Winners in 2023

Chicago, USA
CenTrio operates the largest carbon-free ice storage district cooling system in the U.S., serving 115 buildings across downtown Chicago. Its innovative network saves around 35,000 tonnes of carbon and 250 million gallons of water every year.
USA
Out of the box
Madrid, Spain
A major Madrid hospital has turned its own waste heat into a local energy source. By combining heat pumps, heat recovery and rooftop solar, the system saves 3,624 MWh of energy and 820 tonnes of CO₂ per year, with a payback of less than two years.
Spain
Additional award
Copenhagen, Denmark
Høje Taastrup is boosting Copenhagen’s energy flexibility with a 70,000 m³ Pit Thermal Energy Storage system capable of storing 3,300 MWh of heat. By optimizing heat and electricity production, it saves fuel and cuts around 6,200 tonnes of CO₂ every year.
Denmark
Sector coupling
Pons, France
The project consists in the installation of a solar thermal power station of 1800 m² with storage of 500 m3 intended to supply in hot water the heating network of the city of Pons. Solar thermal power allows the annual production of about 1 000 MWh, 21% of the annual production of heating and annual direct CO2 emissions avoided is 292 tons. The operator of the system is Newheat since September 2021. Newheat produces and sells solar heat to the current delegate of the heating network DALKIA. City of PONS: owner of the heating network of Pons and the first subscriber of the heating network.
France
Modernization
2023
Dublin, Ireland
Tallaght is pioneering Ireland’s first large-scale district heating network, using waste heat from a nearby data centre to cover 100% of normal heat demand. The scheme cuts around 1,500 tonnes of CO₂ per year and sets a new benchmark for low-carbon heating in Ireland.
Ireland
Emerging district energy market