The global energy sector is undergoing a profound transformation. As the world races toward a carbon-neutral future, digital innovation has emerged as the critical engine powering this transition. Nowhere is this more evident than in the groundbreaking work recognized by Publicis Sapient’s Global EnergyTech Awards—a program that celebrates the startups and solutions redefining the future of energy through technology.
Digital tools—spanning artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, cloud platforms, and blockchain—are fundamentally reshaping how energy is produced, stored, traded, and consumed. The winners and finalists of the Global EnergyTech Awards exemplify how these technologies are not just theoretical enablers, but practical accelerators of decarbonization, grid modernization, and new business models across the energy value chain.
One of the most pressing challenges in the energy transition is modernizing aging grids to accommodate renewable sources and fluctuating demand. Award-winning innovators like Allye Energy (UK) are leading the charge with distributed energy storage solutions at the grid edge. Allye’s technology provides collective flexibility to the electricity network, accelerating grid decarbonization and lowering energy costs for industrial, commercial, and residential customers by up to 50%. Such solutions are critical as grids worldwide face mounting strain from increased electrification and renewable integration.
Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics are unlocking new frontiers in efficiency and sustainability. Precision AI (US), recognized for its customer experience solution, leverages drones and custom-built AI to enable precision agriculture—optimizing crop production at the individual plant level. This not only boosts yields but also reduces resource use and environmental impact, demonstrating how digital innovation can drive decarbonization beyond traditional energy sectors.
GoCodeGreen (UK) offers a carbon diagnosis and decisioning platform for software, empowering organizations to assess and decarbonize their digital infrastructure. As digitalization accelerates, such tools are essential for ensuring that the software powering the energy transition is itself sustainable.
Energy storage remains a linchpin for renewable integration. Startups like phelas (Germany) and water stuff & sun (Germany) are pioneering new storage paradigms. Phelas’ modular Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES) system provides scalable, cost-effective storage for wind and solar, while water stuff & sun’s hydrogen battery technology offers a safe, flexible solution for storing and distributing renewable energy. These innovations are vital for balancing supply and demand in increasingly renewable-powered grids.
Digital platforms are also transforming the customer experience and expanding access to clean energy. Mina (UK) simplifies electric vehicle charging payments, enabling fleets to transition to EVs at scale. Solytic (Germany) provides a digital platform for photovoltaic management, helping customers maximize the value and lifespan of their solar assets. Meanwhile, community impact recipients like The Renewable Solutions (Ethiopia) and ENVenture (Uganda) are leveraging digital tools to bring clean energy to underserved regions, highlighting the global and inclusive nature of the energy transition.
Efficient, transparent energy trading is essential for a flexible, decarbonized energy system. AirCarbon Exchange (Singapore) and Previse Systems (Canada) are reimagining trading platforms with blockchain and SaaS solutions, reducing costs and increasing transparency in carbon and energy markets. These platforms enable more participants to engage in clean energy trading, supporting the growth of renewables and carbon markets worldwide.
The Global EnergyTech Awards reveal several key trends shaping the digital energy transition:
As a digital business transformation partner, Publicis Sapient is proud to spotlight and support the innovators shaping the future of energy. Through the Global EnergyTech Awards, we celebrate the startups and solutions that are not only meeting today’s challenges but also inspiring the industry to remain relevant and resilient as demands evolve. Our commitment is to help organizations harness digital transformation—combining strategy, data, engineering, and customer experience—to accelerate the journey to a cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable energy future.
The energy transition is digital. The future is now.
For more insights on how digital innovation is accelerating the energy transition, or to learn how Publicis Sapient can help your organization lead in this new era, connect with our experts today.