The 4th edition of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards is open to all Official Partners that have joined the Campaign from January 2009 to December 2009. An Official Partner of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign is an ongoing, fully financed project implemented by public and/or private actor(s) in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energy sources, clean transport and/or bio-fuels.

The deadline to participate in the Awards Competition 2010 is the 15th of December 2009.

STEP 1: Application

Potential Official Partners have to apply to the Partnership scheme by completing the online application form. They can also request an application form by sending a request to dc@sustenergy.org. Only Official Partners are eligible to participate in the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards Competition.

STEP 2: Selection and Evaluation

After applying to the Campaign Partnership scheme, the project is evaluated by the European Commission (EACI - Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation). If accepted as Official Partner, the project is eligible to participate in the Awards Competition and can continue to update the application form until the 15th of December 2009 in order to provide with the latest information about the project results.

The evaluation criteria are the following:

• Originality and feasibility (approach, methodology, adequate resources, credible management);
• High replication potential of the project to other organisations in Europe; and
• Potential impact (energy results and environmental impact related to the size of the project and, for communication partnerships, communication results related to the size of the project).

STEP 3: Nomination and Awards categories

A Technical Advisory Committee will shortlist a number of candidates per category. The Sustainable Energy Europe Awards Competition comprises 5 categories:

• Sustainable Energy Communities: working together at a local, regional or national level, towards a genuine change in energy supply and energy use on the basis of a coherent plan, involving a range of public and private stakeholders.
• Market Transformation including voluntary commitments: working to reduce market barriers and effect positive lasting change in the market for energy efficient goods, appliances and services, with the objectives of increasing their market share and informing the consumer of their advantages.
• Promotional, communication and educational actions: working to increase public awareness on a range of sustainable energy issues and products.
• Demonstration and dissemination projects: working to ensure effective implementation and dissemination of a range of technologies, in the major sectors: buildings, transport, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
• Cooperation programmes: working to transfer sustainable energy know-how to developing countries.

The pre-selected Official Partners will be contacted in due time and asked to provide more information about their projects (brochures, video or any deliverables produced that can help assess the impact of their actions).

STEP 4: Selection Committee and Awards Ceremony

An independent Selection Committee, comprising representatives of key energy stakeholders, will select the winners amongst the shortlisted candidates. The winning projects will be handed the Award by the Commissioner for Energy at a prestigious Awards Ceremony which will be held in Brussels on the 23rd of March 2010 during the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2010.