector.
'Empowering the new generation is at the heart of my work. They are the future leaders, innovators, and decision-makers who will carry forward the challenges and opportunities of the clean energy transition… By providing guidance, I aim to inspire the next wave of female scientists, policy leaders, and entrepreneurs in the clean energy sector,'
Stella Tsani, Associate Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens