Make the successes visible
vgbe Awards
vgbe AWARDS,
The successesare made visible
With the VGB Awards, vgbe wants to draw the attention of the industry and the interested public to precisely those topics that are of great importance for companies operating in the field of power and heat generation and storage, in the national as well as in the international environment, in the present as well as in the future:
- Quality
- Occupational health and safety and
- Research and development
Against this background, three prizes unique in this form were created.
The awards include all technologies for the generation and storage of electricity and heat in all project phases: new build, operation, refurbishment, maintenance, decommissioning/dismantling and retrofit.
The VGB Awards are presented at the annual vgbe Congress by the vgbe Chairman.
Everything at a glance
- Deadline for proposals:
- Submit proposal online
- Download: Call of nominations
- The award ceremony
The Innovation Award will be presented at the vgbe Congress on
Sept 24, 2025.
Everything at a glance
- Deadline for proposals:
June 27, 2025 - Submit proposal online
- Download: Call of proposals
- The award ceremony
The Quality Award will be presented at the vgbe Congress on
September 24, 2025.
Everything at a glance
- Deadline for proposals:
- Submit proposal online
- The award ceremony
The Safety Health Award will be presented at the vgbe Congress 2026.
vgbe Innovation Award
the prize
innovation
made visible
The VGB Innovation Award underlines the innovative strength of the industry. Awards are given for outstanding achievements by young university graduates or young professionals in the field of electricity and heat generation and storage (age limit: 35 years). The prize is endowed with a total of 10,000 € and is awarded in two categories: “Application” and “Future”.
The call for the vgbe Innovation Award 2024 is open!
Current awardees
vgbe Innovation Award
The Innovation Award has been awarded by the vgbe RESEARCH FOUNDATION for more than 30 years.
The Innovation Award, with a prize of 10,000 Euros, was awarded in equal parts to Anna Lankovska of AS Latvenergo and Dr Jan Figgener from RWTH Aachen.
Anna Lankovska was honoured for her pioneering work “Wind energy in Latvia – mismatch between the potential and reality”. In her research, she explored the potential of wind energy in Latvia and identified significant opportunities both on- and off-shore. A wind farm in the Ventspils area was modelled using Energy Pro software to assess power production, operational limitations and to calculate investment costs and payback time. Her work makes an important contribution to future political and economic decisions, which are crucial for the country’s independent energy security and efforts to mitigate climate change.

(f.l.t.r.: Dr Georg Stamatelopoulos, Anna Lankovska, vgbe Innovation Award winner 2024, Dr Oliver Then)

Previous award winners vgbe Innovation Award
VGB Innovation Award 2023

- Dr.-Ing. Weihan Li, für seine Arbeiten an einem “Cloud-basierten Batterie-Management-System” und
- Sebastian Raczka (M.Sc.) für seine Arbeiten an “Edge-Computing und Virtualisierungstechniken für die Integration von Automatisierungssystemen in Verteilungsnetzen”
VGB Innovation Award 2022

Der VGB Innovation Award 2022 ging an Lukas Kasper (TU Wien) für seine Arbeit an einer auf die Anforderungen industrieller Energiesysteme zugeschnittenen Digital-Twin-Plattform (Kategorie: Zukunftsorientierung). Digital Twins haben ein enormes Potenzial zur Verbesserung der Effizienz von Industrieanlagen, indem sie zahlreiche digitale Anwendungen ermöglichen. Die Forschungsarbeit von Lukas Kasper zielt darauf ab, einen standardisierten Einsatz eines digitalen Zwillings im Energiesektor zu ermöglichen.
VGB Innovation Award 2021

Der VGB Innovation Award 2021 ging an Theresa Loss für Arbeiten zu Verformungen bei Windenergieanlagen (Kategorie: Zukunftsorientierung) und Romans Oleksijs für Optimierungen bei Lastwechselbetrieb von Heizkraftwerken (Kategorie: Anwendungsorientierung).
VGB Innovation Award 2020

Der VGB Innovation Award 2020 ging zu gleichen Teilen an Dr. Florian Möllenbruck (35) für die Flexibilisierung eines Erdgaskraftwerks durch Integration einer Methanolsynthese (Kategorie: Zukunftsorientierung) und an Martin Skala (30) für die Entwicklung Zeolithbasierter Sorbentien zur Quecksilberabscheidung (Kategorie: Anwendungsorientierung).
VGB Innovation Award 2019

VGB Innovation Award 2018

VGB Innovation Award 2017

VGB Innovation Award 2016

VGB Innovation Award 2015

Der VGB Innovation Award 2015 ging an Markus Rabensteiner für die Untersuchungen von CO2 Lösungsmitteln an der post-combustion Versuchsanlage am Steinkohle Kraftwerk Dürnrohr, Österreich und Dr. Martin Schiemann für die Untersuchungen des Pyrolyseverhaltens und des Koksabbrands fester Brennstoffe welche zu einem besseren Verständnis der Abbrandkinetik von Kohle und Biomassebrennstoffen, einschließlich torrefizierter Biomasse, führen.
your participation in the
innovation award 2025
You would like to participate?
More information
about the Award 2025 will follow soon!
Submission of proposals
Nomination
All vgbe member companies (executives) and the members of the vgbe Scientific Advisory Board have the right of nomination.
Online submission
Proposals comprise
- proposal form with a summary of the achievement indicating the award category (“application-oriented” or “future-oriented”)
- curriculum vitae of the nominees
- a list of publications (if available),
- copy of the publication which forms the basis of the proposal.
The awarding body is international. Therefore, we require – as far as possible – English-language documents.
Click here to submit your nomination for the Innovation Award 2025.
Award criteria
Young university graduates or young professionals (age limit: 35 years) are awarded. Since 2019, the vgbe Innovation Award is awarded in the two categories “Application” and “Future” with correspondingly different evaluation criteria:
Evaluation criteria | Application-oriented proposals | Future-oriented proposals |
---|---|---|
Scope and objective (problem statemant) | 15% | 20% |
Methodology used (means of calculation or experiments) | 10% | 15% |
Innovative implications | 15% | 40% |
Technical, environmental and/or economical evaluation | 30% | 15% |
Chances of realisation | 30% | 10% |
Total | 100% | 100% |
The performance must be proven by a publication by the end of the preceding calendar year. A dissertation is not considered a publication.
The proposals are evaluated by the members of the Board of Trustees of the vgbe RESEARCH FOUNDATION .
Award guidelines
- The vgbe RESEARCH FOUNDATION annually awards the vgbe Innovation Award for outstanding achievements of young university graduates or young professionals (age limit: 35 years) in the field of power and heat generation and storage. The work to be awarded can relate both to innovations in the operation of plants and to significant results in research.
- The vgbe Innovation Award is given in the two categories “Application Orientation” and “Future Orientation”. The prize consists of a certificate and € 5,000 per prize category.
- All vgbe member companies and the members of the vgbe Scientific Advisory Board have the right of nomination.
- Proposers shall submit a justification of the proposal and supporting documentation by 30 April each year. The achievements on which the proposal is based must have been demonstrated by at least one publication or at least one public lecture by the end of the calendar year preceding the proposal. A dissertation is not considered a publication in this sense.
- The review and decision on nominations is the responsibility of the Board of Trustees of the vgbe Research Foundation. The decision is final and excludes an appeal.
- In case of equal performances, a division of the prize among several candidates is possible. If no work worthy of the award is proposed, the award may be suspended for one or more years. This applies to each of the two price categories.
- The prize will be awarded by the Chairman of the vgbe Research Foundation on the occasion of the vgbe Congress.
- The awardee(s) shall report on the selected work in the vgbe energy journal.
Contact
Vera Fricke
Phone: +49 201 8128 226
E-Mail: vera.fricke@vgbe.energy
vgbe Quality Award
the prize
Quality
made visible
The vgbe Quality Award is given to raise awareness in the industry of the commercial importance of quality and to recognise partner companies that have demonstrated exceptional quality in the delivery of their supplies and services.
- The award ceremony for the first-placed company will take place during the vgbe Congress. The company is given the opportunity to present the project in the vgbe energy journal.
- The runners-up will be named at the award ceremony and will also have the opportunity to present their projects in the technical journal vgbe energy journal.
-
All award winners will have the opportunity to present their projects at a subsequent vgbe events.
For this, please keep informed via our calendar of events:
vgbe event calendar. - The nominating company of the first prize winner will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the vgbe Congress.
Current awardees
vgbe Quality Award
Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH was honoured as this year’s vgbe Quality Award Winner for the project “Fuel switch from coal to gas and hydrogen at the EnBW power plant in Stuttgart-Münster”. Following EnBW’s corporate goal of becoming climate neutral by 2035, a new combined heat and power plant is being built at the EnBW site in Stuttgart-Münster, initially relying on more climate-friendly natural gas and later switching to green hydrogen. Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH distinguished itself through outstanding quality and reliable project execution, particularly by taking over the contract after the bankruptcy of the original contractor.
Siemens Energy Global GmbH Co. KG was recognized as the second-place winner. Siemens Energy upgraded the complete control system of EnBW’s Altbach/Deizisau heating plant 2, implementing a standardised solution for the central diagnosis and monitoring of the switchgear modules. The project work was successfully completed on schedule and within budget, with particular attention to health and safety.
Nüsse Kabel- und Rohrleitungsbau GmbH was the third winner of the Quality Award. As part of the GETH2 Nucleus infrastructure project, Nüsse installed underground pipelines at the Emsland power plant, overcoming several complex challenges. The work was completed without damage and with high flexibility.

Previous award winners vgbe Quality Award
VGB Quality Award 2024

Die Dieffenbacher Energy GmbH wurde für das Projekt „Fuel switch from coal to gas and hydrogen at the EnBW power plant in Stuttgart-Münster“ als diesjähriger vgbe Quality Award Winner ausgezeichnet.
Die Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG wurde als Zweitplatzierte ausgezeichnet. Siemens Energy erneuerte die komplette Leittechnik des EnBW-Heizkraftwerks 2 Altbach/Deizisau und setzte dabei eine Standardlösung zur zentralen Diagnose und Überwachung der Schaltmodule ein.
Als dritter Gewinner des Quality Awards wurde die Nüsse Kabel- und Rohrleitungsbau GmbH ausgezeichnet. Im Rahmen des GETH2 Nukleus-Infrastrukturprojekts verlegte Nüsse unterirdische Rohrleitungen im Kraftwerk Emsland, wobei mehrere komplexe Herausforderungen gemeistert wurden.
VGB Quality Award 2021

In diesem Jahr wurde die BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH, Region Süd, Dachau, vertreten durch Ing. Dietmar Seitz und Dipl.-Ing. Stefan Jäger, mit dem vgbe Quality Award ausgezeichnet. Der Preis wurde auf Vorschlag der Uniper Kraftwerke GmbH, Landshut, für herausragende Qualität beim Projekt „Erneuerung der Dammdichtung Roßhaupten“ verliehen.
VGB Quality Award 2018

VGB Quality Award 2015

VGB Quality Award 2013

VGB Quality Award 2012

VGB Quality Award 2011

VGB Quality Award 2010

VGB Quality Award 2009

your participation in the
quality award
2025
You would like to participate?
Deadline for nominations: June 27, 2025
Submission of proposals
Nomination
All ordinary and supporting vgbe member companies have the right of nomination.
Online submission
Proposals comprise
- a description of the proposed project,
- a justification for its selection.
The awarding body is international. Therefore, we require – as far as possible – English-language documents.
Click here to submit your nomination for the Quality Award 2025.
Award criteria
The following criteria will be considered in the award decision:
Evaluation criteria | Importance |
---|---|
Performance of the service or manufacture | 25% |
Adherence to scheduling and budget | 20% |
Informing the client of problems and new solutions | 15% |
Implementation of health and safety standards | 10% |
Planning and organisation of the project/communication | 10% |
Documentation of the overall project and the quality delivered | 10% |
Justification: Why is the project a good example of excellence? | 10% |
Total | 100% |
The proposals will be evaluated by a jury, consisting of members of the five vgbe Steering Forums Wind Power, Hydro Power, Future Energy System, Thermal Power and Nuclear Power. The decision is final.
Contact
Dr. Thomas Eck
Phone: +49 201 8128 209
E-Mail: qaward@vgbe.energy
vgbe Safety & Health Award
the prize
Safety & Health
made visible
The VGB Safety & Health Award emphasises the importance of safety and health in the generation and storage of electricity and heat and focuses on people.
Current awardees
vgbe Safety Health Award
The vgbe Safety and Health Award emphasises the importance of safety and health in the generation and storage of electricity focusing on humans.
The Health and Safety Award went to Lukasz Krasowski from RWE Nuclear GmbH for his project “From good to best –stress relief”. The corporate strategy “From good to best” focused on improving health management and open communication about mental health. A concept, which included a video with real-life scenarios and awareness-raising measures, led to positive changes in corporate culture and better integration of health management. The long-term effects are still being evaluated.

Dr Oliver Then, Executive Managing Director, vgbe energy)
Previous award winners vgbe Safety Health Award
VGB Safety & Health Award 2022

Der vgbe-Safety and Health Award unterstreicht die Bedeutung von Sicherheit und Gesundheit bei der Erzeugung und Speicherung von Strom und Wärme und stellt den Menschen in den Mittelpunkt. In diesem Jahr wurde der vgbe-Safety and Health Award zum zehnten Mal vergeben. Der diesjährige Preisträger ist Vattenfall Wind Offshore mit seinem Sicherheitsprogramm „Odelgard: The Culture Programme for Offshore Wind“. David Marples und Jakob Nielsen haben den Preis stellvertretend für Vattenfall Wind Offshore in Empfang genommen. Das Programm zeichnet sich dadurch aus, dass die Mitarbeiter in die Lage versetzt werden, die richtigen Entscheidungen zur richtigen Zeit zu treffen. Es wird eine „Kultur der Sorgfalt“ geschaffen, in der die Mitarbeiter von Vattenfall Wind und seine Auftragnehmer intrinsisch motiviert sind.
VGB Safety & Health Award 2021

