Celebrating Energy Transition Leaders: 2025 Roger Léron Award Winners

Brussels, Tuesday 20th of May 2025 – FEDARENE, the European Network of Energy Agencies and Regions, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Roger Léron Award. This prestigious award celebrates visionary individuals and projects that are leading the climate and energy transition at the local and regional levels across Europe.

Longstanding Achievement Award

This award recognises individuals with a career spanning at least 25 years dedicated to sustainable energy and climate action. These pioneers have made enduring contributions to a greener, more resilient Europe. The 2025 winner and finalists are:

• First place: John Fogarty, for pioneering community-led energy in Ireland, from launching the country’s first citizen-owned wind farm to shaping national policy and enabling communities to generate, own, and benefit from renewable power.

• Second place: Francisco Javier Rey Martinez, for playing a pivotal role in sustainable energy and climate action in Castilla y León, shaping its R&D landscape and influencing the region’s economy, energy policies, and environmental sustainability.

• Third place: Lena Eckerberg, for driving sustainable energy and climate action since 1999 through her work at the Energy Agency Southern Sweden, leading over 30 EU-funded projects.

Outstanding Achievement Award

This category honours individuals whose impactful work has significantly accelerated the local and regional energy transition and climate action. These leaders have driven tangible change, setting benchmarks for others to follow. The 2025 winner and finalists are:

• First place: Raul Garcia-Brink, for transforming Gran Canaria’s energy landscape through ambitious public investments, renewable energy roll-out, and deep stakeholder collaboration, positioning the island as a frontrunner in Europe’s clean energy transition.

• Second place: Sandrine Deternay, for championing energy intracting adoption in Albertville, leading to immediate energy and financial savings reinvested into the system.

• Third place: Zeljko Kolar, for being a driving force in Croatia’s sustainable energy transition, leading renewable energy, efficiency, and regional development.

Youth Leadership Award

Celebrating the achievements of young professionals who are shaping the future of sustainable energy, this award highlights the critical role of emerging leaders in driving the energy transition and climate action. The 2025 winner and finalists are:

• Winner: Eliska Pechlatova, for combining research, advocacy, and hands-on conservation to advance renewable energy, restore ecosystems, and strengthen local food systems in the Czech Republic.

• Second place: Stavros Spyridakos, for his influential role in shaping fair and just energy transition policies and empowering local communities.

Innovative Action Award

This category recognises pioneering initiatives and projects that have introduced innovative approaches to local and regional energy challenges. The 2025 winner and finalists are:

• First place: CEL RURAL, for promoting decentralised, democratic, and sustainable energy systems, harnessing local renewable resources to drive economic growth and population retention across rural Spain and Portugal.

• Second place: ComAct, for transforming high-cost renovations into affordable, high-impact energy-efficient upgrades for multi-family buildings across Central and Eastern European countries.

• Third place: Bio fashiontec, for pioneering the recycling of mix-natural and synthetic fibres through a patent-pending biotechnology process, contributing to a circular textile economy.

For more information about the Roger Léron Awards and this year’s winners and finalists, visit: Discover the Nominees of the 2025 Roger Léron Award.