Nominations are now open!


Deadline for nominations is 5pm Wednesday 14 January


Please see the seven awards categories below. The criteria for each can be found by clicking on the ‘view criteria’ button in each category box.

When entering, you will be asked to provide information in response to each of the questions listed in the criteria.

Nominations will be reviewed by our internal judges, who will select the shortlist.

You will be notified in February of the results of the judging. If you have been shortlisted you will then have a week to submit a more detailed response.

Final submissions will be reviewed by our external judges, who will then choose the winners which will be announced at the awards dinner on 26 March.


We look forward to receiving your nominations!

This award recognises pioneering clean energy projects that are up and running, delivering significant carbon savings, contributing to a net zero energy system and supporting a just transition.

The judges are keen to see projects from across the whole energy system that are breaking new ground, providing inspiring examples of what can be achieved on the road to net zero. This may include (but is not limited to) low-carbon infrastructure projects, innovative retrofit schemes or renewable generation sites, or programmes to overcome local barriers to net zero.

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CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT

1. What is the project and why is it significant? Is it a first? Is it replicable? Has it influenced policymakers, regulators or politicians to build wider support for net zero?

2. Explain how the project contributes to transitioning our energy system to net zero. For example:

  • How much energy does the project deliver or save?
  • What are the carbon benefits? Please quantify on an annual basis.
  • Does it address multiple energy sectors (like heat, transport or power)?
  • Does it reduce costs for the consumer?

3. What are the wider benefits of the project? For example:

  • Was some or all of the project delivered by local companies and local supply chains?
  • What work has been done to improve biodiversity?
  • What has been the impact of the engagement and communication with local stakeholders and what were the lessons learned?

4. How does the project support a just transition?

  • How does the project work or engage with people on low income or in vulnerable circumstances?
  • What are the benefits of the project for people on low income or in vulnerable circumstances and how has it impacted them?
  • How are marginalised voices being represented within the project and what benefits does this bring to the project?

This award recognises the role of inspiring community energy organisations across the UK, working to deliver a net zero energy system in a just way. It highlights the importance of bringing people with us as we decarbonise our energy system.

The judges are looking for nominations for community energy initiatives that deliver significant community benefits, encourage involvement in the energy system and demonstrate local net zero ambition. For example, the initiative may be new renewable energy generation, low-carbon heat and energy efficiency schemes or improved community access to services like EV car clubs, community EV chargers or local support services.

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COMMUNITY ENERGY INITIATIVE

1. What is the initiative, why is it significant and how does it help the community achieve its net zero ambitions?

2. What is the impact of the initiative? We welcome quantification of benefits where possible. For example:

  • How has it benefited the local community, supply chains and economy?
  • What are the carbon benefits?
  • How has it encouraged wider community engagement and helped to bring people with us on our journey to net zero?

3. How did you successfully collaborate with others and what did you learn through this process?

4. How has the initiative gone above and beyond previous achievements in the community energy sector?

This award recognises projects that explicitly aim to support fairness, equity and justice within the net zero transition. This could include: projects opening up new low-carbon technologies and services to support people in fuel poverty; local-level projects that unlock new social value, particularly in less affluent communities; projects which involve new and inclusive approaches to engagement, delivery and finance; or skills and decarbonisation opportunities for areas of high deprivation. Applications should provide quantitative evidence of the impacts from these projects where possible, alongside qualitative evidence.

Applications should provide quantitative evidence of the impacts from these projects alongside qualitative evidence.
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JUST TRANSITION SCHEME

1. How does the project support or enable a fairer transition to net zero?

2. How does the project engage with low-income, fuel-poor or marginalised communities? Please provide examples of how you have engaged with these groups, to what end and, where possible, techniques and numbers of groups and organisations engaged.

3. How does the project benefit low-income, fuel-poor or marginalised communities? Benefits may include: savings on energy bills; new local revenue streams; reducing barriers to access clean energy technologies, energy efficiency and services; or delivering social value, e.g. new jobs or skills.

4. How does the project serve as a leading example? For example

  • Is it replicable across the sector?
  • Does it involve novel approaches to engagement, governance, technology design, finance or other?
  • How has the project engaged with policymakers?

This award recognises the crucial role that local and public sector leadership can play in transforming the UK’s energy system for a net zero future.

The judges invite nominations from local authorities and public sector organisations for flagship projects and partnerships that adopt a whole-system approach. Eligible nominations may include projects developed in collaboration with community groups, NHS, fire service, colleges and universities or local authorities, aligning with strategic energy plans and attracting investment.
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LOCAL AND PUBLIC SECTOR NET ZERO TRANSFORMATION

1. What is the project, how does it help the area or organisation contribute to delivering a net zero energy system locally, and how is it leading the way at a national level?

