The Diplomat-Bucharest celebrates the energy champions of 2025’s Energy Awards Gala
Petre Barac
Posted On May 14, 2025
The 2025 Energy Awards Gala, now in its 14th edition, once again brought together Romania’s leading energy sector stakeholders for an evening of celebration and recognition. Organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest, the prestigious event celebrated the most impactful achievements and visionary leaders advancing innovation, sustainability, and progress in the industry.
Hosted at the elegant InterContinental Athénée Palace Bucharest, the gala provided a prominent platform to highlight best practices, strategic foresight, and outstanding performance across multiple categories. As The Diplomat-Bucharest’s flagship event, the Energy Awards Gala has become a benchmark for excellence, honoring the companies and individuals shaping the future of energy in Romania.
Its continued success underscores the sector’s resilience, adaptability, and growing ambition to meet both national and international energy objectives. This year’s award recipients embody the spirit of innovation and commitment driving the industry forward.
Romania’s energy champions were decided by the esteemed jury committee, comprised of 8 top professionals from various business sectors:
Bogdan Chiritoiu, President, Competition Council
Valeriu Binig, Strategy Principal, PPC Group
Daniela Daraban, Executive Director, ACUE
Radu Dudau, Director, Energy Policy Group
Silvia Vlasceanu, Executive Director, HENRO
Ana-Maria Olteanu, Consultant Green Tech & Tax and Legal Department Consulting and Services, AHK Romania
Daniel Apostol, General Manager, The Energy Employers’ Federation (FPE)
A special thank you to our jury members for supporting this iconic event organized by The Diplomat-Bucharest!
And now it’s time to reveal the list of winners at the 2025 Energy Awards Gala:
ENERGY COMPANY OF THE YEAR
This award is given to the largest integrated energy producer in South-Eastern Europe, with annual group-wide crude oil and gas production of approximately 40 million boe in 2024.
Last year, investments amounted to 7.2 billion lei in Romania, over 50% more than in 2023, marking the most intense investment period in the company’s history.
In addition to the flagship Neptun Deep project, the company approved a major investment at Petrobrazi: 750 million euros for the construction of a sustainable fuels production plant, as well as for two green hydrogen units with a capacity of 55 MW.
In addition, the company has a solid portfolio of solar and wind projects, reaching over 2.4 GW including partnerships.
The award goes to OMV Petrom.
Finalists: Delgaz Grid, PPC Group, ENEVO, ENGIE Romania, Getica 95, Retele Electrice Romania, Romgaz
OIL AND GAS COMPANY OF THE YEAR
In a year marked by economic challenges and accelerated energy transition, this company has stood out as a true pillar of stability, innovation and profitability in the energy sector.
It ended 2024 with a consolidated net profit of 391.42 million lei, almost double the previous year, demonstrating the capacity to adapt and optimize its operations.
In 2024, the company recorded a remarkable achievement by launching the strategic project “Connecting the Black Sea”, an investment estimated at approximately 1.95 billion lei. This project aims to build the Black Sea shore-Podișor pipeline, essential for the takeover of natural gas from the Neptun Deep offshore perimeter and its integration into the National Transmission System (NTS). The pipeline is part of a group of projects that involves the phased increase in the capacity of the bidirectional transport corridor Bulgaria–Romania–Hungary–Austria (ROHUAT/BRUA), thus facilitating the transport of natural gas to European markets.
The award is given to Transgaz.
Finalists: JT Grup Oil, OMV Petrom, Romgaz
RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANY AWARD
In Romania, the group that will receive this award covers the following areas: electricity and natural gas supply, advanced energy services, electricity distribution, energy generation from renewable energy sources, as well as electric mobility solutions.
With a customer base of approximately 3 million residential, business and institutional customers, the group owns one of the most important electricity supply companies in Romania.
Through the renewables division, the group produces wind, solar and hydro energy that reaches homes, institutions and businesses throughout the country.
Currently, the company operates with a total installed capacity of wind, photovoltaic and hydropower plants of over 1,330 MW, of which 1,183 MW in wind power plants and 125.99 MW in photovoltaics.
The award goes to PPC Romania.
Finalists: Eurowind Energy Romania, MET Group, RenewAcad, Monsson, OX2, Photon Energy, Premier Energy
CUSTOMER-CENTRIC ENERGY COMPANY
The award is given to a company that has radically transformed the way customers connect to the natural gas and electricity grid. Through a completely digital process, customers can now obtain clear information, estimate costs, send requests, upload documents, and track the status of their request in real time – all online, without unnecessary trips or paperwork.
