New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Best in show
25/2/2026
8 min read
Feature
Winners of the 2026 International Energy Awards show off the best that the energy industry can be, across technology, safety, workforce and young professional categories. They spoke with Kristy Jooste, Senior Content Officer, and Will Dalrymple MEI, Senior Editor, New Energy World.
From underground Ukrainian coal mines to flying above the windy North Sea, from AI in Saudi Arabia to European half-hourly electricity markets, the 2026 International Energy Award winners have broken through barriers to change the world of energy.
Workforce Award: DTEK
DTEK’s Ukraine’s Hidden Army project is training women to step into high-stakes underground mining roles for the first time
Photo: DTEK
Ukrainian private energy investor DTEK faced critical workforce shortages after more than 15% of its male miner workforce were mobilised to the army since February 2022; part of the 5,700 employees participating in the country’s armed forces. To counter this, Mining Area Head, Dmytro Ustyukhov, was among the first who supported recruiting women to fill operational roles underground. As a result, 580+ women now work underground across DTEK mines, representing 5% of the number of employees working underground, according to Oleksandr Kutereshchyn, Head of Communications at DTEK Energy.