Three individuals and remarkable projects have won the 2024 European Sustainable Energy Awards, being distinguished for their innovation and achievements in the field of energy efficiency and renewable sources.
The winners were selected through an online public vote in three categories: Innovation, Local Energy Action, and Woman in Energy. The awards were presented by European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson and high-level jury members at the Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) awards ceremony on June 11 in Brussels.
Portuguese architect Rita Gomes won the award in the Woman in Energy category for her start-up Seenergy, a pioneer in using integrated renewable energy solutions in household objects.
The company uses colored solar cells that mimic the process of photosynthesis in plants, converting light into electricity without direct sunlight. Once collected, the energy is stored in a battery integrated into furniture and can be used to charge devices or power lights through USB ports.
The Association of Village Energy Cooperatives, a network of local French cooperatives, took first place in the Local Energy Action category. Supported by the European Union’s LIFE program, the network brings together citizens, municipalities, and local businesses to develop local-scale projects, providing technical, economic, and legal assistance to community-led energy initiatives.
PHOTORAMA, a project funded by the EU Horizon 2020 program with the aim of improving the recycling of photovoltaic panels, was the winner in the Innovation category. The project brings partners from across Europe to enhance the recycling of photovoltaic panels (PV) and recover raw materials, developing a circular model that can bridge the gap between production and recycling industries.
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The European Sustainable Energy Awards provide recognition to outstanding individuals and projects for their innovation and efforts in energy efficiency and renewable sources.
The European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW), the largest annual event dedicated to renewable sources and efficient energy use in Europe, took place from June 11-13 under the theme „Net Zero Solutions for a Competitive Europe”. The event brought together public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and consumers to promote initiatives that accelerate decarbonization through green technologies and solutions towards a fair and just transition for people and competitive businesses.