Skip to main content
European Commission logo
en
Energy, Climate change, Environment
European Sustainable Energy Week

Finalists of the 2026 European Sustainable Energy Awards announced

Public voting for the best European clean energy projects and leaders now open.

  • News announcement
  • 5 May 2026
  • European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
  • 3 min read

Nine finalists have been announced in three categories for the 2026​ European Sustainable Energy Awards ​(EUSEW Awards), recognising outstanding individuals and projects for their innovation and efforts in energy efficiency and renewables. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency, Local Energy Action, and Women in Energy. ​  

The winners will be decided by an online public vote, open now until 31 May, and will be announced during the EUSEW Awards Ceremony in Brussels on 9 June 2026. 

SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency 

The EUSEW SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency Award recognises Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) that have developed and deployed innovative business or financing models to advance energy efficiency solutions, notably in buildings and industry. 

Ener2Crowd is a crowdfunding platform raising millions of euros in citizen investments for energy efficiency projects in buildings and industry, in Italy and in Spain.  

Water Horizon in France offers low carbon cooling solutions, using mobile battery technology to capture waste heat from one place, store it and deliver it as cooling to another.  

RE-LEAF is pioneering an innovative approach to tackling energy poverty by linking mortgage finance with renovation advice in Belgium.  

Local Energy Action 

The EUSEW Local Energy Action Award recognises implemented sustainable energy actions, driven by a group of citizens or consumers, which contribute to the clean energy transition at the community or local level. It also inspires and motivates others to implement similar steps for an EU-wide deployment, resulting in economic and environmental benefits. 

100 Projects Phasing Out Gas is Vienna's good-practice portfolio for phasing out fossil gas in existing buildings and driving the city’s clean-energy transition towards 100 per cent renewable heating.  

MultiHome offers a local cooperation platform for energy renovations in Bulgaria’s second city of Plovdiv.  

Nova Energia Osona has developed an energy project based on an alliance between local authorities and energy communities in Spain.   

Women in Energy  

The EUSEW Women in Energy Award recognises women who lead outstanding activities that, if replicated, 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. 

Suzanne Renard leads a national movement in France that brings together, supports, and funds citizen-led renewable energy projects, while championing women and gender minorities’ active involvement across the sector.  

Dr. Nadia Horstmann plays a key role at the German energy regulatory authority Bundesnetzagentur and champions women in energy through her work on the EU level. 

Donna Gartland is driving Ireland’s transition to low-carbon heat while advancing gender equality in the energy sector through workplace innovation.   

EUSEW 2026  

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe and is organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). The 20th edition of EUSEW will take place in a hybrid format, onsite in Brussels and online, from 9-11 June 2026.  

The European Sustainable Energy Week consists of a three-day Policy Conference, the European Sustainable Energy Awards Ceremony, the Energy Fair, and the activities dedicated to Young Energy Ambassadors. Participants will also have access to independently organised Sustainable Energy Days (SEDs), taking place in online and physical formats worldwide. The call to organise an SED is open till 24 May.   

For updates on the agenda and location of the events, please refer to ec.europa.eu/eusew and the new European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) page on LinkedIn. Join the conversation any time on social media via #EUSEW2026.  

Contact for press inquiries: mediaateusew [dot] eu (media[at]eusew[dot]eu)