A pioneering clean energy initiative led by the City of Vienna has won the European Sustainable Energy Award 2026 in the Local Energy Action category, recognising its impact in driving the city’s renewable energy transition by showcasing successful renovations into a replicable learning programme for the city.
The Austrian initiative – ‘100 Projects Phasing Out Gas’ – came first in an online public vote, receiving the award at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) Awards Ceremony on 9 June 2026 in Brussels.
Over two years, the initiative’s participants have replaced 1 030 gas boilers with local renewable energy systems, strengthening the local economy, and achieving annual CO2 savings of more than 2 300 tonnes. But its added value lies in translating this experience into transferable lessons on how to tackle the practical, legal and procedural challenges in multi-storey buildings.
“What we do is to turn ideas into concrete action by organising implementation as a curated learning programme,” explains project lead Petra Schöfmann, from UIV Urban Innovation Vienna, the climate and innovation agency of the City of Vienna, which is implementing the initiative.
100 Projects Phasing Out Gas was one of three finalists shortlisted for an award in the Local Energy Action category, which 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.
The other finalists in this category were Nova Energia Osona in Spain and the MultiHome project in Bulgaria.
Nova Energia Osona developed an energy project based on an alliance between local authorities and energy communities covering 50 municipalities in Catalonia. MultiHome offers a local cooperation platform for energy renovations in Bulgaria’s second city of Plovdiv.
The European Sustainable Energy Awards recognise outstanding individuals, projects and initiatives that advance Europe’s transition to clean energy in three categories – SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency, Local Energy Action, and Women in Energy. Nine finalists were selected by a high-level jury before being submitted to an online public vote.
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 is taking place in a hybrid format, onsite in Brussels and online, on 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 the Young Energy Ambassadors.
For updates on the agenda and location of the events, please refer to the EUSEW Programme and the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) page on Linkedin. You can still join the event, either in person or online, by registering and then the platform opens up the possibility of networking with other participants.
Join the conversation any time on social media via #EUSEW2026.
- Publication date
- 9 June 2026
- Author
- European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency