Berlin, 1 June 2021. The Deutsche Energie-Agentur (dena) – the German Energy Agency – is extending the application period for the Energy Efficiency Award 2021: The new deadline is 25 June 2021. The annual award focuses on success in achieving energy savings and innovative approaches that can be easily applied to other companies. Its patron is the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Peter Altmaier. The total prize money is 30,000 euros. Companies of any size and from any industry in Germany or abroad can apply online at energyefficiencyaward.de/en/apply/. This year, small and medium-sized companies will be honoured with two separate awards.

The 18 nominees, which will be selected by a jury of experts in September, will receive an EEA label for use in their public relations work. The winners will be chosen at this year’s dena Energiewende-Kongress in November.

The Energy Efficiency Award 2021 is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi). KfW is the premium partner.

The competition’s four categories illustrate the diversity of possible success patterns in the field of energy efficiency. Interested companies can apply with one or more competition entries in the following categories:

Think big!
Complex energy transition projects
For a long time, companies have been implementing multi-layered energy efficiency projects where a large number of measures have to be coordinated with one another. Here systematic thinking and integrated solutions are being sought.

Small and medium-sized companies will be honoured separately in this category.

From clever to digital!
The broad spectrum of energy efficiency
In this category, low-investment measures are being sought just as much as mature technologies or digitally supported optimisation. Be it with the help of software solutions, digital sensors and control systems or artificial intelligence, the entire spectrum of optimisation possibilities is of interest here.

Small and medium-sized companies will also be honoured separately in this category.

Achieving more together!
Energy services as an enabler of the energy transition
The involvement of service providers is particularly useful where ambitious ideas encounter limited finances, resources or lack of expertise. Such involvement can range from conception, planning and implementation of a system to finance, system control and maintenance.

Concepts for a climate-neutral future:
Innovative ideas and new approaches for a green economy
The energy transition needs innovative ideas. New approaches to reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions or to designing a cross-system and cross-sectoral energy transition are important for green change. Companies can submit their concepts for the Energy Efficiency Audience Award. The concept should demonstrate conclusively which concrete measures should be used to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions in companies, as well as impress the jury by their innovation and market maturity.

All information on free entry, conditions of entry, the online application form and information on the previous year’s winners can be found at www.energyefficiencyaward.de/en/home/.