The generation, storage, and distribution of clean energy is not just a technical challenge — it’s a human one. This category seeks start-ups addressing the decarbonization of energy-intensive sectors through renewable energy generation, advanced storage technologies, and sustainable distribution methods. Your solution should demonstrate technical innovation with the potential for real-world impact, helping communities and industries transition to a net-zero future. 

The industry sector, responsible for one-third of global emissions and 38% of energy use, faces decarbonization challenges due to complex materials, bureaucratic hurdles, and high costs. Innovation is critical to making industrial processes cleaner and more sustainable, benefiting both the planet and the people who rely on them. This category seeks start-ups developing breakthrough technologies that overcome these obstacles, helping industries transition to more efficient, low-carbon operations with the potential for large-scale adoption. 

Buildings consume 30% of global energy, from construction materials to the energy used for heating and cooling. This category seeks start-ups developing innovations that reduce energy waste and transform how we construct and maintain our buildings. Your innovation should enable energy-efficient buildings that contribute to a sustainable future, minimizing environmental impact while improving the well-being of those who inhabit them. 

The energy transition doesn’t just need cleaner power — it needs smarter systems to generate, distribute, trade, and protect it. This category is for start-ups building the digital backbone of the new energy economy: software, data, and intelligence that make energy systems more efficient, resilient, and transparent, paired with the market platforms, financing models, and regulatory tools that get technologies deployed faster and at scale. Your solution should show how digital and economic innovation translate into a quicker, safer, and more inclusive energy transition. 

As one of the largest consumers of global energy, transportation is ripe for disruption. This category is for start-ups reimagining how we move people and goods, with solutions that cut emissions and improve energy efficiency. We’re looking for technologies that not only drive the sector towards a low-carbon future but also redefine mobility in a way that benefits both people and the planet.