European Sustainable Energy Awards 2026: Two French initiatives are finalists

In the “SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency” category, Water Horizon is developing an innovative solution for utilizing waste heat. The company uses mobile thermal batteries to capture waste heat from one site, store it, and supply it as cooling or heating to another site. Faced with the growing demand for cooling across Europe, it offers a “Cooling-as-a-Service” solution, allowing customers to reduce their energy consumption and emissions without any initial investment. In Toulouse, Water Horizon recovers 6 GWh of waste heat annually from a waste treatment center, which it transports over 15 km to the Alex Jany aquatic center and ice rink. The recovered energy heats the swimming pool and cools the ice rink, thus preventing 1,400 tons of CO₂ emissions per year.

According to Jean-Emmanuel Faure, founder and CEO of Water Horizon: “We provide the right amount of clean thermal energy, exactly where and when it is needed. Our solution operates without refrigerants and consumes very little electricity. This mobility and efficiency, combined with clear economic and environmental benefits, facilitate and accelerate its adoption. By transforming cooling into a simple, sustainable, and performance-based service, this model removes structural barriers to the market and enables broader access to energy-efficient solutions.”

In a context where cooling represents a growing share of global electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, this approach contributes directly to European decarbonization and energy efficiency objectives.

In the "Women in Energy" category, Suzanne Renard, Head of Investments at Énergie Partagée, embodies a complementary approach based on civic engagement and social justice. Through her work, she develops innovative financial solutions to support citizen-led renewable energy projects.

Énergie Partagée has already facilitated the financing of 448 citizen-led projects, mobilizing over 32.000 investors and 827 local authorities, for a total exceeding €67 million. This model relies on leveraging citizen savings to finance local renewable energy projects, generating direct economic benefits for the communities they serve.

For Suzanne Renard: “My goal is to prove that citizen-led energy is not a niche, but a large-scale solution. We seek to bridge the gap between ‘clean’ and ‘fair’ energy, ensuring that energy is not only decarbonized, but also owned by citizens. Energy is not just about technology, but also about social justice and finance. By investing in a field traditionally dominated by men, I want to show young women that they can be the architects of the system.”

Beyond its results, its action helps to strengthen the social acceptability of renewable energies, to support local economies and to promote an inclusive energy transition.

The European Sustainable Energy Awards recognize projects, initiatives, and individuals each year who make outstanding contributions to the clean energy transition in Europe. The 2026 finalists were selected in three categories: "SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency," "Local Energy Action," and "Women in Energy."

The winners will be chosen through a public online vote open until May 31, 2026, and announced at the official ceremony in Brussels on June 9, 2026, as part of the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW). Organised by the European Commission, EUSEW is the leading annual event dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency in Europe. The 2026 edition will take place from June 9 to 11, in a hybrid format, in Brussels and online.

The EUSEW Awards recognize the best European projects and stakeholders in clean energy.

The European Sustainable Energy Awards (EUSEW Awards) recognize outstanding individuals, projects, and initiatives that are advancing Europe's clean energy transition. The nine finalists were selected by a high-level jury in three categories: SMEs Driving Energy Efficiency, Local Energy Action, and Women in Energy. The finalists will be subject to a public online vote, open now until May 31, and the winners will be announced at the EUSEW Awards ceremony on June 9, 2026.

EUSEW 2026

The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) is the largest annual event dedicated to renewable energy and energy efficiency in Europe. It is organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and the European Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA). The 20th edition of EUSEW will take place in a hybrid format, both in person in Brussels and online, from 9 to 11 June 2026. The European Sustainable Energy Week includes a three-day policy conference, the European Sustainable Energy Awards ceremony, the Energy Fair, and activities for young energy ambassadors. Participants will also have access to independently organised Sustainable Energy Days, which will take place both online and in person around the world. The call for applications is open until 24 May.