POWER Awards

October 28- (6)

POWER Awards

For more than four decades, POWER magazine has honored top performers in the electricity-generating industry with annual awards. If your plant has distinguished itself through innovative design, engineering upgrades, improved reliability or economics, or new generation or environmental controls technology, we want to hear about it. We also recognize noteworthy projects in smart grid, water, hydrogen, energy storage, distributed energy, commercial and industrial generation, and transmission and distribution (T&D), as well as individual and organizational excellence. There’s no fee to enter or win.

Award winners are selected by the editors of POWER based on nominations submitted by you and your industry peers—suppliers, designers, constructors, and operators of power plants. Don’t hesitate to nominate your own plant; many past winners were nominated by plant staff. If your project is selected, a POWER editor will contact you to develop an article informing the rest of the industry of your achievement. All award recipients will be announced and physical awards presented at our Experience POWER event on Sept. 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

Publication Schedule

Top Plant finalists in 2026 will be profiled in the July (Renewables), August (Gas and Coal), and September (Nuclear) issues. Grid Awards—Smart Grid, T&D, Distributed Energy, and Energy Storage—will be featured in October, along with Best Places to Work. Plant of the Year, Reinvention, Water, Commercial & Industrial Generation, and Hydrogen awards will be profiled in December, along with Executive Leadership, Rising Star, and Community Impact winners.

Nomination Deadline

The nomination deadline is March 16, 2026. All nominated projects must be in commercial operation by that date, with exceptions possible on a case-by-case basis. Download the appropriate nomination forms below. For award criteria, scroll down.

Plant of the Year

The Plant of the Year award goes to a power plant that leads the industry in successful deployment of advanced technology while maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. This award has historically been presented to a plant that entered commercial service within the past one to two years. See previous Plant of the Year winners.

Reinvention Award

The Reinvention Award recognizes excellence in creative problem-solving that gives a power plant of any type a new life or a new role. Prior winners include an operating combined cycle plant relocated from one multi-unit site to another, a coal-fired plant repowered with a circulating fluidized bed boiler burning wood, and a district heating plant repowered with high-efficiency gas turbines. See previous Reinvention Award winners.

Smart Grid Award

Introduced in 2011, the Smart Grid Award recognizes outstanding projects of any scale, anywhere in the world, that demonstrate the benefits of data-rich technologies to power generators, distribution utilities, and customers. See previous Smart Grid Award winners.

Water Award

Introduced in 2014, the Water Award goes to a water-related project at a power plant anywhere in the world that demonstrates leadership in managing water or wastewater streams. Winning projects have implemented innovative approaches to water stewardship, water quality, water availability, or wastewater handling. The award recognizes creative problem-solving that produces water management strategies other plants can emulate—not necessarily new commercial technology. See previous Water Award winners.

Commercial & Industrial Generation Award

Introduced in 2017, the C&I Generation Award recognizes innovative projects in smaller-scale generation serving a single customer or restricted customer base. This award honors excellence in on-site self-generation (electricity or thermal energy) facilities not primarily selling into wholesale markets. Both new and substantial upgrade projects are eligible. Projects using any technology or fuel can qualify, though larger projects—especially large captive power plants—may be better suited for the Top Plants category. See previous Commercial & Industrial Generation Award winners.

Distributed Energy Award

Introduced in 2018, the Distributed Energy Award goes to projects that creatively implement reliable, sustainable power solutions using distributed energy technology. Projects incorporating renewables, energy storage, microgrids, combined heat and power, or other approaches to create successful real-world applications while meeting business and financial goals are excellent candidates. See previous Distributed Energy Award winners.

Hydrogen Award

Introduced in 2022, the Hydrogen Award recognizes projects that advance the hydrogen economy. Projects that produce or use hydrogen in innovative and efficient ways, or that incorporate hydrogen into successful energy-related applications using new technology, are strong candidates. See previous Hydrogen Award winners.

T&D Award

Introduced in 2024, the T&D Award honors companies that have implemented projects enhancing grid reliability, efficiency, or sustainability. This award recognizes initiatives leveraging advanced technologies and novel approaches to address the evolving challenges of modern power systems. See previous T&D Award winners.

Energy Storage Award

Introduced in 2025, the Energy Storage Award honors projects that advance grid reliability, renewable integration, or energy management through innovative storage solutions. Eligible projects include utility-scale batteries, long-duration storage, hybrid systems, and other technologies that demonstrate measurable benefits in performance, economics, or sustainability. See previous Energy Storage Award winners.

Top Plants

Top Plant finalists in 2026 will be profiled in these issues of POWER:

  • Renewable projects in July.
  • Gas and coal projects in August.
  • Nuclear projects in September.

Top Plants are interesting, important, innovative projects. Many are recently commissioned facilities exhibiting unique design or technology of general interest to the power industry. Plants that have distinguished themselves through significant improvements to equipment, operations, staffing, or performance also qualify. See recent Top Plant Award winners.

Executive Leadership Award

Introduced in 2025, the Executive Leadership Award recognizes a senior executive whose visionary leadership is shaping the future of energy. The honoree demonstrates strategic foresight, a commitment to innovation, and a track record of guiding organizations through transformative change with measurable impact. Nominees must hold a vice president (VP)-level or higher executive role. See previous Executive Leadership Award winners.

Rising Star Award

Introduced in 2025, the Rising Star Award honors an emerging leader making a significant impact early in their career. The honoree demonstrates exceptional initiative, innovation, and dedication to advancing the energy industry, whether through technical contributions, leadership potential, or community engagement. Nominees must have fewer than 10 years of experience in the power sector. See previous Rising Star Award winners.

Community Impact Award

Introduced in 2025, the Community Impact Award honors an organization making a meaningful difference through community-focused energy initiatives. Whether advancing energy equity, investing in workforce development, or supporting local sustainability efforts, the recipient demonstrates a deep commitment to creating lasting, positive change beyond business objectives. Nominees must be a company or organization, not an individual. See previous Community Impact Award winners.

Best Places to Work

POWER has partnered with Best Companies Group on the Best Places to Work in the Power Industry program, celebrating companies that foster exceptional work environments. To learn more and read about the 2025 winners, see “Best Places to Work in the Power Industry 2025.” To register your company, visit bestcompaniesgroup.com/power-best-places-to-work. The deadline to enter is May 8, 2026.