Energy Awards finalists named
Finalists for the 2026 New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards have been announced, highlighting a sector undergoing significant transformation.
Contact Energy features strongly with four finalist spots, while Orion Group and Transpower each appear in two categories. New entrants include SUPA Energy, BraveTrace, Channel Infrastructure NZ, New Zealand Steel, KiwiRail, and Woolworths NZ.
Judging panel chair Harsharan Singh says entries reflect a shift in how energy is viewed and delivered. "Energy is increasingly seen as a social good, alongside changes in how it is produced, funded and managed," he says.
Awards organiser Irwin Munro says the finalists represent a diverse mix of organisations across generation, networks, retail, and large-scale energy use. "Together, they showcase an industry evolving across people, technology and purpose," he says.
The 2026 finalists are:
FutureForce Award - sponsored by Ngākau Hihiko
Contact Energy - Attracting early careers to lead New Zealand's renewable energy future
Octopus Energy NZ - Empowering futures through squiggly career paths
Orion Group - Ubuntu Programme: Enabling the workforce of tomorrow
Transpower and Engineering NZ - Wonder Project: Power Challenge - Powering up our future workforce
Innovation in Energy Award - available for sponsorship
Contact Energy - Māpuna - Contact's innovative geothermal well management solution
SUPA Energy - SUPA: Distributed power, private capital, community wins
Contact Energy and Syos Aerospace - Underwater Robotic Coating Measurement and Inspection System
Transpower and The Solar Tsunamis Endeavour Programme - Space weather - from invisible risk to national resilience
Energy Distributor of the Year - sponsored by Axos Systems
Counties Energy - Reimagining energy to power thriving communities
PowerNet - A high trust distributor proven under pressure
The Lines Company - Small distributor, big community impact
Community Initiative of the Year - sponsored by Eagle Technology
Contact Energy - The Good Initiative
Orion Group - Tautoru Mautai - a partnership to restore the whenua
Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust - Reefton Powerhouse Project
Young Energy Professional of the Year - sponsored by Elemental Group
Northpower - Shaun Brown, General Manager - Engineering and Delivery
Westpower/ElectroNet Group - Simon Harvey, General Manager Contracting
Woolworths NZ - Chitranjan (Chintu) Rathod, Energy Operations and Innovation Manager
Energy Retailer of the Year - sponsored by EDMI
To be announced at the Awards dinner
Energy Project of the Year - sponsored by China Construction Bank New Zealand
Channel Infrastructure NZ - Channel Infrastructure accelerated diesel storage for NZ
Contact Energy - The Flex Factor: Glenbrook Ohurua Battery 1
Eastland Generation - Showcase for shared success: TOPP2 geothermal power plant project
Low Carbon Future Award - sponsored by TechnologyOne
Alliance Group and Active Refrigeration - Alliance High Temperature Heat Pump Projects
BraveTrace - BraveTrace NZECS: Proof that powers decarbonisation
Fonterra Co-operative - Project Kōwhai - small footprint with a big impact
Well-being Award - sponsored by Ergo Consulting
Alpine Energy - Fully charged
Bluecurrent - Well-being at Bluecurrent: From vision to visible action
Genesis Energy - Women in Wholesale
Large Energy User Initiative of the Year - sponsored by EECA
KiwiRail - Decarbonising KiwiRail's shunt fleet for a sustainable future
New Zealand Steel - The New Zealand Steel Electric Arc Furnace - securing the future of steel making, a strategic asset for NZ
Woolworths NZ - Predicative Power: Scaling AI-driven decarbonisation across New Zealand
Joining Singh on the judging panel this year are Sapere Research Group director Toby Stevenson, independent consultant John Hancock, Water New Zealand chief executive Gillian Blythe, strategy and management consultant Carmen Blackler, Enerlytica director and head of research John Kidd, Genesis biomass business development manager Dave Binnie, and Carbon Match director Lizzie Chambers.
Awards winners will be announced at a gala event at Tākina, Wellington on Wednesday 19 August. Buy your table here. On the night support will come from table display sponsor Gentrack, VIP Function sponsor Hitachi Energy, and after-party sponsor Anderson Lloyd.
The awards programme is also supported by: Energy Resources Aotearoa, ERGANZ, GasNZ, Electricity Networks Aotearoa, Electricity Engineers' Association, New Zealand Wind Energy Association, Major Electricity Users' Group, Carbon and Energy Professionals New Zealand, and the Young Energy Professionals Network.