Announcing the APSE Energy Awards 2026 in partnership with DESNZ

The BIG Energy Summit will take place on Tuesday 24th and Wednesday 25th February 2026 at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre, Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4EW.

The awards are open to all local authorities and their public sector partners across the UK. They will recognise the contribution of local authorities in addressing the challenges across the energy, climate change, and sustainability agenda. 

Click here to download an application form

The categories for the 2026 APSE Energy Awards in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are:

Supporting Innovation 

Innovation is moving at pace, and some local authorities are at the forefront of testing, trialling and implementing new technologies and approaches that can deliver meaningful, real-world, local impact. From cutting emissions to improving efficiency and unlocking new income streams, innovation is helping councils tackle a wide range of challenges, such as fuel poverty, energy security, improved performance and service delivery. As the climate crisis deepens, showcasing and scaling what works is more important than ever.

Submissions might include local authorities: 

• using innovation to address demand – energy demand within their estate; demand for services and the impact on energy use;
• investing in or helping to develop innovative energy efficiency technologies;
• investing in or helping to develop innovative renewable generation technologies;
• investing in or helping to develop innovation in low emission fuels;
• acting as pilot organisations to support product or service development;
• taking new approaches to risk management;
• taking new approaches to biodiversity, ecology, nature-based solutions or other nature projects.

Accessing and Managing Finance

With the closure of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) in England, English councils are facing a significant gap in one of their main funding streams for climate and energy action. They need to consider alternatives more than ever. Many have found and are continuing to find creative and proactive ways to unlock new sources of finance, both internal and external to the council, to continue delivering energy, decarbonisation and sustainability projects. Whether through innovative funding models, partnerships, or leveraging other policy mechanisms, these approaches are vital to maintain momentum.

Submissions might include:

• successfully accessing and utilising public sector funding;
• successfully accessing and utilising private sector funding;
• successfully accessing and utilising blended funding from multiple sources/partners;
• successfully accessing and utilising funding from the general public (e.g. crowdfunding);
• trialling new business, ownership or leasing models;
• managing internal finances creatively to increase the amount of funding available for projects;
• using funds from other schemes (e.g. low emission zones) to deliver wider sustainability goals such as active travel or public realm improvements;
• showing exceptional value for money related to a relevant scheme.

Working in Collaboration

Tackling the climate crisis requires collective effort, and local authorities are well placed to lead by example while bringing others along with them. As experts in active engagement with individuals, groups and businesses, councils can promote this agenda and get other involved.  Whether it’s working with residents, schools, community groups or local businesses, strong engagement and collaboration helps to build understanding, unlock action and create lasting change. Collaboration between councils, with the wider public and private sectors also enables knowledge-sharing, accelerates progress and helps everyone tackle the problem despite difficult funding circumstances.

Submissions might include:

• actively engaging residents or communities through education, outreach or consultation;
• working with schools, colleges or universities on sustainability and decarbonisation projects;
• working with other local authorities with other public service delivery partners
• working with community energy organisations;
• working with private sector partners;
• working with local private sector businesses to support the latter’s progress to be net zero.

Clean Energy - Heat  

Decarbonising heat is one of the most complex and critical challenges on the road to net zero. Central government has made heat pumps and heat networks a core element of their energy strategy. Local authorities are uniquely positioned to have both an operational and a community impact. Their convening influence, power and control over large estates and infrastructure means they can drive forward large-scale, strategic solutions. District heating networks and other heat decarbonisation projects demonstrate how councils can lead from the front, reducing emissions, creating local jobs, and improving energy security at scale. Equally they are working successfully at the smaller scale as decarbonising individual buildings is essential for meeting net zero targets - from council offices to leisure centres, housing stock, commercial properties, depots and schools. Projects to reduce energy use, manage it more efficiently and switch to low-carbon heating demonstrate what’s possible at a smaller scale, while delivering real benefits in terms of running costs and carbon reduction. Listed buildings and other hard to decarbonise buildings require special attention.

Submissions might include:

• successfully creating new district heat networks and managing and expanding existing heat networks connecting public buildings or wider estates to district heat networks;
• supporting the delivery of zero-carbon or low-carbon heat sources (e.g. waste heat, geothermal);
• leading regional or cross-boundary approaches to heat decarbonisation;
• successfully decarbonising council buildings such as civic buildings, leisure centres, libraries or community hubs or council housing;
• successfully addressing hard to treat buildings such as historic/listed buildings or off-grid properties;
• working with public and private sector partners to deliver clean heat through large-scale heating projects or within joint use buildings or other public service delivery provider buildings;
• improving buildings with heat pumps, fabric improvements, insulation, or other energy efficiency measures as part of a heat decarbonisation strategy.

Clean Energy - Power 

The nature of UK power generation has changed significantly over the recent past. Local authorities have played their part and must continue to do so to meet their own targets and those of the UK. From a fossil fuel-based system, distributing and transmitting power from a central spine, with support from overseas fuel and a lack of investment, we have seen a major overhaul. Prompted by aims to reduce prices, decrease emissions and increase energy security, power generation has become characterised my new technologies, dispersed assets at a range of scales and a huge increase in involvement from some of the biggest companies in the world to individual householders. Local authorities have the assets and the demand to influence clean power generation too. They own buildings with roofs and walls to mount domestic and commercial solar, they own land to install solar farms and erect wind turbines, they manage riverbanks to install hydro, they can work with partners to invest in mine water or biomass schemes or to invest in assets with partners. There are many ways local authorities can get involved in this agenda.

Submissions might include:

• successfully investing in clean power generation schemes for example solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass;
• successfully investing in battery and energy storage schemes;
• utilising their influence as the Local Planning Authority to develop planning policies to encourage clean power generation;
• significantly reducing carbon emissions by generating clean power;
• working with partners on nuclear generation projects;
• >earning income from selling or trading in energy generated from clean sources;
• investing in clean power generation to meet off grid demand.

Decarbonising transport – active travel/EV infrastructure

Transport remains one of the highest-emitting sectors in the UK, making its decarbonisation a critical part of the journey to net zero. Local authorities are uniquely placed to lead change by investing in infrastructure and programmes that promote active travel and alternatives to private transport shaping healthier, cleaner transport systems for the communities they serve. These projects also play a major role in tackling air pollution and improving public health, especially in urban and disadvantaged areas.

Submissions for this category might include local authorities:

• developing or expanding EV charging infrastructure for the public or shared use with other organisations;
• implementing traffic reduction schemes such as low emission zones, low traffic neighbourhoods or school streets;
• delivering or supporting improvements to public transport such as electric buses, reduced fare schemes or rural transport schemes;
• promoting active travel through infrastructure improvements or behaviour change campaigns;
• addressing air quality and health issue via transport projects.

Your submissions should be entered via the application form on the link below. It includes an 80 word summary of the submission. The maximum word count is 2,000 including the 80 word summary.

Click here to download an application form

If you have any questions about the awards, please get in touch with Phil Brennan at [email protected] or James Jefferson at [email protected]