Entries Now Open for the 12th International Award ‘Small Energy – Big Achievements’

Submissions are now being accepted for the 12th International Award ‘Small Energy – Big Achievements’. This year, the award has undergone a number of changes: the independent industry accolade will be presented across updated categories, and the International Expert Council has been expanded with new members. Its core mission, however, remains unchanged — to identify the year's best industry projects, foster knowledge exchange, and strengthen the capacity of the scientific and engineering community.
 
First launched in 2013, the International Award ‘Small Energy – Big Achievements’ has become a premier platform for showcasing the most significant developments in one of the fastest-growing sectors — small-scale distributed and renewable energy.
 
The competition is organised by the Small Energy Association, with the business association Delovaya Rossiya serving as co-organiser. Over 12 years, 737 companies and organisations from 12 countries have taken part, with 50 emerging as winners and recipients of the main prize — the ‘Golden Lightning’ statuette.
 
This year, the Award will be presented across seven categories:

• Best Small-Scale Distributed Energy Project (up to 5 MW)
• Best Small-Scale Distributed Energy Project (over 5 MW)
• Best Project in Renewable Energy, Energy Storage and Electric Transport
• Domestically Developed Solution in Small-Scale Distributed Energy
• Best Data Centre Energy Supply Project
• Research & Development Project in Small-Scale Distributed Energy
• Best Media/Information Project in Small-Scale Distributed Energy

 
A new addition for this year — the ‘Best Data Centre Energy Supply Project’ category — aims to recognise the most efficient, technologically advanced and reliable solutions for powering data centres, a sector where demand is surging in tandem with the growth of the digital economy, cloud services and artificial intelligence.
 
Companies and organisations operating in small-scale distributed and renewable energy are invited to participate, alongside research institutes and higher education institutions. Projects submitted for consideration must have been implemented between 2025 and 2026. Entry to the Award remains free of charge.
 
Winners will be determined by an independent vote of the International Expert Council, whose membership has been expanded this year. The Council comprises leading experts and analysts in small-scale distributed energy, business community representatives, heads of major energy companies, and Russian and international academics.
 
The submission deadline is 30 October 2026. Applications can be submitted via the project website.
 
For the first time, the title of General Partner for the 2026 Award has been awarded to Yuchai, a global leader in gas-piston generator sets. The Award also continues to receive longstanding support from MKS Group as General Partner, with Chelyabinsk Electrical Equipment Plant acting as Official Partner.
 
Strategic partner of the Award: Heat&Power exhibition.

Media partners include Energetika i Promyshlennost Rossii newspaper, Geoenergetika INFO analytical journal, Turbiny i dizeli magazine, online publication Elec.ru, and Regional Energy and Energy Saving journal.
 
Regular updates on the project are available via the Small Energy Association's Telegram channel.
 
For participation inquiries, please contact:
Maria Nevolina — Head of the Organising Committee and Executive Director of the Small Energy Association.