From city plans for energy efficiency in buildings to community-owned solar cooperatives with alternative financial models, the 2013 SEE and ManagEnergy nominated projects show the way towards a sustainable Europe.

Launched in 2006, the European Commission’s Sustainable Energy Europe (SEE) Awards and ManagEnergy Local Energy Action Award recognise and promote outstanding projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy sources and clean transport. While the SEE Awards welcome initiatives from the private and public sectors as well as industry associations, academic institutions, NGOs and media, the ManagEnergy award is expressly designed to reward public authorities and energy agencies at the local and regional level. Both competitions share a common goal: to provide institutional recognition and increase the visibility of best-in-class sustainable energy initiatives in order to boost replication.

For this year’s edition, 224 projects were submitted for the SEE Awards. A record 82 of these were automatically considered for the ManagEnergy Award competition. A panel of independent technical experts shortlisted a total of 25 projects as nominees for five SEE Awards in five categories:  Communicating (awareness-raising projects), Learning (educational programmes), Living (buildings),Consuming (energy saving) and Travelling (clean mobility schemes). Of these 25 nominees, ten were shortlisted for the ManagEnergy Award, from which one winner will be chosen.

The awards will take place next 24 June in Brussels and  all winners will be showcased as examples of sustainable energy excellence to inspire others in their efforts. Commissioner Oettinger’s opening speech will officially launch the European Union Sustainable Energy Week 2013 (24-28 June 2013).