In diesem Jahr wurde der vgbe Safety & Health Award an ENGIE Thermal Europe für Sicherheit, Qualität und Ethik bei der Zusammenarbeit mit Auftragnehmern, vertreten durch Hilde Geudens und Massar van Schaik, verliehen.
In einer laufenden Beobachtung wurde festgestellt, dass sicherheitsrelevante Ereignisse bei Auftragnehmern seit 2018 zunahmen und deutlich über den ENGIE-internen Ereignissen lagen. Es wurde ein Projekt initiiert und die Schlüsselfrage gestellt: Was können und müssen wir als ENGIE tun, um dies bei den von Auftragnehmern ausgeführten Arbeiten zu verbessern? In mehreren international besetzten Projektgruppen wurden Workshops durchgeführt, um eine „einheitliche Sprache“ für alle Prozesse zu schaffen.
VGB Safety & Health Award 2018

Der “VGB Safety & Health Award 2018 ” wurde an die Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG für das Programm ” Psychologische (psychische) Gesundheit & Sicherheit – Transformation der Sicherheitskultur” verliehen.
Bei dem LEAG-Programm “Psychologische (psychische) Gesundheit & Sicherheit – Transformation der Sicherheitskultur” handelt es sich um einen laufenden Prozess zur Transformation der Sicherheitskultur, der sich nun in der Umsetzungsphase befindet.
Bisher können folgende Schlussforderungen gezogen werden:
- Wir sind sowohl Teil des Problems als auch Teil der Lösung
- Nur der falsche Umgang mit Fehlern ist ein Fehler
- Sicherheitskultur ist ein Schlüssel zur Transformation der Unternehmenskultur in ihrer Gesamtheit
VGB Safety & Health Award 2016

Der VGB Safety & Health Award 2016 ging an Electricite de France.
Der Award wurde für das hervorragende Beispiel von EDF’s Transmission and System Engineering Center (EDF-CIST) verliehen, mit dem, präsentiert von Vincent Guignard und Didier Lachenal, ein gemeinsamer und partizipativer H&S Ansatz entwickelt wurde, um Unfälle auf Baustellen auszuschließen.
EDF-CIST ist innerhalb von EDF unter anderem für die technische Unterstützung bei Betrieb und Instandhaltung des Hochspannungsübertragungsnetzes zuständig. Auf den Baustellen arbeitet EDF-CIST dabei mit einem Netzwerk von Unterauftragnehmern zusammen.
VGB Safety & Health Award 2014

Enel Produzione SpA schlug das Unternehmen Enel Ingegneria e Ricerca SpA für den Safety & Health Award 2014 für die Arbeit am Brindisi E. Amaldi Kohlekraftwerk vor. Das Unternehmen verfügt über eine außerordentlich gute Performance im Vergleich zu vielen anderen Servicepartner.
Enel Ingegneria e Ricerca hat Erfahrung in der Entwicklung moderner Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie, um den Betrieb und die Wartung von zentralen und dezentralen Erzeugungsanlagen zu unterstützen. Es startete das Zero Accident Projekt (ZAP-Projekt) mit dem Ziel, den Einsatz von fortschrittlichen technischen Lösungen zu fördern, um Unfälle auf Baustellen zu vermeiden.
VGB Safety & Health Award 2013

your participation in the
safety health award 2025
You would like to participate?
More information
about the Award 2025 will follow soon!
Submission of proposals
Nomination
All ordinary and supporting vgbe member companies have the right of nomination.
Online submission
Proposals comprise
- a description of the proposed project,
- a justification for its selection.
The awarding body is international. Therefore, we require – as far as possible – English-language documents.
Click here to submit your nomination for the Safety Health Award 2025.
Award criteria
The following criteria will be considered in the award decision:
- Outstanding commitment to Safety & Health Compliance and Prevention,
- Demonstration of excellence,
- Innovative character,
- Connectivity for other projects, scalability, transferability,
- Effectiveness of the measures at site.
The proposals will be evaluated by a jury consisting of members of the vgbe Technical Committee Safety & Health at Work and the vgbe Technical Group Safety at Work and Occupational Health. The decision is final.
Contact
Dr. Gregor Lipinski
Phone: +49 201 8128 272
E-Mail: shaward@vgbe.energy