Energynomics Awards reaches its 14th edition in 2026. The Gala will take place on 25 November at the National Military Circle in Bucharest and will bring together companies, professionals, institutions and organisations contributing to the development of Romania’s energy sector.
The 2026 edition also introduces an important update to the competition mechanism. The growing number of projects, the development of new market segments and the increasing diversity of energy-sector players call for an evaluation system capable of providing a more balanced representation of performance across the industry.
The new rules limit the overlap of nominations across categories, avoid repeatedly rewarding the same projects and introduce a comparative voting system under which each juror must evaluate all nominations in a category.
The nomination form will be available here from 15 October 2026.
If additional questions arise, the Energynomics team will provide specific answers and update the information published here whenever necessary.
About Energynomics Awards
Q: What are the Energynomics Awards?
A: The Energynomics Awards recognise performance, initiative, innovation and relevant contributions to the development of Romania’s energy sector each year.
The awards are symbolic and do not include a financial prize. Their purpose is to bring projects, transactions, initiatives and professionals to the attention of the industry as examples that can serve as benchmarks for the market.
Q: How long have the Energynomics Awards been running?
A: The awards have been presented annually since 2013. The 2026 edition is the 14th edition.
Q: Who organises the Energynomics Awards?
A: Energynomics Awards is a project created and organised by Energynomics, with the support of its energy-industry partners and the event’s strategic partners.
Q: Who decides the winners?
A: Nominations are evaluated by an independent jury made up of professionals with experience in the energy industry and in fields relevant to the sector’s development.
The jurors assess nominations based on the information included in the submissions, the criteria specific to each category and three general principles: success, impact and innovation.
What is changing at the Energynomics Awards in 2026?
Q: Why have the competition rules been changed?
A: The energy market has changed significantly, and the evaluation mechanism needs to evolve with it. The number of projects has increased, new segments such as storage have become established, and companies are simultaneously involved in a growing range of investments and initiatives.
The rules introduced for the 2026 edition are intended to reduce artificial overlap between categories, avoid concentrating several awards around the same projects or organisations and give greater visibility to a wider range of valuable contributions.
The changes do not alter the competition’s principles, which remain based on professional merit, independent evaluation and performance. Their purpose is to make the final outcome more balanced and more representative of the diversity of the energy sector.
Q: Can the same company or organisation be associated with more than one award in the same edition?
A: No. To ensure the broadest possible representation of performance across the energy sector, a company or organisation may be associated with a maximum of one award in the same edition of the Energynomics Awards.
The rule applies both to awards granted directly to a company, organisation, initiative or project and to individual awards granted to a person who, at the time of nomination, holds a position within that organisation.
If the same organisation is associated with the first-ranked nomination in more than one category, the award is retained in the category with the largest normalised margin of victory.
The normalised margin is the difference between the scores of the first- and second-ranked nominations, expressed relative to the maximum total score available to one nomination in that category.
In the other categories, the award goes to the next eligible nomination. If the redistribution creates a new situation in which the same organisation would be associated with more than one award, the process is repeated until the final result contains no such overlaps.
The rule is intended to avoid concentrating several awards around the same organisation and to allow the Gala to reflect the diversity of performance across the energy sector as accurately as possible.
Q: Can a project that has won in the past win again?
A: A winning project is ineligible in the same category for the next two editions of the Energynomics Awards.
Accordingly, a project awarded in 2025 cannot be entered in the same category in the 2026 and 2027 editions. It may become eligible again for that category from the 2028 edition onwards.
The rule applies before the evaluation process begins, so a project that is still within the ineligibility period cannot be entered, judged or ranked in the category in which it previously won.
The measure is particularly relevant to ongoing or multi-year projects that may continue to deliver results after the year in which they were awarded. The aim is to avoid repeatedly rewarding the same initiatives and to give visibility to a greater number of valuable projects, without diminishing recognition of performance already achieved.
Q: What happens in the event of a tie?
A: If two or more nominations receive the same final score in a category, the jury will decide the winner through an additional vote limited to the tied nominations.
Each juror has one vote. The winner is the nomination that receives a simple majority of the votes cast. If no nomination receives a simple majority, a further vote is held between the two nominations that received the highest number of votes.
If the tie persists after this vote, the mechanism for exceptional situations applies..
Q: How are exceptional situations resolved?
A: The evaluation, tie-breaking and redistribution rules are applied successively until the final results are determined.
If, after these mechanisms have been exhausted, a situation remains that cannot be resolved unambiguously, Energynomics may, as organiser of the competition, make a final arbitration decision.
The decision is limited to resolving the specific situation and is based on the published rules and principles of the competition, including consistency of the results, the balance of the competition and the principle that the same organisation may not be associated with more than one award in the same edition.
