Take a look at the Utility Week Flex Awards 2026 categories. Stay in touch below to be the first to know when entries open or position your brand as a pioneer in flexible energy by sponsoring a category.  
 

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Domestic Flexibility Proposition of the Year 

Awarding a project that is successfully trialling or implementing energy flexibility in the domestic consumer market. This could include tariff innovation, engagement in demand response, flexing low-carbon heat, automating assets, or any initiative that creates clear benefits for customers, the wider energy system, and blazes a trail for further projects to come.

This category is open to any organisation which has a product, service or project improving domestic flexibility. The initiative should be underway during the period January 2025 and March 2026. 

Entries for the category should show evidence of: 

  • An innovative approach to energy flexibility solving a genuine problem 

  • How it can be scaled or developed to deliver further impact  

  • Visible consideration to be inclusive for customers from all backgrounds 

  • Tangible and quantifiable impact for domestic customers  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding? please state how much. (Yes, no, partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the initiative and the goals/objectives (200)  

  • Section 3: Why it deserves to win Best Flexibility Proposition of the Year. (500) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Best I&C Initiative  

Celebrating a project or initiative which successfully engages industrial and commercial users in energy flexibility and creates long lasting partnerships for future flexibility procurement. The initiative or partnership should be underway during the period January 2025 and March 2026. 

This category is open to networks, industrial and commercial users of energy, and anyone aggregating or managing I&C energy use.   

Entries for this category should show evidence of: 

  • An innovative approach to energy flexibility solving a genuine problem 

  • How it can be scaled or developed to deliver further impact  

  • Visible considerations of I&C customer priorities and risks  

  • Tangible and quantifiable impact for I&C customers  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding? please state how much. (Yes, no partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the initiative and insight into the goal, objectives and purpose.  (200) 

  • Section 3: Why does this initiative deserve to win Best I&C Initiative? (500)  

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Energy Flexibility Newcomer

Recognising a rising star in energy flexibility who is going above and beyond to embrace innovation, drive impact and scale energy flexibility. The individual should have started working in energy flexibility on or after January 1st 2021.   

Entries for this category should show evidence of: 

  • Innovative thinking and problem solving for energy flexibility  

  • The individual’s contribution and impact within a team, business or industry  

  • Outstanding commitment to energy flexibility  

  • The individual’s understanding the diverse nature of flexibility markets  

Entry form:  

  • Name, job title and company of nominee  

  • When did they start working in energy flexibility?  

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if shortlisted and high res head shot. 

  • Section 2: Overview of individual’s name, job title and how long they worked in flexibility. (200) 

  • Section 3: Why do they deserve to win Energy Flexibility Newcomer? (500)  

  • Section 4: Please share any key results or measurable impact to support your entry (200 words) 

Best Local Energy Project  

Awarding a project, partnership or initiative developed by or in partnership with a community group or local authority to generate, manage and use energy in a carbon conscious way to contribute to the decarbonisation of the energy grid.

This award is open to any organisation working on a local energy project. 

Entries for this category should show evidence of: 

  • A collaborative partnership and inclusive project which considers local as well as national needs 

  • An outstanding commitment to renewable energy and using energy sustainably  

  • How it can be scaled or developed to deliver further impact  

  • Tangible and quantifiable impact for a whole community of different customers   

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding / government subsidies? Please state how much. (Yes, no partially) 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the project and its objectives (200) 

  • Section 3: Why does the project deserve to win Best Local Energy Project? (500)  

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Equity and Inclusion in Flex Award  

Celebrating an organisation, company or initiative, that is making a conscious effort to ensure energy flex products and markets are accessible to all household types and businesses and is putting vulnerable customers at the heart of its energy flexibility plans.

The organisation or initiative should be ensuring energy flexibility is accessible and inclusive for all consumers and a priority during the period January 2025 and March 2026. 

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • Inclusive and supportive practices to enable a variety of customers to participate and/or benefit from energy flexibility  

  • Outstanding commitment to create an inclusive and equitable flexibility market  

  • Innovative approaches which deliver tangible benefits to a variety for customers 

  • Quantifiable impact for a whole community of different customers   

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding? Please state how much. (Yes, no partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the project or initiative and its key objectives (200)  

  • Section 3: Why does this project deserve to win Equity and Inclusion awards? (500) 

  • Section 4: Key results and statistics to support your entry (200 words) 

Best Flexible Storage Project  

Awarding a project which provides flexible storage to enable a clean energy system on grid or domestic scale. This project could be an example of battery storage, V2G, long duration energy storage, thermal storage etc.