2. What evidence is there of the leadership, capability and political will to implement these projects?

3. What has been the impact of implementing these projects? For example:

  • What are the carbon reductions achieved?
  • What is the power or heat produced/saved?
  • What are the benefits to the local community, supply chains and economy?

4. How does the project support a just transition?

  • How does the project work with or engage with people on low incomes or in vulnerable circumstances?
  • What are the benefits of the project for people on low incomes or in vulnerable circumstances and how has it impacted them?
  • How are marginalised voices being represented within the project and what benefits does this bring to the project?

This award recognises the achievements of responsible developers who are bringing forward a portfolio of clean energy projects vital to achieving a net zero energy system.

The judges are looking for nominations from exemplary developers who are building support for the energy transition while engaging positively with local communities and political stakeholders and growing UK supply chains.

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NET ZERO ENERGY DEVELOPER

1. What is the developer's story?

  • What projects, technologies and innovations have been deployed or are planned?
  • What is the scale and development stage of the portfolio of projects?
  • What is the target date for generating/supplying energy?
  • How are the projects addressing multiple energy vectors?

2. What steps is the developer taking to lead the way as an exemplary employer, and so helping to deliver a healthier, fairer, net zero world?

  • Has the developer made a public declaration to improve gender diversity in their company and in the sector as a whole?
  • What policies and strategies does the developer have that encourage greater diversity in their workforce?
  • What partnerships has the developer created? For example, does it work with universities?
  • What working practices has the developer adopted to attract and retain talent? (e.g. flexible working, 50/50 parental leave)

3. How is the developer going above and beyond to deliver wider benefits? For example:

  • How is it contributing to a secure, smart and flexible energy system?
  • Does it have a strategy to engage with local and UK supply chains, generating jobs and economic benefits, and how is that measured and communicated as part of the project?
  • Is the developer working with local communities, politicians and stakeholders to build support for the project and net zero energy more broadly?
  • Is the developer committed to going above and beyond supporting biodiversity?

4. How is the developer's portfolio of projects helping to bring people with us on the journey to net zero?

  • Have the projects adopted shared ownership, community benefits or other approaches to engaging local people?
  • What examples of ongoing engagement strategies does the developer have for operational sites? Do they have regular school visits and STEM activities?

This award recognises the achievements of inspiring individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a real difference in the development of a net zero energy system.

The pioneer could be an individual working in the clean energy sector, a local community leader or a business leader. Whatever their background, the judges are looking for someone who has shown inspiring leadership and strong individual commitment and has made a significant impact as a force for change.

We want to hear from individuals who have championed their sector outside their organisation’s interests and job role, supported the next generation of clean energy leaders and been mindful of the importance of a diverse workforce.

The judges do not consider the successes of private sector organisations as a testament of the pioneer’s success – it is the individual’s achievements above and beyond their paid role that we are looking for. Nominations should be for individuals only and can be from the nominated person or on their behalf.
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NET ZERO ENERGY PIONEER

1. How has the nominee helped drive the transition to a net zero energy system?

2. What clean energy schemes, new business models or policies has the nominee championed? What obstacles or difficult issues did they have to overcome?

3. How has the nominee demonstrated going above and beyond the day-to-day responsibilities of their role to champion net zero energy or improve diversity in the clean energy sector?

4. How has the nominee helped change hearts and minds: inspiring others to work towards a net zero future and bringing people along on the journey?

This award recognises the role of innovative technologies, products and services in the development of a net zero energy system.

The judges are looking for applications from organisations that have developed innovative clean energy products and services. These might include (but are not limited to): innovative commercial models and partnerships that unlock investment in clean energy, tools for optimising renewable energy and/or storage assets, demand reduction solutions, or developments in renewable energy generation or storage technologies.

Applications should provide evidence that the entry has left the lab and is available on the market.

The judges welcome quantification of benefits, the current and potential market scale of the innovation and the replicability.
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WHOLE SYSTEM INNOVATION

1. What is the innovation? How does it stand out from other products or services on the market? Please quantify the benefits where possible.

2. What sales have been achieved to date and what is your assessment of the potential market?

3. What is the significance of the innovation in the development of a whole system approach to net zero?

4. What are the wider benefits of the innovation? For example:

  • Could its adoption help steer local or national energy policies?
  • How does it bring people with us in the energy transition?
  • What are the system and/or consumer benefits?

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