The prize aims to inspire other Energy Communities to improve their operations and implementation activities and to foster innovativeness in the compliance of climate goals. In addition, this prize will also serve as inspiration and example to other types of communities to become an energy one, accelerating the pace for the ones that are already being formed/developed.

EU-wide

The contest will be open to all Energy Communities that fall into the definitions and concepts of the Energy Communities Repository, which identifies renewable Energy Communities and Citizen Energy Communities as defined in the Renewable Energy Directive and in the Internal Electricity Market Directive. Under EU law, 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”. In addition, only energy communities with up to 10,000 members at the time of the submission will be eligible.

Prizes will be awarded, after closure of the contest, to the applicants that in the opinion of the Jury demonstrates excellence within their governance structure in the specified criteria

This is a newly launched initiative; future success stories will focus on replicable community-led clean energy projects across Europe.

The €1 million prize launched by the European Commission is a strategic initiative designed to reward and showcase the most innovative and impactful energy communities in Europe. By focusing on excellence in governance structures and the effective management of renewable energy technologies (RETs), the prize highlights those communities that have successfully navigated common challenges—such as inclusivity, stakeholder engagement, service diversification, and alignment with regional and EU-level strategies. Beyond the financial rewards—ranging from €50,000 to €350,000—the prize offers visibility, credibility, and a platform for replication.

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