The arbitration decision is final and is used only after the standard evaluation, tie-breaking and redistribution mechanisms have been exhausted.
Q: Can the same company or organisation be associated with more than one award in the same edition?
A: No. To ensure the broadest possible representation of performance across the energy sector, a company or organisation may be associated with a maximum of one award in the same edition of the Energynomics Awards.
The rule applies both to awards granted directly to a company, organisation, initiative or project and to individual awards granted to a person who, at the time of nomination, holds a position within that organisation.
Accordingly, if a company ranks first in one category and a manager or professional from the same organisation ranks first in an individual category, the two results are considered a multiple-award situation and the tie-breaking and redistribution mechanism set out in the rules will apply.
The purpose of the rule is not to diminish individual or organisational performance, but to avoid concentrating several awards around the same organisation and to allow the Gala to reflect the diversity of performance across the energy sector as accurately as possible.
Q: How does the jury vote in 2026?
A: Each juror must evaluate all nominations in the relevant category and rank them using a descending points system.
If a category has eight nominations, the project placed first by a juror receives 8 points, the next receives 7 points, and so on, down to the last-ranked nomination, which receives one point.
The system requires each member of the jury to compare the entire group of nominations rather than simply select a favourite. The evaluation therefore becomes more nuanced and reduces the risk of votes being concentrated arbitrarily around a single nomination.
Q: How is the final result calculated?
A: Once voting is complete, one highest score and one lowest score awarded by the jurors are removed for each nomination. The remaining scores are added together.
The nomination with the highest total ranks first in the relevant category, before the rule limiting each company or organisation to a maximum of one award is applied.
Removing one highest and one lowest score limits the influence of extreme votes, whether excessively favourable or unjustifiably severe, and allows the outcome to reflect the jury’s overall assessment more accurately.
What are the Energynomics Awards 2026 categories?
The 2026 edition includes 12 categories. The criteria are interpreted broadly enough to allow different types of projects and contributions to be evaluated, but each nomination may enter only one category.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The category recognises programmes and initiatives through which energy companies generate social, educational or environmental impact beyond their core business activities.
Eligible entries may include community projects, initiatives to address energy poverty, STEM education, volunteering, biodiversity programmes or partnerships with non-governmental organisations.
The assessment considers the consistency of the programme, its scale and measurable results, not simply the value of the allocated budget.
Energy efficiency
Projects that reduce energy consumption or energy intensity are eligible.
The category may include industrial upgrades, building renovation, energy-management systems, heat recovery, efficient lighting, consumption digitalisation or ESCO-type projects.
Both end users, such as industrial companies, building operators or local authorities, and technology and solution providers may enter.
Deal of the year
The category covers acquisitions, mergers, sales of assets or portfolios, strategic partnerships, entries into or exits from the Romanian market and listings.
Strategic moves that expand a company’s portfolio, strengthen its market position or create stronger integration across the value chain may also be evaluated.
The transaction with the highest value does not automatically win. Market relevance, complexity, pioneering character and the effects generated are also taken into account.
Financing of the year
The category recognises financing structures relevant to energy projects.
Eligible entries may include project finance, green bonds, syndicated financing, European funds including the Modernisation Fund, PNRR or InvestEU, guarantee schemes and structures in which contracts for difference or power purchase agreements contribute to project bankability.
The jury assesses the innovation of the structure, its ability to mobilise capital and the potential for the model to be replicated.
Best energy transition initiative
The category is intended for actions that tangibly accelerate the energy transition and generate effects beyond the results of a single company.
Eligible entries may include industrial decarbonisation projects, storage integration, hydrogen, electrification of transport or heating, grid digitalisation, workforce reskilling programmes, public policies or collaboration platforms.
The main criterion is the initiative’s systemic impact.
Green energy achievement of the year
The category recognises achievements in renewable or low-emission energy generation.
Eligible entries may include wind, solar PV, hydropower, biomass, geothermal, hybrid projects or projects integrating storage, whether commissioned or having reached a relevant milestone such as financial close, grid connection or a generation record.
Pilot projects or technological firsts relevant to the local market are also eligible.
Best Newcomer / Best Turn-around of the year
The category covers two types of performance: a company or technology newly entering the Romanian market and managing to establish itself within a short period, or an existing company that has undergone a successful restructuring, financial recovery or strategic repositioning.
The evaluation considers the speed of the change, execution discipline and evidence of a genuine shift in the trajectory of the company or activity.
Manager of the year
The award recognises the individual performance of an executive leader who has delivered outstanding results during the reference year.
The evaluation may consider company growth, organisational transformation, crisis management, implementation of a strategic change or completion of a major project.
The category focuses on the individual’s contribution in a leadership role, not only on the organisation’s overall results.
Lifetime achievement award
The award recognises a sustained contribution to the development of Romania’s energy sector.
