The smarter E Award celebrates the most innovative contributors to the new energy landscape – from photovoltaics and energy storage to mobility, smart energy management and outstanding projects worldwide. This competition reflects a central goal of The smarter E Europe: driving innovation as the foundation for a climate-neutral energy supply, available around the clock.
The smarter E Europe 2026 – abstracts invited for conference sessions
The energy and mobility sectors are undergoing rapid change. Technologies are converging, boundaries are blurring and new innovations are emerging at their intersections. The five categories of The smarter E Award capture this dynamic:
• Photovoltaics: This category highlights “classic” solar industry innovations – including solar cells and modules, PV components, mounting and tracking systems, and production technologies.
• Energy Storage: Experts have called this the decade of energy storage, a cornerstone of a climate-neutral, 24/7 energy supply. The Energy Storage category recognises exceptional advances in storage technology and components, as well as battery production technologies.
• E-Mobility: Mobility is central to the success of the energy transition. Awards in the E-Mobility category honour innovations and projects that drive the mobility transformation forward, especially in charging infrastructure, intelligent charging solutions, e-vehicles, mobility services and traction batteries.
• Smart Integrated Energy: This category recognises technologies and solutions for intelligent energy management and cross-sector use of renewables within holistic, flexible systems, with a special focus on grid infrastructure, energy services and operator models.
• Outstanding Projects: This exclusive category honours products and services that have been integrated into global renewable energy projects. Eligible products or services may come from any area of the energy system – photovoltaics, hydrogen, storage technology, mobility or grid operation. Requirement: Projects must have been fully completed between 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2026.
And the winner is… your solar business
All exhibitors at The smarter E global event series and its individual exhibitions are eligible to participate. Legal owners of a system or project may also apply in the Outstanding Projects category. Submissions are evaluated by an international jury of industry experts, based on their level of innovation, pioneering impact, and economic and environmental benefits. (hcn)
