From underground Ukrainian coal mines to flying above the windy North Sea, from AI in Saudi Arabia to European half-hourly electricity markets, the 2026 International Energy Award winners have broken through barriers to change the world of energy.

Workforce Award: DTEK 
DTEK’s Ukraine’s Hidden Army project is training women to step into high-stakes underground mining roles for the first time 
Photo: DTEK

Ukrainian private energy investor DTEK faced critical workforce shortages after more than 15% of its male miner workforce were mobilised to the army since February 2022; part of the 5,700 employees participating in the country’s armed forces. To counter this, Mining Area Head, Dmytro Ustyukhov, was among the first who supported recruiting women to fill operational roles underground. As a result, 580+ women now work underground across DTEK mines, representing 5% of the number of employees working underground, according to Oleksandr Kutereshchyn, Head of Communications at DTEK Energy.

‘Before the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian labour law prohibited women from working in high-risk roles, including underground mining. In spring 2022, this rule was suspended,’ Kutereshchyn explains.

Ruslana Horianska, a previous hairdresser now working 300 metres underground, notes: ‘There aren’t enough men left to work down the mines and fight on the front. Someone has to step in and take their place.’ For employees like Tetiana Ustymenko, who transitioned from a dispatch office to becoming an underground operator 340 metres below ground, the work is said to demand constant focus and responsibility. At a time of war, it matters deeply that women are working alongside men, contributing to recovery and the country’s resilience, she says.

According to Kutereshchyn, the project focuses on building future skills through Academy DTEK, which provides two months of theoretical training followed by practical experience. Women from diverse non-mining backgrounds are now trained in machinery operation, electrical repair, mine logistics and locomotive driving. These skills are considered essential for preparing the workforce for future roles in engineering, renewables and energy infrastructure maintenance.

The human impact of the programme is profound, as it pivots the industry from a men-only domain to a workforce defined not by tradition but by courage and resilience. Kutereshchyn notes that, for the female workers: ‘It’s not about receiving special treatment but the respect and the feeling that the work they are doing matters.’ He observes that this initiative has helped them discover that ‘Ukraine has a much wider talent pool than we previously used,’ proving that ‘what started as a fast solution, has really changed the mindset about women's roles in mining.’

Young Professional Award: Alaa Alahmed, Saudi Aramco 
 
Tim Pick, Vice President, Energy Institute, and Chair, Offshore Wind Growth Partnership, presents the award to Alaa Alahmed 
Photo: Energy Institute/Schmooly

Saudi Aramco Energy Optimisation Engineer Alaa Alahmed views her recognition as a platform for future impact. ‘This award represents trust and responsibility,’ Alahmed says. ‘It reflects the collective support of mentors, colleagues and family who encouraged me to aim higher. It also serves as a reminder that the next generation of energy professionals has a meaningful role to play in shaping a more intelligent and sustainable energy future.’

Alahmed’s work focuses on turning complex data into practical actions that improve operational performance. She develops and implements AI-driven solutions that enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon intensity. ‘I have experienced many challenges in my career, but I believe I have broken many barriers. I want to make a difference in lives, not only in my society but all over the world.’

Alahmed credits her success to a mix of early interest and determination. ‘My curiosity began with a fascination for how large-scale systems power everyday life,’ she notes. ‘One of the biggest hurdles was navigating new environments and expectations while continuously raising the bar for myself. Entering complex operational settings required resilience and adaptability, but each challenge strengthened my confidence and reinforced my commitment to the energy sector.’ Alahmed’s professional trajectory is supported a Master of Science in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University, an MBA with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with Honors from Oregon State University.

Looking ahead, Alahmed is focused on scaling decarbonisation efforts and empowering others looking to work in her field. ‘My ambition is to continue advancing AI-enabled energy optimisation and digital sustainability solutions that can be scaled across sectors and regions,’ she states.

For the next generation, her advice is clear: ‘Stay curious and deepen your technical foundations, while also investing in communication and leadership skills. Confidence grows through experience and every step you take opens doors for those who will follow.’