The average processing time has been halved, online requests have increased significantly – by 250% in the first 3 months of this year alone for natural gas, respectively 53% for electricity – and 80% of users declared themselves satisfied or very satisfied with the experience.
Digitalization simplifies a complex process and brings real benefits for both customers and the company.
The award is given to Delgaz Grid.
Finalists: Waldevar Energy, ALRO, DEER, E.ON Romania, Hidroelectrica, Retele Electrice Romania
AWARD FOR INNOVATION IN ENERGY
The award in this category is for a partnership that will lead to the implementation of the largest biomethane production project in Romania, with a total capacity of up to 15 MW. DN AGRAR will provide the raw material for biomethane production through a long-term contract to ensure the sustainability of the project, and BSOG Energy will develop the necessary infrastructure.
The total investment for the project is estimated at over 30 million euros. The project is estimated to take over 2 years from the signing of the final agreement.
The award is given to BSOG Energy and DN AGRAR.
Finalists: ALRO, E.ON Energie Romania, OMV Petrom, PPC Romania
GREEN MOBILITY AWARD
In this category, the award is given to a company that has obtained European funding of almost 27 million euros to develop a network of 500 charging stations for electric vehicles in 200 locations across the country.
The project aims to expand the electric mobility infrastructure and will provide high-power charging stations, adapted for both light vehicles and heavy trucks. Of these, 96 stations will have a power of 150 kW, and 400 stations will be equipped with a capacity of 350 kW. The stations will be strategically located in the proximity of the TEN-T road network, at a maximum of 3 kilometers from urban nodes or motorway exits, to ensure optimal accessibility for users.
The award is given to the company Axionet IoT.
Finalists: OMV Petrom, Prime Batteries, Eldrive Romania, Allspark Energy
ENERGY TRANSITION AWARD
This award is given to the project of establishing an assembly plant for components of equipment in the renewable energy industry. The project will involve investments of around 10 million euros and benefits from European funding through the Just Transition Programme.
The factory in Petrila (Hunedoara County) will produce components for energy storage batteries, robots for cleaning photovoltaic panels and equipment for environmental monitoring, thus contributing to the development of the infrastructure necessary for Romania’s energy transition.
Subsequently, the project initiators want to build a 20 MWh energy storage battery next to the factory, using locally produced components.
The award goes to RenewAcad, a brand of Wind Power Energy.
Finalists: DN Agrar & BSOG Energy, E.ON Romania, Electrica, ENGIE Romania, MET Group, Transgaz
SUSTAINABILITY CHAMPION
In this category, we are awarding the construction of a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel fuel (HVO) production unit at the Petrobrazi refinery. The new unit will position the company as the first major producer of sustainable fuels in South-Eastern Europe, with a capacity of 250,000 tons per year.
The project involves a total investment of 750 million euros, of which 560 million euros for the construction of the SAF-HVO unit, and 190 million euros for two green hydrogen production facilities.
The award is given to OMV Petrom.
Finalists: ALRO, DN Agrar & BSOG Energy, Monsson, Nuclearelectrica, OX2
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FINANCING
The award in this category is for a financing of 200 million euros for the modernization of the electricity distribution network that covers 40% of Romania’s territory and serves approximately 4 million households and businesses.
The loan will help the beneficiary, Distribuție Energie Electrică România (DEER), to better serve its customers, improve energy efficiency and facilitate the connection of renewable energy sources.
The award is given to Electrica Group and the European Investment Bank.
Finalists: Delgaz Grid & EIB, Enery & Unicredit Bank, BCR and Erste, Exim Banca Romania – Green Insurance, Adrem & ING Bank Romania, Photon Energy & EBRD
OIL AND GAS PROJECT OF THE YEAR
This award is given for one of the largest energy projects in the history of Romania. The total investment in Neptun Deep amounts to approximately 4 billion euros, the project having a huge strategic importance in terms of ensuring energy for Romania, as well as for energy security and stability for the entire region.
In March, the two partners began drilling for the development and exploitation of the Pelican Sud and Domino natural gas fields in the Neptun Deep perimeter, located 160 km offshore the Black Sea. The project is progressing according to plan, with the first production estimated for 2027. Neptun Deep will contribute to Romania’s gas production with approximately 8 billion cubic meters per year, once the production plateau is reached.
The award is given to OMV Petrom and Romgaz.
Finalists: Rompetrol Rafinare, Transgaz, CE Oltenia & Tinmar Energy
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT – Eurowind Energy Romania
The renewable energy project of the year is a 60.2 MW photovoltaic park, built following a total investment of 55 million euros, of which 15 million represent PNRR financing. Thus, the Teiuș project is the largest photovoltaic park financed by PNRR in Romania.
