Two clean energy projects from the CEE region named among Europe’s best

Nine finalists have been announced in three categories for the 2025 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: Innovation, Local Energy Action and Woman in Energy. The winners will be decided by an online public vote, open from 29 April until 1 June, and will be announced during the EUSEW Awards ceremony in Brussels on 10 June 2025.

The Innovation Award recognises outstanding ongoing or recently completed EU-funded projects that show an original and innovative path towards the clean energy transition, as well as tangible results.

In this category, one project from the region is among the finalists: the Croatian project LIFE4GREENBROADBAND, which aims to cut emissions in the Croatian telecoms sector by rolling out cooling and solar power solutions at base stations. The Dutch AQUABATTERY is driving innovation to commercialise a groundbreaking energy storage solution based on saltwater, while LIFE TURBINES is using hydropower to generate electricity by harnessing excess pressure in domestic water supplies in Spain and Italy.

The Local Energy Action Award recognises implemented sustainable energy actions, driven by a group of citizens or consumers, that contribute to the clean energy transition at the community or local level. In this category, we find Amiestas, a public non-profit organisation operating a one-stop shop for energy-efficient renovations in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius; proKlima, a public-private partnership funding clean energy projects in and around Hanover; and Community Energy for Social Housing in Otterbeek, Belgium, which provides renewable energy access to vulnerable tenants.

The EUSEW Woman in Energy Award recognises women who lead outstanding activities that, if replicated, help to advance the clean energy transition in Europe. Particular attention is given to efforts that drive gender mainstreaming and support equality and equal opportunities in the energy sector.

Carmen Sánchez-Guevara is driving efforts to tackle the critical issues of summer energy poverty and extreme heat in Spain. Sophie Loots is a champion of grassroots energy cooperatives in Belgium. Stella Tsanti is a Greek academic working at the intersection of economics, sustainability and policy.