EUSEW<\/a>) in Brussels. This year\u2019s winners are Stella Tsani, AquaBattery, and Community Energy for Social Housing in Otterbeek.<\/p>\nEUSEW, the largest event in Europe dedicated to sustainable energy, was opened by European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan J\u00f8rgensen. In his speech, he stressed the European Union would need to become fully independent from Russian energy. \u201cThe way we will do it is by banning the import of gas. By the end of this year, we plan to ban spot market gas purchases, and by the end of 2027, we will also ban long-term contracts,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
The European Union imports fossil fuels worth EUR 400 billion annually, which, according to J\u00f8rgensen, is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of constantly buying expensive energy, we must start producing our own sustainable and renewable energy,\u201d he stressed.<\/p>\n
Climate change is here and now<\/p>\n
J\u00f8rgensen noted that in addition to the energy crisis, Europe is now facing a climate crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate change is here. It\u2019s not something that might happen in the future. It\u2019s not something that we fear could be a prospect. It\u2019s here and now\u201d, he emphasized, adding that Europe has a moral responsibility to combat climate change because, historically, the West, including Europe, has polluted for more than a hundred years.<\/p>\n
The third crisis Europe faces, according to the commissioner, is a competitiveness crisis. He pointed out that energy in Europe is two to three times more expensive than in the United States or China, and that last year, 47 million Europeans were unable to adequately heat their homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo address these three challenges, security, climate change, and competitiveness, we need to stay on track. The green transition is not the reason for these problems. The green transition is the answer for these challenges\u201d, J\u00f8rgensen concluded.<\/p>\n
Energy produced in Europe is always better and more competitive than imported energy<\/p>\n
Poland\u2019s Secretary of State at the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Krzysztof Bolesta, also spoke at the opening. He highlighted three key elements for a successful energy transition: affordable energy, fairness, and sustainable energy independence.<\/p>\n
Bolesta stressed that citizens must feel tangible benefits from the energy transition through more affordable energy. He also underlined the importance of a just transition, particularly for workers in hard-to-decarbonize industries.<\/p>\n
According to him, energy produced in Europe is always better and more competitive than imported energy. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to swap one dependency on Russian oil, say, with tech import dependency from Asia. So let\u2019s not swap oil for batteries. Let\u2019s try to bring as much of the value chain to Europe as possible,\u201d the Polish official said.<\/p>\n
Woman in Energy \u2013 Stella Tsani<\/p>\n
Stella Tsani, a scientist and associate professor at the University of Athens, is this year\u2019s winner of the EUSEW Woman in Energy Award. She combines scientific research in energy transition with active participation in high-level policymaking, contributing to practical progress through evidence-based recommendations.<\/p>\n
Through work with organisations such as the United Nations\u00a0Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), her research informs policies that balance economic growth with environmental protection. She is also dedicated to empowering young women in the energy sector through mentorship and education, believing that future female leaders are key to achieving the EU\u2019s climate goals.<\/p>\n
In her speech at the award ceremony, Tsani highlighted her belief in the vast, untapped potential of youth. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m trying to do at the University of Athens \u2013 <\/strong>support all future leaders, the future changemakers. So I truly believe in you and I urge everyone in this room, the European Commission, to support young people,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n<\/p>\nInnovation category \u2013 AquaBattery<\/p>\n
The Innovation Award recognises outstanding projects funded by the European Union that are ongoing or recently completed, demonstrating original and innovative approaches to the energy transition and delivering tangible results.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s winner is AquaBattery from the Netherlands. Its pilot project in Delft could soon commercialize a sustainable and affordable solution for long-duration energy storage based on kitchen salt and water. The unique innovation, using widely available and environmentally friendly materials, could help Europe reduce its reliance on critical raw materials and develop better energy storage solutions.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Local Energy Action \u2013 Community Energy for Social Housing in Otterbeek<\/p>\n
The Local Energy Action category highlights citizen or consumer-led initiatives at the local level that contribute to the energy transition in their communities. Such initiatives are meant to inspire others across the EU by demonstrating both economic and environmental benefits.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s winner is Community Energy for Social Housing in Otterbeek, based in the city of Mechelen, Belgium. The project provides socially vulnerable tenants with access to renewable energy. Two hundred households in the Otterbeek social housing district have been equipped with solar panels, receiving green energy at a fixed rate below market prices.<\/p>\n
Supported by the EU under the TANDEMS project, the initiative has developed a EUR 1 million investment model funded through citizen contributions, showcasing the power of community-driven change.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy demonstrating how social inclusion can accelerate the clean energy transition, we advocate policies that support energy sharing, community-driven renewable projects, and affordable access to clean energy for low-income households,\u201d says Bart De Bruyne, Energy Sharing Expert at the City of Mechelen.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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