It may be presented to professionals, entrepreneurs, engineers, experts or consultants whose work has influenced the industry over the long term.
The evaluation considers the person’s overall career, rather than a single achievement during the reference year.
Outstanding Developments award
The category recognises an achievement that significantly exceeds ordinary performance in the energy sector and delivers an exceptional result through its scale, the difficulty overcome, its innovative character or the impact generated.
The achievement may be a project, solution, technical or operational intervention, business performance or another accomplishment relevant to the market or energy system. It does not need to belong to a particular type of activity, but it must be demonstrable through concrete results and clearly distinguish itself from the normal course of the relevant activity.
The jury considers in particular the success achieved, the impact on the company, market or energy system and the degree of innovation or difficulty that makes the achievement stand out.
The “Mihnea Constantinescu” award for excellence in public service
Presented in memory of diplomat and energy-security expert Mihnea Constantinescu, the award recognises individual contributions from public administration, regulatory institutions, diplomacy or academia.
Significant contributions to public policy, the legislative framework or Romania’s energy security are taken into consideration.
Young energy professional
The category is dedicated to professionals who have not yet turned 35 by the nomination deadline, 9 November 2026, and who have achieved notable results in the energy sector.
The evaluation may consider projects led, innovations developed, applied research and demonstrated leadership potential.
The purpose of the award is to bring the energy industry’s new generation of specialists to wider attention.
Submitting nominations
Q: Who can be nominated?
A: The competition aims to recognise projects, companies, organisations and professionals active in Romania’s energy sector or contributing directly to its development.
Some categories are explicitly intended for companies and projects, while others are for individuals, including managers, young professionals and representatives of public administration, regulatory institutions, diplomacy or academia.
Q: Who can submit a nomination?
A: A nomination may be submitted by an individual, a company, an organisation or the Energynomics team.
Q: Can more than one nomination be submitted?
A: Yes. An organisation may submit separate nominations, but each nomination must be entered in only one category. The rule limiting the same company or organisation to a maximum of one award applies when the final results are determined.
Q: What is the reference period for the 2026 edition?
A: The reference period for the 2026 edition begins in November 2025 and ends at the nomination deadline, 10:30 on 9 November 2026.
Q: What is the nomination deadline?
A: Nominations for the Energynomics Awards 2026 may be submitted from 15 October until 10:30 on 9 November 2026.
On 10 November, the nominations are sent to the jury.
On 13 November, the jury completes its first evaluation and may request additional information.
On 15 November, the competition results are finalised.
The nominations are presented on Energynomics.ro between 9 and 24 November.
The winners are announced on 25 November at the Energynomics Awards 2026 Gala.
Q: Is there an entry fee?
A: No. Submitting a nomination to the Energynomics Awards is free of charge.
Participation in the competition should be distinguished from attendance at the Gala on 25 November, for which access is arranged separately.
Q: Can photographs, video materials or other supporting information be attached?
A: Yes. Materials that help the jury understand the project and verify the results presented are recommended where relevant to the nomination.
Q: How is information in nomination submissions handled?
A: Information required for the evaluation is made available to the jury. General information about the nominations is also used for their public presentation on www.energynomics.ro before the Gala.
Nominees are asked to state clearly if any information provided in support of the jury process is confidential and should not be published.
General evaluation criteria
Q: What does the jury consider when evaluating a nomination?
A: In addition to the criteria specific to each category, the evaluation is based on three general principles.
Success refers to demonstrable results achieved in the area relevant to the nomination.
Impact considers measurable effects on the energy sector, the community or the economy.
Innovation refers to the introduction or application of products, services, technologies, models or practices that contribute to the development of Romania’s energy sector.
Energynomics Awards 2026 Gala
Q: When and where will the Gala take place?
A: The Energynomics Awards 2026 Gala will take place on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, at the National Military Circle in Bucharest.
Guest registration begins at 18:00, the ceremony starts at 19:00, and the presentation of the Energynomics Awards begins at 19:50.
Q: How can I attend the Gala?
A: Participation in the competition does not automatically include access to the Gala.
To reserve a place, participants are invited to contact the Energynomics team. The published ticket price for the Energynomics Awards 2026 Gala is 400 euros + VAT.
Q: What visibility do nominations receive?
A: Nominations are presented on Energynomics.ro before the Gala, in line with the competition calendar.
The event and its results are promoted through Energynomics channels, including the website, newsletter and social media, alongside communication carried out with the event’s partners.
Q: What do the winners receive?
A: Winners receive the Energynomics Awards 2026 trophy and public recognition of their performance during the Gala and through Energynomics editorial channels.
The Energynomics Awards remain symbolic, with no financial prize. The value of the competition lies in professional recognition and in its ability to highlight projects, people and organisations making a concrete contribution to the development of Romania’s energy sector.