The European Solar Startup Award is an annual prize presented by SolarPower Europe to recognise the ground-breaking steps innovators are taking towards an electrified, renewables-powered energy system.
Four finalists were selected to pitch to the jury in person at the SolarPower Summit in Brussels. Alongside reLi Energy, the other shortlisted finalists for 2026 were:
• Gridio: the Estonian firm's smart EV charging app automatically charges users' electric vehicles based on energy tariffs and the availability of excess solar. Its platform connects with the cloud services of major car manufacturers to charge EVs when it makes sense, and requires no additional hardware.
• Qurrent: aggregates energy resources, including solar and BESS, then connects, controls and optimises them for the benefit of the grid and asset owners. The Swedish firm's platform also supports the continued expansion of flexible, renewable energy resources.
• Polar Night Energy: has developed Sand Battery technology that converts renewable power into heat and stores it in sand. Output takes the form of hot water, air or steam for industrial processes, district heating networks or space heating. The Finnish company is also working on a future product that will enable conversion back to power.
French panel maker Heliup takes top solar startup prize 2025
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe: "A highlight of SolarPower Europe's work is the sneak preview of Europe's evolving energy future offered by our innovative Solar Startup Award contenders. reLi, and all our finalists, demonstrate how smart and flexible technology can deliver that future of a flexible, cleaner and predictably priced energy landscape in Europe."
Laura Laringe, CEO and Co-Founder of reLi Energy: "The award validates our work to bridge the gap between battery physics and energy trading. It shows that the market is ready for software that protects assets while maximising revenue." (hcn)