The project will produce approximately 103.59 GWh of electricity annually and will contribute to reducing CO₂ emissions by over 37,000 tons.
An essential element of the Teiuș Park infrastructure is the internal transformation station built to the highest standards to ensure the efficient integration of the energy produced into the national grid.
The construction of the photovoltaic park was carried out to the highest quality and safety standards by ENEVO, a company founded and led by Cristian Pîrvulescu.
The award goes to Eurowind Energy Romania.
Finalists: PPC Renewables Romania, TenarisSilcotub, Eximprod, Monsson, OMV Petrom & CE Oltenia, Parapet
ENERGY STORAGE PROJECT PARTNERSHIP AWARD
In this category, we are awarding a partnership that will produce a project for a Li-Ion battery storage facility in the Crucea Nord Wind Farm.
Following the auction, Hidroelectrica signed the contract with the Prime Batteries Technology and Enevo Group association.
The main purpose of the investment is to reduce internal imbalances at the wind farm in Hidroelectrica’s portfolio, provide balancing services to the national energy system, improve wind turbine performance and reduce the wear and tear of the turbines’ electromechanical systems.
The contract price is approximately 80 million lei excluding VAT, and after the storage facility is put into operation, the nominal power of the facility will be 36 MW, with a nominal storage capacity (energy) of 72 MWh.
The award is given to Hidroelectrica, Enevo Group and Prime Batteries.
Finalists: Nova Power and Gas, Simtel & Monsson, Enexus Renewables.
ENERGY CSR AWARD
This category recognized companies that demonstrated outstanding commitment to corporate social responsibility within the energy sector. Three companies were awarded for their impactful initiatives supporting communities, promoting sustainability, and driving positive social change through responsible energy practices.
One award is for the awareness campaign on the importance of blood donation, called “Donate blood! Give energy to life!”
Every two seconds, someone needs blood. In Romania, only 2% of the population donates blood. A single donation can save up to 3 lives.
The first donor to join the campaign is the General Director of DEER, Mrs. Mihaela Suciu, who is a constant donor and understands the importance and necessity of blood donation.
Therefore, the award goes to the company Distributie Energie Electrica Romania.
Another award goes to an energy company that is a constant supporter of social responsibility and community development projects in Romania.
Among the projects sponsored by the company are “Energy for Life” organized by the Smart Energy Association and “National Clean Day” organized by Let’s Do it Romania.
In 2024, the company provided total sponsorships of over 13 million lei for key projects such as supporting Romanian athletes at the Paris Olympic Games, promoting sports among people with disabilities, transporting Romanian patients who needed emergency treatment in Europe and many others.
The award is presented to Hidroelectrica.
The third award is given for the “Apprentice Electrician” educational program supported by Distribuție Oltenia. The program aims to train new generations of energy professionals, providing theoretical and practical training for over 300 students in the 2023-2024 school year.
The project includes performance scholarships, personal development workshops and internships within the company, with the aim of both creating jobs and encouraging diversity in technical professions.
The award goes to the Evryo group.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
This award is given to a Romanian automation company that implemented the BMS system of the Bosch Rexroth factory in Slovenia.
The BMS system was commissioned remotely by the company from its headquarters in Brașov.
Support, consulting, verifications, information exchange, training of system administration personnel and service are carried out through the server and management software designed by the Romanian company’s engineers.
This project propelled the company into a select group of international partners with outstanding works, and the company gained international visibility by including the project on the Bosch Building Automation presentation website.
The award goes to Lisscom.
Finalists: ALRO, ELCEN, OMV Petrom, TenarisSilcotub
INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COLLABORATION INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
We are awarding a collaboration in this category that marks a first for Romania: the development of algorithms based on artificial intelligence, which will coordinate a set of advanced numerical methods, with the aim of real-time detection of the main consumers of electricity in the headquarters of the company Electrica.
Developed together with researchers from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca and the startup Renergia, the AI-AE system uses measurement sensors throughout the building and an intelligent monitoring system. Information about energy consumption will be processed using algorithms that will take into account the recorded consumption patterns. In addition, the project also involves the creation of a cloud-type infrastructure for the collection and storage of consumption data.
The award goes to Electrica, Renergia and the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca.
Finalists: Hidroelectrica & Politehnica Timisoara, Hidroelectrica & Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest
DECARBONIZATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
The award in this category is for the most important Romanian manufacturer of small-diameter seamless pipes. The company has completed the construction of its first renewable energy production capacity, a 20 MW photovoltaic park, achieved through an investment of 21.5 million USD. The electricity produced will be used for its own consumption and will cover part of the annual needs of the steel mill in Călărași, ensuring a more sustainable and efficient production process.
