Take a look at the categories that will champion the individuals, teams and organisations pioneering energy flexibility.

The Flex Awards celebrate innovative ideas and strategies that pave the way for energy flexibility and make markets more inclusive and accessible. Entries do not have to be fully-completed projects or trials, the Awards celebrate pioneers at every stage of their journey.
 

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. 

Entries for the category should show:

  • Consumer engagement in the project and tangible benefits  

  • Tangible and quantifiable proof of impact, including ongoing impact/benefit to energy flexibility markets 

  • Benefits to the system operator and/or wider energy system 

  • ‘Proof of concept’ for energy flexibility that will support its wider rollout  

The project, scheme or product should have operated between February 2024 and March 2025.   

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive innovation funding? 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 initiative and success of implementation. Why does this proposition deserve to win best domestic flexibility proposition?  (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: 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 live during the period January 2024 and March 2025.   

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:

  • Tangible and quantifiable proof of impact, including ongoing impact/benefit to energy flexibility markets 

  • Innovative approaches which deliver tangible benefits to I&C consumers  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive 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 success of implementation and why it deserves to win Best I&C initiative. (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: Key results to support your entry (200 words)

Energy Flexibility Newcomer

Recognising a startup or new division of a company which is paving the way for energy flexibility and seeks to enable, scale and engage end users in energy flexibility. The company or division should have been established on or after January 1st 2020.  

Entries for this category should show:

  • An innovative product or service which solves a clear problem facing flexibility markets 

  • Tangible and quantifiable proof of impact, including ongoing impact/benefit to energy flexibility markets 

  • Benefits to the system operator and/or wider energy system 

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive innovation funding? Please state how much  (yes, no, partially) 

  • When was the business or division founded? 

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

  • Section 2: Overview of the business, its key objectives and successes and why it deserves to win Energy Flexibility Newcomer. (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: Key results 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:

  • A collaborative partnership and inclusive project which supports the communities needs 

  • An outstanding commitment to renewable energy and using energy consciously  

  • Tangible and quantifiable proof of impact, including ongoing impact/benefit to energy flexibility market 

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive innovation funding? Please state how much (yes, no, partially) 

  • When was the business or division founded? 

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

  • Section 2: Overview of the project, its approach to stakeholder engagement, inclusivity of all consumers, its key objectives and successes and why it deserves to win Best Community Energy Project. (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: Key results to support your entry (200 words)

Flexibility Inclusion Award  

Celebrating an organisation, company or initiative, who is putting vulnerable customers at the heart of their energy flexibility plans and ensures energy flexibility is accessible and inclusive for all consumers.  

Entries for this category should show:

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

  • Outstanding commitment to create an inclusive flexibility market  

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

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive 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, initiative, or organisation and how it has considered the needs of a diverse customer base and catered for vulnerable customers. (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: 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 should have been live between January 2024 and March 2025.  

Entries for this category should show:

  • Effective and flexible storage solution responding to grid needs  

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

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive 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, the capacity it provided for the grid and why it deserves to win Best Flexible Storage Project. (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: 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 should have operated between February 2024 and March 2025.   

Entries for this category should show:

  • Innovative use of data 

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

  • ‘Proof of concept’ for energy flexibility that will support its wider rollout    

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive 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 and why it deserves to win the best use of energy flexibility data (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: 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 to the grid. 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:

  • A live, or completed, project or trial, which is providing multi-vector energy system flexibility 

  • Valuable multi vector partnerships which enhance resilience for consumers and ensure security of supply  

Entry form:  

  • Did this project receive 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 and how it provides, or has the potential to provide, flexibility to the energy system. Why does it deserve to win Best Multi-Vector Project for Flexibility? (800 words max) 

  • 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:

  • Effort to aggregate flexibility to respond to local congestion on the grid  

  • Clear flexibility solution for electricity networks to regularly utilize  

  • Commercial viability  

Entry form:  

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

  • Section 2: Outline of the FSP, how it is committed to and delivering energy flexibility and why you deserve to win FSP of the year (eight hundred words max) 

  • Section 3: 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:

  • 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  

  • Clear focus on communities and local stakeholders, successfully engaging domestic and business users in flexibility  

Entry form:  

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

  • Section 2: Description of how your network is enabling, delivering and committing to energy flexibility, how it is evolving to the DSO model, or how it continues to excel as a systems operator and why you deserve to win (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: 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:

  • An outstanding commitment to progressing energy flexibility in the UK 

  • Positive impact and leadership to enable energy flexibility  

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 being nominated, the activity they have carried out and how has this contributed to energy flexibility. Why does this person or organisation deserve to win Flexibility Pioneer of the year? (800 words max) 

  • Section 3: Key results to support your entry (200 words) 


THE AWARDS WILL BE HELD AT UTILITY WEEK LIVE (20-21 MAY, NEC, BIRMINGHAM)