News blog

As the 20th edition of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) kicks off in Brussels, we are proud to announce the winners of this year’s European Sustainable Energy Awards. Selected by a high-level jury and decided by public votes.

By Stella Tsani - Arguing Europe’s clean energy transition (wind and solar at 30% of EU electricity in 2025, surpassing fossil power at 29%) needs fairness and inclusion to avoid growing inequality and regional gaps.

From programme highlights to event platform tips and networking tools, here is everything you need to prepare for EUSEW 2026.

Who is EU energy policy really speaking to? Discover Ewelina Hartstein’s conversation with Marine Cornelis on communication, affordability and the future of energy.

By Jorgo Chatzimarkakis - From long-term storage and flexibility, to hard-to-abate sectors and data centres, a thriving clean hydrogen sector will offer much-needed solutions in the net zero energy system of the very near future.

By Allison Le Corre – Highlighting how local governments and community energy projects can strengthen Europe’s energy independence by expanding homegrown renewables and lowering energy costs for citizens.

By Alexandra Garatzogianni – Arguing that Europe must better align digital growth and energy planning to manage rising electricity demand and protect competitiveness and resilience.

Ahead of the 20th edition of European Sustainable Energy Week, we sat down with Paloma Aba Garrote, Director of CINEA – which organises the event – to reflect on the event’s journey over the years and discuss what to expect from this year.

By Arianna Vitali Roscini – Emphasising that energy efficiency is key to lowering energy costs and fossil fuel dependence, and that the next EU framework should strengthen and expand it.

Discover the nine finalists driving Europe’s clean energy transition and cast your vote.

By Marine Cornelis - Exploring what summer energy poverty really means, why air conditioning alone will not save us, and what fair, sustainable solutions look like for citizens, cities, and policymakers.

By Simona Aronica - Exploring how locally produced renewable heating and cooling networks, supported by coordinated policies and active citizen participation, can reduce energy costs, tackle energy poverty, and strengthen Europe’s energy independence

Renewable Matter sat down with #EUSEW2026 Coordinator Loredana Crucitti to discuss 20 years of energy landscape evolution, citizens engagement, the different pillars of the event and what this edition means to the EUSEW community and beyond.

EUSEW 2026 is officially open for registrations and the programme is now live! This year, we are celebrating a new milestone: for 20 years, EUSEW has been the place where Europe’s energy future took shape.

By Thomas Nowak – On why the buildings that house half of all Europeans have more clean heating options than typically acknowledged.

By Bianca Bittencourt and Tom Vasseur – About accelerating clean heating and scaling up investment to cut fossil fuel dependence and secure affordable energy for European households.

By Jiří Bím - Examining how agrivoltaics can accelerate Europe’s decarbonisation, enhance energy security, support farmers’ incomes, and overcome land-use challenges across the European Union.

By Chris Vrettos and Sara Tachelet - Explaining the EU’s Citizens Energy Package and highlighting its 90 GW community energy target while questioning its effectiveness without legally binding support.

By Thomas Hillig - Explaining that the European Union must act quickly and together to close the price gap, strengthen the hydrogen market and build its own industry, or risk losing economic leadership to China.