The use of solar energy will reduce carbon dioxide emissions generated by the steel mill’s activity, helping to achieve the reduction target of 30% by 2030, compared to 2018 levels.
The award goes to TenarisSilcotub.
Finalists: ALRO, ELCEN, OMV Petrom
DIGITAL INNOVATION AWARD
This award is given to the company that maintains its commitment to digitizing electricity distribution networks, for the benefit of customers, with the aim of providing them with a more resilient and flexible infrastructure, while increasing operational efficiency.
By the end of 2025, the total number of smart meters installed by the company in Romania will reach approximately 2 million, the highest volume achieved by any electricity distribution operator in Romania.
This year, over 174,000 smart meters will be installed in the three regions served by the company. The coverage of smart meters will reach 60% for customers in Bucharest and Ilfov and Giurgiu counties by the end of 2025, over 50% for those in Banat (counties of Timiș, Caraș-Severin, Hunedoara and Arad) and over 60% for those in Dobrogea (Constanta, Tulcea, Ialomița and Călărași), these representing the highest coverage percentages in the entire country.
The award goes to Rețele Electrice România.
Finalists: Delgaz Grid, OMV Petrom, Romgaz
ENERGY EDUCATION INITIATIVE AWARD
We offer this award to a successful initiative that will reach its eighth edition this year. The EPG Summer School project is a summer school that prepares students and young people at the beginning of their careers, providing them with an in-depth perspective on the challenges of the energy and climate sector.
At the 2024 edition, lecturers shared their expertise in areas such as climate governance, future challenges for solar and wind energy, industrial and residential decarbonization, electricity grids and sustainable financing, among others. At the same time, the trainees had the opportunity to visit two passive houses, a high-voltage power station, a wind farm, a vocational school and a storage facility.
The EPG Summer School aims not only to educate young people, but also to shape an international community of future experts who will firmly address climate and energy issues.
The project is for the Energy Policy Group (EPG).
Finalists: DEER, E.ON Energie Romania, Energy42, Hidroelectrica
DEAL OF THE YEAR
In this category, we are awarding two transactions carried out by the largest integrated energy producer in Southeastern Europe. OMV Petrom purchased from RNV Infrastructure a 50% stake in Electrocentrale Borzești. The company owns renewable energy projects with a capacity of approximately 1,000 MW, of which 950 MW wind and 50 MW photovoltaic. The wind projects will be developed, built and operated in partnership with RNV Infrastructure.
In addition, OMV Petrom acquired renewable energy production assets with a capacity of approximately 18 MW, of which 16 MW wind and 2 MW hydro. The assets are operated by OMV Petrom.
The award goes to OMV Petrom and Renovatio.
Finalists: Adrem & ROCA Investments, Electrica & Esyasoft, Monsson & NEPI Rockcastle, OMV Petrom & Jantzen Renewables, Verbund Wind Power & Monsson
CEO OF THE YEAR
In a year full of economic challenges and volatility in the energy market, this CEO stood out as a visionary and effective leader, consolidating the company’s position as a strategic pillar of national energy security.
Under his leadership, the company recorded a consolidated net profit of 3.2 billion lei, up 14.5% compared to the previous year – a remarkable performance, all the more so since it was achieved in a context of a decrease in total revenues by 11.1%.
In addition, he implemented an investment plan of over 4 billion lei in 2024, the most ambitious in the company’s history. These funds were directed to major projects such as Neptun Deep, the modernization of compressor stations, the drilling process and the Caragele project. To support these investments, the company issued bonds worth 500 million euros.
For the results of 2024, for the ability to transform challenges into opportunities and for his leadership oriented towards performance and sustainability, we offer this award to Răzvan Popescu, CEO Romgaz.
EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
This award is given to an elite specialist, for the entire activity and the outstanding results obtained throughout his vast professional career.
He began his teaching activity as an assistant at the Department of Power Plants, and in his almost 60 years of higher education, he has gone through all the stages of his teaching career up to that of professor at the Department of Electropower Systems and the UNESCO Department of the Politehnica University of Bucharest, his activity being recognized by the title of professor emeritus granted by UPB.
With over 100 scientific papers published in national and international journals, he is an active presence at the most important technical and scientific events in the country and abroad, being at the same time the organizer and co-organizer of major events within the CNR-CME, of special sessions of the “Regional Forum for South-Eastern Europe FOREN” and of the “Days of the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences”.