Safety by Design Award: Ørsted

 
Ørsted deployed heavy-lift cargo drones for the first time in an operational campaign at the UK’s Borssele 1 and 2 offshore wind farm 
Photo: Ørsted

The wind power utility Ørsted has used heavy lifting drones to raise boxes of tools and materials on top of offshore wind turbines.

The project can be traced back to 2022, and first delivery was carried out in 2024, when the team was given the task of lifting 65-kg boxes of emergency evacuation suits to the top of 94 turbines in a Dutch wind farm. Using a crane and three technicians, it took six hours to lift one box into place. With a heavy-lift drone, a team of three operators, a project manager and a vessel crew, they managed an average of 20 boxes per day, reports Logistics & Service Execution Product Manager Nina F Le.

Le points out that rate was not achieved by cutting corners. She recalls: ‘We were very cautious; it was the first time this had been done in the world. We wanted to be sure everything was done by the book; there was intense risk assessment.’

The next step up was even bigger; to do the same thing again, but for four wind farms: Hornsea 1 & 2 in the UK North Sea and Wornley 1 & 2 in the Irish Sea. That time, they managed 40 boxes a day without stopping the turbines.

Now, Le has her eyes on installing drone activities as a permanent part of maintenance logistics. That would enable delivering tools and spares before the service team gets there, so they are already there and can be used. That’s the plan for Hornsea 2 from summer 2027.

Another new feature being investigated is beyond visual line of sight operation – which means flying the drones farther. That reduces ship movements, saving time and fuel.

In summary, Le says the award highlights the value that Ørsted places on safety. ‘It also opens the doors for other companies to see what is possible and how to do things better.’

Technology Award: Granular Energy 
 
Craig Watel, Vice President, Petrocare, awards Granular Energy’s Toby Ferenczi 
Photo: Energy Institute/Schmooly

Granular Energy provides a software platform that enables energy companies to manage large portfolios of energy contracts. Its technology carries out portfolio management of energy certificates and green energy contracts like power purchase agreements (PPAs), and automatically matches generation to consumption, meaning that consumers get full traceability on their energy supply.

‘What our software is doing is trying to bring transparency to the electricity sector,’ explains Granular Energy CEO and Co-founder Toby Ferenczi. ‘What’s really important is that when you purchase energy you have some idea of telling where that energy comes from, because ultimately that is what determines what your carbon emissions are as an individual or as a business.’

In April 2024, Good Energy was the first to adopt Granular Energy’s software and now offers ‘hourly matching’ to all its business customers. Every month, energy production data is collected from the thousands of renewable generators Good Energy buys energy from. Using the Granular Energy platform, this clean energy is matched on a half-hourly basis with each individual business customer supplied by Good Energy. Each business receives a unique report every month detailing exactly which power plants were providing them with energy during every half-hourly period. They also receive accurate information on their carbon emissions, renewable energy guarantees of origin (REGOs) and energy consumption through an interactive dashboard and PDF reports.

Other B2B energy suppliers in the UK have since adopted Granular Energy's software, including TotalEnergies, Drax, SSE, E.On, Smartest Energy and Ecotricity. Beyond the UK, Granular Energy is supporting more than 25 energy suppliers in Germany, Italy, Ireland, Belgium, France, the US, Japan, New Zealand and many other markets.

Furthermore, international regulations are starting change. On 1 August 2025, the international accounting body for greenhouse gas emissions reporting (The Greenhouse Gas Protocol) voted to approve an hourly and geographic requirement for all Scope 2 emissions reporting (subject to consultation). ‘Feasibility’ was a key factor in this decision, and Granular Energy’s technology played an essential role in demonstrating this feasibility, according to the company.

Relive the International Energy Awards and hear from winners Alaa Alahmed and Toby Ferenczi moments after coming off stage.

• Further reading: ‘New support for offshore wind: from delivery drones to favourable financing’. Discover more about Ørsted deploying drones at offshore wind farms, a new European Investment Bank supply chain initiative, and a report from think tank Ember that warns global offshore wind capacity is still not growing fast enough.
• ‘The clock is ticking on transformation to a flexible electricity system’. The UK’s electricity sector is working towards a complete transformation of the settlement process in the back office. The outcome could offer radically improved consumer propositions from 2026.