Finalists of 2026 European sustainable energy awards revealed

The three categories of projects for the 2026 awards are SMEs driving energy efficiency, local energy action and women in energy. 

The winners will be decided by the online public vote, now open until 31 May, and announced during EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels on 9 June 2026. 

SMEs driving energy efficiency 

The SMEs driving energy efficiency award is aimed to recognise enterprises that have developed and deployed innovative business or financing models to advance energy efficiency solutions, notably in buildings and industry. 

The finalists are:

• Ener2Crowd is an Italian crowdfunding platform raising millions of euros in citizen investments for energy efficiency projects in buildings and industry. 
• 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 local energy action award is to recognise 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 finalists are:

• 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% 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 women in energy award recognises women who lead outstanding activities that, if replicated, help to advance the clean energy transition in Europe, with particular attention placed on efforts to drive the gender mainstreaming agenda and support equality and equal opportunities in the energy sector. 

The finalists are:

• Suzanne Renard, investment team manager at Energie Partagée, 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, head of section, 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, CEO at Dublin's energy agency Codema, is driving Ireland’s transition to low carbon heat while advancing gender equality in the energy sector through workplace innovation.  

Vote online until 31 May.