What might the future of energy look like if it were designed by the young people who will be working in the industry tomorrow? The 13th edition of the Energy Challenge—a competition organized by E.ON Energie România and Delgaz Grid—invites undergraduate and master’s students to transform innovative ideas into concrete solutions for real-world challenges within the energy sector.
At a time when digitalization, energy efficiency, and the transition toward sustainable sources are rapidly transforming the industry, this competition aims to highlight the perspectives and creativity of the new generation. Participants will have the opportunity to present their ideas and projects—focusing on practical application—learn from industry professionals, and gain an insider’s look at the operations of E.ON Energie România and Delgaz Grid.
The 2027 edition was launched today, October 28. Registration will be open from November 3 to December 23, 2026, via the dedicated website under the “Energy Challenge” section.
Following the selection phase, participants will benefit from mentorship sessions and work on developing their proposed ideas as part of the “Energy Challenge Academy,” scheduled for early March 2027. The competition will conclude with a final round and an awards gala, where the winning teams and projects will be announced.
The following themes are proposed for the 2027 edition:
- smart solutions for energy efficiency and consumption optimization; • digitalization and innovative technologies for the future of energy;
- sustainable solutions for the energy transition;
- innovative solutions for customer experience and energy services;
- digitalization solutions for the operations of natural gas and electricity distribution system operators.
The best projects will be rewarded with attractive prizes:
- 1st Place: 3,000 euros per team;
- 2nd Place: products, experiences, or services worth 600 euros for each team member;
- 3rd Place: products, experiences, or services worth 300 euros for each team member.
Since the program’s launch in 2015, over 550 young people from university centers across the country have participated in the competition, and some of the winning projects have been implemented within E.ON Group companies in Romania.
The 2026 edition was won by a team from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Energetics and Applied Informatics at the “Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University of Iași. They impressed the jury with their project, “TransCARE”—an intelligent monitoring system for electrical transformers based on sensors and real-time analysis, capable of detecting operational anomalies and facilitating predictive maintenance.
Through the Energy Challenge, E.ON Energie România and Delgaz Grid continue to invest in the development of future industry specialists and to create a framework where the innovative ideas of young people can contribute to building a more efficient, digital, and sustainable energy system.