Description
The Prize celebrates European communities that are pioneering new ways of organising and governing their collective energy future.
Launched by the European Commission, the Prize will recognise ten outstanding energy communities that have developed creative, inclusive, and effective governance models. These may include new participatory decision-making processes, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, or innovative collaborations between citizens, local authorities, and local enterprises. This initiative celebrates pioneering approaches that ensure fair participation, transparency, and collaboration – helping to build resilient, citizen-driven energy systems for Europe’s sustainable future.
The prize budget is €1 million (€1 000 000) to be awarded to up to ten winners as follows:
1st place: €350 000 2nd place: €200 000 3rd place: €100 000 4th place to 10th place: €50 000
level of support
EU-wide
type of funding
Awards
Funding amount
The prize budget is €1 million (€1 000 000) to be awarded to up to ten winners.
Eligibility criteria
Energy communities can take the form of any legal entity, including an association, a cooperative, a partnership, a non-profit organisation or a limited liability company. Only energy communities with up to 10,000 members as of 1 January 2026 will be eligible.
Energy community must however fall under the EU definitions of “Renewable energy community” or “Citizens energy community”.
The legal definition of “Renewable energy community” is defined under Article 2 (16) of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001
The legal definition “Citizens energy community” can be found under Article 2 (11) of Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019 on common rules for the internal market for electricity
Legal entities constituted as cross-border communities are also eligible to apply for this prize.
Application Process
You will need to submit your application via the Funder and Tenders portal from 20 of January onwards (submission and link will be available on this date). You must apply with the provided application forms
Evidence Of Success
Energy communities are already a significant and growing force in Europe’s energy transition. According to the 10th State of the Energy Union report, published in November 2025, more than 8 000 energy communities exist across the EU. The Horizon Europe Prize on Governance Innovations in Energy Communities builds on this strong foundation by recognising communities that have successfully translated participation into structured, inclusive, and financially resilient governance models. By awarding up to €1 million to ten leading communities, the European Commission reinforces the role of governance quality, innovative financing, and social inclusion as key success factors in scaling community energy across Europe.
Expert Opinion
The Horizon Europe Prize on Governance Innovations in Energy Communities offers a unique opportunity for established energy communities to gain European recognition, visibility, and financial reward for strong governance and social impact.
