inspiratia reveals new categories for 2025 Energy Transition Awards

As the energy transition deepens in complexity and accelerates in pace, recognising those who lead, innovate, and execute with distinction has never been more essential. The inspiratia Energy Transition Awards return in 2025 with an expanded programme designed to spotlight the most impactful people, projects, and platforms reshaping Europe's clean energy economy.

This year's awards will introduce several new categories, reflecting the growing maturity of the sector and the critical role that emerging technologies, new markets, and individual leadership now play in driving the net-zero agenda forward.

New categories for 2025

Deal of the Year

This headline category will highlight a single transaction that stands above all others for its scale, ambition, and market impact. It will recognise a deal that has not only advanced the financing of clean energy but also introduced a new standard for structuring, innovation, or transformative influence on the sector, whether through decarbonisation outcomes, risk-sharing frameworks, or novel technological integration.

Outstanding New Markets Deal

Targeting the growing interest in underpenetrated and emerging markets across Europe, this category celebrates a transaction that has broken new ground in geographies historically underserved by clean energy investment. Judges will assess not just financial innovation or project size, but the ability of the deal to overcome regulatory, political, or infrastructure barriers to unlock long-term market potential.

Best Software Provider

Awarded to the technology firm that has developed and deployed cutting-edge software solutions that optimise energy transition assets, enhance market intelligence, or streamline project operations. This category recognises the essential role of optimisers in enabling the efficient, data-driven management of increasingly complex energy portfolios.

Young Innovator in the Energy Transition

As the clean energy sector matures, so too does the need to celebrate the next generation of leadership. This award will spotlight an individual under the age of 35 who has made a clear and measurable impact on the energy transition, whether through entrepreneurship, engineering innovation, policy influence, or sustainable finance. Judges will consider both career trajectory and demonstrable sector contributions.

Female Innovator in the Energy Transition

This new category seeks to honour women who have shown outstanding leadership, ingenuity, and influence in advancing the energy transition. Whether as an investor, entrepreneur, technical expert, or corporate executive, nominees will be evaluated on the strength of their achievements and the role they have played in driving progress toward a more sustainable, inclusive energy system.

Submit your entry for the 2025 Energy Transition Awards here. 

Last Year's Highlights

The 2024 awards saw a number of key players in the energy transition space recognised for outstanding performance across both corporate and deal-specific categories. Read our full 2024 awards report here: Europe Energy Transition Awards Report 2024 | inspiratia.

Company Awards:

• Best Developer – Zenobe
• Best Energy Storage Investor – FRV
• Best Energy Transition Fund Manager – Qualitas Energy
• Best Financial Adviser, Renewables – Green Giraffe
• Best Financial Adviser, New Technologies – EY
• Best Legal Adviser, Renewables – DLA Piper
• Best Legal Adviser, New Technologies – White & Case
• Best Lender, Renewables – Nord/LB
• Best Lender, New Technologies – CIBC
• Best Optimiser – EDF
• Best Technical Adviser – Natural Power
• Best Platform, Renewables – cQuant
• Best Platform, New Technologies – KYOS
• Remember the Name – Green Horse
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Mirova

Deal Awards:

• Outstanding Onshore Deal – Pagegiai Wind Farm
• Outstanding Offshore Deal – Baltic Power
• Outstanding Solar Deal – Grupo Cobra
• Outstanding Refinancing Deal – Ventient Energy Refinancing
• The Innovative Financial Deal of the Year – Berenberg financing framework to GoldenPeaksCapital
• Outstanding M&A Deal, UK & Ireland – Zenobe equity raise, Infracapital-KKR partnership
• Outstanding M&A Deal, Europe – Project Highlander and DIF's acquisition of Novar
• Outstanding PPA Deal, UK & Ireland – Capital Dynamics and Sainsbury Wind PPA
• Outstanding PPA Deal, Europe – Enfinity and A2A Group Solar PPA
• Outstanding Bioenergy Deal – Els Hostalets de Pierola WAGABOX
• Outstanding Gigafactory Deal – Verkor Dunkirk Gigafactory – Capital raise
• Outstanding Greenfield Deal – H2 Green Steel