Pioneer of Flemish energy cooperatives announced as finalist in 2025 European Sustainable Energy Awards

Sophie Loots is a champion of grassroots energy cooperatives in Flanders, combining empathy and passion to drive the ZuidtrAnt – a cooperative, which works for and with locals to achieve affordable and green energy in the community.

Sophie spent over 16 years working as a sustainability officer for the Municipality of Edegem near the Belgian city of Antwerp, advocating for climate-related themes, including energy savings and renovations. 

'In my regular contact with citizens, I noticed that many of them had questions about energy. People came to the municipality’s energy desk with all kinds of questions about energy contracts, renovation premiums, energy-efficient technologies, solar panels, and so on,' she recalls. 'It made me realise how powerless ordinary citizens often feel when it comes to energy. You’re expected to pay bills without having any real influence. Something inside me felt that this needed to change.'

So in 2016, together with a group of other volunteers, Sophie co-founded the energy cooperative ZuidtrAnt, turning professional in 2020. Their goal was to prioritise citizens’ interests in the energy transition and to make renewable energy more affordable. 

Citizens can join the cooperative by buying a share, pooling resources to become co-owners of the system: 

'We aim for more local ownership and less dependence on an unjust energy system that depletes natural resources and benefits only a small elite.'

Sophie is passionate about grassroots action: 

'Citizens have more power than they realise,' she says. 'When something emerges from the grassroots, it’s much more sustainable than if it’s imposed from above.'

Sophie is trying to bring a new energy into the sector: 

'It is still mainly a world of engineers, numbers, and calculations, but by bringing empathy and understanding, we’re trying to make a difference.'

ZuidtrAnt tries to reach as many people as it can: 

'We do this by working with local municipalities, as they are very close to their residents. We help them achieve their climate goals by offering renovation coaching, installing solar panels on public buildings, and seeing how we can help them to develop heat networks.'

From early on, Sophie has guided ZuidtrAnt's participation in an increasing number of European projects. 

'Without the support of the EU, our team would not be where we are today,' she admits. 

At the same time, she highlights the importance of spreading the message further afield, working as a board member of the Flemish Federation of Citizen Energy Cooperatives, where she strives to promote collaboration, the sharing of models, and exchange of experience. 

But Sophie is aware that the real impact is on the ground: 

'We’re not planners – we’re doers,' she insists. 'So far, we’ve advised and supported 300 households in renovating their homes to be more energy-efficient. We have given advice on solar panels to more than 1,000 citizens, and we are currently building two new heat networks that will provide sustainable heating and cooling to 150 people.'

EUSEW Awards ​celebrate Europe’s best clean energy projects and leaders 

Sophie Loots is one of three finalists shortlisted for the European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 in the Woman in Energy category. The 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. The other finalists are Carmen Sánchez-Guevara from Spain, and Stella Tsani from Greece.

Carmen Sánchez-Guevara is driving efforts to tackle the critical issue of summer energy poverty. Stella Tsani is an academic working at the intersection of economics, sustainability and policy.

The European Sustainable Energy Awards ​(EUSEW Awards) recognise outstanding individuals and projects for their innovation and efforts in energy efficiency and renewables. The nine finalists have been selected by a high-level jury in three categories: Innovation, Local Energy Action, and Woman in Energy. The finalists will be submitted to an online public vote, which is open until 1 June, and the winners will be announced during the EUSEW Awards Ceremony on 10 June 2025. ​ 

EUSEW 2025 

European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the​ biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe, takes place on 10-12 June under the theme of ‘Powering a fair and competitive green transition’. The event will bring together public authorities, industry, NGOs and consumers to promote initiatives accelerating decarbonisation through clean technologies and solutions towards a competitive, fair and just transition both for people and businesses.

Registrations for onsite attendance in Brussels and online participation are  now open.  

For interview requests with the EUSEW Awards finalists or additional media information, please contact ​ mediaeusew [dot] eu