The award is given to Professor Emeritus Dr. Eng. Nicolae Golovanov.
SPECIAL AWARDS BY THE DIPLOMAT-BUCHAREST
PROTECTING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION
The award is given to the Eximprod Group for its essential contribution to strengthening energy and cyber security in Europe, at a crucial moment in the transition to a sustainable and digital future. The Digital Europe Programme is an Initiative of the European Commission for the digital transformation of the EU.
Eximprod coordinates the European project SECUR-EU, which brings together 14 partners and 2 subcontractors from six European countries. During its three-year implementation (2023–2026), the project develops open-source solutions to protect the energy networks of SMEs and critical infrastructure operators – thus contributing to the economic and technological resilience of local communities.
In parallel, the company is coordinator in the INTERSOC project, which brings together 11 partner organizations + 1 support organization and aims to strengthen the capacity of security operations centers (SOC) for smart energy infrastructure, supporting collaboration and early detection of cyber threats.
Eximprod is also involved in CYBERFORT, a project dedicated to supporting SMEs in adapting to the new European requirements on cybersecurity (Cyber Resilience Act).
Through these initiatives, Eximprod demonstrates that innovation in the energy field can go hand in hand with social responsibility, protecting not only infrastructure, but also people, local businesses and the digital future of Europe.
This distinction marks the recognition of the active role that Eximprod plays in protecting society through technology, European collaboration and long-term vision.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY MANAGEMENT AWARD
This award is about resilience, responsibility and long-term strategic vision. The award goes to an entrepreneurial company that has consistently demonstrated the ability to anticipate risks, adapt quickly and turn uncertainty into opportunity. A company that has managed to maintain stability and continuity in a critical area – energy supply – and to be a pillar of trust for the entire industry.
By implementing rigorous operational continuity policies and through excellent strategic control over supply chains, the company has proven that sustainable performance is not only possible, but also necessary.
For this clear vision, for the ability to build for the long term and for the way in which it transformed challenges into directions of sustainable growth, we are pleased to award the Business Continuity Management Award to Getica 95.
STRATEGIC ENERGY INVESTMENT AWARD
This award is given to a company with an outstanding strategic vision and a constant commitment to strengthening Romania’s energy security, through an investment portfolio with major impact at national and European level.
In 2024, the company demonstrated a solid commitment to sustainable development and decarbonization of the energy system by:
- Completing the preparatory phase for the retrofitting of Unit 1 at Cernavodă, a project that will ensure safe operation for another 30 years, avoiding emissions of over 5 million tons of CO₂ annually;
- Obtaining the European Commission’s positive opinion for the strategic project of Units 3 and 4, which will contribute 20% of the national energy needs and support Romania’s green transition;
- Launching the most advanced small modular reactor (SMR) project in Europe, at Doicești, in partnership with global technology leaders and with financial support of over 4 billion USD;
This award recognizes the company’s essential role in defining Romania’s energy future – a sustainable, secure and strategic one. The award goes to Nuclearelectrica.
AWARD FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL EXCELLENCE AND GLOBAL RENEWABLE EXPANSION
This award is given to an entrepreneurial company from Romania that has quickly established itself as a reference player in the renewable energy sector in Europe, through an integrated, agile development model and deeply oriented towards innovation and excellence.
In 2024, the company reached an impressive portfolio of almost 1 GW of solar capacity installed or under implementation in Romania and in foreign markets, such as Germany, demonstrating a remarkable execution capacity, based exclusively on internal resources.
The company invested in building an internal team of over 850 professionals and a fleet of over 200 of its own equipment, becoming the largest employer in the energy project implementation sector in Romania. This approach gives the company total control over quality, deadlines and costs, maximizing the efficiency of each project.
The company is preparing to launch in 2025 the first factory in Europe dedicated to the production of floating solar systems, in the town of Tunari.
The award is given to Waldevar Energy.
This event would not have been possible without the support of our great partners, to whom we would like to say a big thank you:
Platinum Partner: PPC
Gold Partners: Schneider Electric, ENEVO, EVRYO, INFORM, Hidroelectrica, Distributie Energie Electrica Romania, E.ON, Getica 95, Transelectrica
Partners: Polytrade, Tinmar Energy, Waldevar Energy, Adrem, Romgaz, ALRO, Nuclearelectrica, FPE, Exim Banca Romaneasca, Eximprod Group
Supporting Partners ACUE, Concordia, HENRO, AHK Romania, BRCC, CCIFER, Cluj IT, Lovering & Partners, ANIS
