The winners of the European Sustainable Energy Awards 2023 have been announced at this year’s European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) in Brussels.
Awarded by the European Commission, the European Sustainable Energy Awards recognise the leading projects and experts across three categories: Innovation, Local Energy Action, and Women in Energy.
A high-level jury selected the finalists for the awards, with the winners chosen through an online public vote that attracted more than 11,000 people.
In addition to crowning three winners for the European Sustainable Energy Awards, a ‘Young Energy Champion’ was also selected for the first time.
Who won the European Sustainable Energy Awards?
EUSEW – the largest annual event dedicated to renewables and energy efficiency in Europe – brings together thousands of leading sustainability experts to discuss policies to protect European consumers from energy price volatility and innovate to advance the clean energy transition.
Joana Freitas, Board Member of EDP Generation, commented: “We need all the renewable technologies to come together and deliver the energy transition in Europe.”
Innovation Award
Taking home gold in the Innovation category was the Alqueva Floating Solar Farm – a hybrid energy project that amalgamates solar energy, hydropower, and battery storage.
The Innovation Award is granted to outstanding ongoing or recently completed EU-funded projects that display unique ways to drive the clean energy transition.
Local Energy Action Award
The Križevci Laboratory for Innovation in Climate (KLIK) lifted the Local Energy Action prize, which is won for sustainable energy actions taken by a group of citizens and consumers that expedite the energy transition at the local level.
KLIK was awarded the Local Energy Action prize for designing an energy community that provides clean energy to communities in Croatia.
Sanela Mikulčič Šantić, Cooperative Manager of KLIK, commented: “KLIK is a unique energy cooperative helping citizens in the energy transition. We are engaging with the community by collaborating with local organisations. In the last two years, we organised 22 lectures with close to 400 participants.
“Through this, we are trying to impart the community with knowledge and connect them with other relevant stakeholders to make a more resilient community.”
Anastasia-Maria Moschovi wins Woman in Energy Award
The EUSEW Woman in Energy Award is presented to women leading projects that advance Europe’s clean energy journey, with a particular focus on driving equality and equal opportunities in the energy sector.
This year’s award was won by Anastasia-Maria Moschovi for her outstanding efforts as a materials engineer boosting innovation in Greece.
Commenting on the importance of accelerating the energy transition, Anastasia-Maria said: “I believe that we are equally responsible for the energy that we consume and the energy we have to save.”
First Young Energy Champion crowned
The first Young Energy Champion was awarded for outstanding efforts to advance clean energy technologies and inspire other young innovators.
The prize was available to one of the 30 newly appointed EUSEW Young Energy Ambassadors, with Livia Kalossaka, an Italian-Greek chemist and climate activist, winning the Award.
