We begin our presentation of the nominees for Energynomics Awards 2026 with the Energy Efficiency category. The nine projects entered cover a wide range of solutions to reduce energy consumption, from school renovations and industrial process optimisation to AI-powered energy management, metal recycling and the integration of solar generation with energy storage.
The entries reflect a growing focus on measurable results, lower operating costs and more efficient use of resources. Some projects already report substantial savings, while others offer tools and technologies that could improve energy performance in the future. Only one project will receive the category award at the Energynomics Awards Gala on November 25, 2026, but all deserve the attention of the energy community.
AS Metal: aluminium recycling reduces energy consumption and industrial emissions
AS Metal has developed a circular economy model in which aluminium waste is converted into secondary raw materials, avoiding the much more energy-intensive processes involved in primary production. Recycling aluminium can require up to 95% less energy than primary production, and the company has invested in technologies for sorting, granulation and metal recovery.
According to the nomination, independent verification conducted by RINA in March 2026 for the Gold Standard-certified project GS10878 confirmed emission reductions of 111,868 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent for the period from February 2024 to December 2025. Of this total, 59,474 tonnes correspond to 2025. A photovoltaic system installed in 2026 covers approximately 25% of the company’s electricity consumption. The project also received the “Best Individual Offsetting Project” distinction at the Voluntary Carbon Market Rankings 2026.
EFdeN: a free simulator to assess home energy efficiency
Asociația Solar Decatlon București (EFdeN), in partnership with ING Bank, launched a free digital simulator in 2026 that allows apartment owners to estimate their homes’ energy performance and the potential savings from renovation. The assessment takes approximately ten minutes and provides personalised recommendations, linking the costs of improvements to estimated benefits in electricity and heating consumption.
According to the organisers, more than 40 municipalities have shared the tool with residents, while property managers have promoted it in hundreds of apartment buildings. EFdeN also organises information sessions for representatives of the one-stop shops for energy efficiency across Romania’s counties. The project aims to turn technical information about renovation into practical guidance that homeowners can use before committing to substantial investments.
Electrica: artificial intelligence optimises building energy consumption
Electrica has implemented the AIAE (Artificial Intelligence for Active Energy Management) platform, developed together with Renergia and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. The system analyses consumption in real time, detects anomalies, forecasts energy demand and recommends optimisation measures, using weather data, building specifications and operating schedules.
Initially validated at Electrica’s headquarters, the platform enabled the automation of certain building systems and the shutdown of non-essential equipment outside working hours. According to the company, AIAE has processed more than 48 million datasets and was extended in 2026 to the “Prof. ing. Dimitrie Leonida” National Technical Museum. Three doctoral students and four researchers under the age of 30 contributed to its development, and Electrica plans to roll out the solution across all the group’s buildings.
Energy Policy Group and OMV Petrom: 60% reduction in energy consumption across five educational facilities
The “România Eficientă” programme, implemented by Energy Policy Group (EPG) with the support of OMV Petrom, has achieved an average 60% reduction in energy consumption across five educational facilities renovated to the nZEB standard. Results published in April 2026 confirm the benefits of deep renovations that combine thermal insulation, building systems upgrades and on-site renewable energy generation.
At the Zig-Zag Kindergarten in Ovidiu, energy consumption fell by approximately 60%, while at Vernești Technological High School, heating costs decreased even though the systems now operate continuously, compared with six hours a day previously. The programme benefits from a total commitment of 15 million euros from OMV Petrom and includes educational activities for students and teachers. The projects provide documented evidence of the energy and social benefits of renovating public buildings.
Enesco Industrial: a method for assessing industrial energy efficiency
Enesco Industrial has proposed an analytical method for industrial energy consumers that makes it possible to assess changes in energy efficiency and determine energy savings or losses from one year to the next. The methodology adapts ODEX indicators to end users and introduces the concept of “energy effectiveness”, defined as the efficiency with which energy is used in production processes.
Developed from more than 12 years of energy management experience with over 20 major industrial consumers, the method distinguishes productive from non-productive energy consumption and tracks the effects of optimisation measures. The approach was presented at the EPE conferences in Iași in 2018 and 2020. Combined with an energy balance assessment, the tool can support continuous monitoring and provide a basis for energy efficiency investment decisions.
PPC Energie: 125 MWh of consumption shifted to solar generation hours in a pilot programme for 5,000 customers
Between June and September 2026, PPC Energie ran the “Energie Electrică Activă Zero” pilot programme, under which 5,000 residential customers with smart meters benefited from electricity with a zero active-energy charge during certain time slots announced in advance. The programme covered 312 hours across 52 days, during which participants consumed approximately 809 MWh and received an average financial benefit of around 140 lei per customer. The mechanism was designed to encourage electricity consumption during periods of high photovoltaic generation, without changes to supply contracts and with regulated taxes and tariffs remaining applicable.
PPC Energie’s analysis indicates that approximately 125 MWh of consumption was shifted from evening and night-time hours to periods when the active-energy charge was zero. On days when the programme was available, the share of electricity consumed between 10:00 and 17:00 reached approximately 40%, compared with 34% in the estimated scenario without the programme. Of the 1,469 participants who responded to the subsequent survey, 94% said they had changed their household appliance usage schedules, either consistently or occasionally. The results demonstrate the potential of smart metering and commercial incentives to mobilise residential demand flexibility and better align electricity demand with renewable energy availability.
Cluj-Napoca City Hall: energy renovation of schools through the NRRP
Cluj-Napoca City Hall is implementing an educational infrastructure modernisation programme that includes energy renovations of schools, kindergartens and nurseries under Component C5, the Renovation Wave, of Romania’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). The works combine building insulation with upgrades to heating, ventilation and lighting systems and, where feasible, the installation of photovoltaic panels.
According to the nomination, investments in the city’s educational infrastructure exceed 92 million euros, benefiting more than 14,000 children, with 32 projects completed during 2025-2026. The programme aims to reduce energy consumption and operating costs while improving comfort and indoor environmental quality. A coordinated approach across a network of public buildings could provide a model for other local authorities.
Renergia: a virtual energy manager delivering measurable results in buildings and industry
Renergia has developed a digital energy management platform for commercial buildings, public institutions and industrial consumers. The solution integrates data on energy consumption, photovoltaic generation, storage and weather conditions, identifying inefficiencies and recommending optimisation measures. In 2026, the company added 25 buildings to its portfolio and launched a version designed for industrial applications.
The nomination presents quantified results from several applications. In an office building, savings of approximately 9,720 kWh were calculated for the periods analysed between January and March 2026. At a bank branch, automated climate control reduced night-time consumption by 60.5% during the period analysed, while at a bakery, the integration of an additional 60 kW of photovoltaic capacity reduced electricity purchased from the grid by approximately 133 kWh per day. The platform aims to make energy management expertise accessible to a wider range of organisations.
Sigenergy: integrating solar PV and storage in a hybrid energy system
Sigenergy has entered a project developed in Petrești, Dâmbovița County, combining a 1,020 kWp photovoltaic installation with an energy storage system of approximately 1.52 MWh. The architecture uses seven Sigenergy hybrid inverters with a combined power rating of 850 kW and 126 LFP battery modules connected directly on the DC side.
The solution integrates energy conversion, battery management and energy control, reducing the number of separate components required in a conventional configuration. DC coupling can reduce conversion losses and enable the recovery of some photovoltaic energy that would otherwise be curtailed. The project illustrates a technological approach focused on simplifying hybrid installations, improving operational efficiency and reducing operating complexity.