Applications for the sixth European Energy Service Awards are open. The award recognises and honours innovation in the creation, promotion and implementation of efficient energy services and projects. The award aims to highlight the ability and openness of the public sector towards innovation and to provide outstanding examples for energy providers to follow.

The award is separated into three categories, Best Energy Service Promoter, Best Energy Service Provider and Best Energy Service Project. The first category recognises persons and institutions that have overcome barriers to promote energy services in Europe. The second award focuses on energy service providers’ contribution to market development and the risks taken in achieving their aims, as well as examining technical innovations. The final category looks at energy projects in terms of replication potential, contribution to new market development, energy savings and environmental impact.

Intelligent Energy Europe and the Berliner Energieagentur are both official supporters of the award. The European Energy Service Initiative, an EU body which aims to improve energy service markets in Europe, created the award in 2005. Submission forms are available online, with the closing date for entries 29 April 2011.

For more information, click here.