This project should have been live between January 2025 and March 2026 

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • Effective and dynamic flexible storage solution responding to grid needs  

  • Innovative approach to flexible storage  

  • Commercial viability / potential of the project 

  • Quantifiable benefit to customers and/or business and/or the wider energy system  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding / government subsidies? Please state how much. (Yes, no, partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the project and its goals / objectives (200)  

  • Section 3: Why does this project deserve to win best Flexible Storage Project? (500) 

  • Section 4: Key results and statistics to support your entry (200 words) 

Best Use of Energy Flexibility Data  

Recognising a project or initiative that is utilising data to unlock opportunities that drive efficiency, lower the barriers to entry and promote uptake of energy flexibility.

The project, pilot or initiative should have operated between February 2024 and March 2025.     

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • Innovative use of data 

  • How it is contributing to making the market more accessible 

  • How it can be scaled or developed to deliver further impact 

  • Quantifiable benefit to customers and/or business and/or the wider energy system 

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding? Please state how much. (Yes, no, partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Description of the source of the data, how the data is being used to enable energy flexibility (200)  

  • Section 3: Why it deserves to win the best use of energy flexibility data (500 words max) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Best Multi-Vector Project for Flexibility 

Highlighting an outstanding project or partnership across different energy vectors which dynamically and flexibly responds to the needs of customers. This award celebrates a project, initiative or partnership which leverages multiple energy vectors to drive resilience and ensure the system can maintain balance during supply shortages or demand spikes. 

The project should have operated between February 2024 and March 2025.    

Entries for the category should show evidence of: 

  • A dynamic capability to respond to the grid and ensure energy security to the nation 

  • A valuable multi-vector partnership which enhances resilience and delivers for customers 

  • An innovative approach to balancing the grid 

  • Visible consideration to be inclusive for customers from all backgrounds 

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding / government subsidies? Please state how much. (Yes, no partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the project and it main objectives/goals (200)  

  • Section 3:  Why does the project deserve to win? (500) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Flexibility Service Provider of the Year  

Awarding a Flexibility Service Provider which is demonstrating a clear commitment to removing barriers for domestic and/or I&C consumers to engage in the market and is actively delivering flexibility to networks.    

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • Demonstrable success in aggregating flexibility to ease local congestion on the grid  

  • Clear flexibility solution for electricity networks to regularly utilise  

  • Visible consideration to be inclusive for customers from all backgrounds  

  • Commercial viability or potential in the near future  

Entry form:  

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted and a high res logo. 

  • Section 2: Overview of the company  

  • Section 3: How is the company committed to energy flexibility and why do you deserve to win FSP of the year? (500 words max) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Energy Network of the Year 

Celebrating an energy network which is demonstrating a commitment to customer inclusivity, best user experience and enabling energy flexibility across its grid. This category highlights a network taking a forward-thinking approach to energy flexibility that enables grid decarbonisation, unlocks future opportunities and embraces the rollout of digital infrastructure.    

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • Outstanding commitment to energy flexibility and leadership in the creation of the market  

  • Investment and strategy lining up to enable short, medium- and long-term opportunities for energy flexibility  

  • Genuine engagement with the market including domestic and wholesale end users  

  • Demonstrable stakeholder engagement 

Entry form:  

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted and high res logo of your company  

  • Section 2: Description of how your network is enabling, delivering and committing to energy flexibility and why you deserve to win Energy Network of the Year (700)  

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

Flexibility Pioneer of the Year  

Celebrating an individual industry champion of energy flexibility who is making an outstanding contribution to the development, roll out and scaling of energy flexibility. 

Entries for this category should show evidence of:  

  • An outstanding commitment to progressing energy flexibility in the UK 

  • Positive impact and leadership to enable energy flexibility  

  • Takes a proactive approach to raising the public profile of energy flexibility  

  • An influential role in developing flex markets 

Entry form:  

  • Please upload a headshot of the nominee  

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Overview of the individual, job role and company and their role within energy flexibility. (200) 

  • Section 3: Why does this person deserve to win Flexibility Pioneer of the year? (500 words max) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 

AI for Flex Award

Celebrating innovative uses of AI to unlock energy flexibility capacity and better serve domestic and wholesale customers. The project, pilot or initiative should have operated between February 2024 and March 2025.  

Entries for the category should show evidence of: 

  • An innovative application of AI  

  • How it can support the scale of energy flexibility  

  • How it is adding tangible benefit for your business or domestic or wholesale customers  

  • Applicability to a diverse range of end users  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive regulator or government innovation funding? Please state how much. (Yes, no, partially) 

  • Please list relevant project partners 

  • Section 1: A 100-word headline summary of your entry for publication if you are shortlisted  

  • Section 2: Description of the AI project and its objectives (200)  

  • Section 3: Why it deserves to win the AI for Flex award (500 words max) 

  • Section 4: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 


THE AWARDS ARE HELD AT UTILITY WEEK LIVE (19-20 MAY, NEC, BIRMINGHAM)