The SHC Solar Award of the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Programme (IEA SHC) celebrates the success of those working to increase the market impact of solar heating and cooling technologies.
SHC Solar Award 2026
This year’s recipient will demonstrate innovations in Solar Heating and Cooling that stimulate or create a market by improving either the technical or non-technical features. Examples of this are:
- Digitalization solution for solar thermal applications
- Modular solutions for easy integration of solar thermal systems
- Products, systems and applications
- Business models
This year’s recipient will have demonstrated substantial achievement and measurable impact from a project or activity executed in the last 5 years (2024-2020) to deploy solar heating and cooling technology to reduce the costs and environmental impact of providing heating or cooling.
IEA SHC Announces Top Five Nominees for the 2026 SHC Solar Award
Five outstanding projects recognized for advancing solar heating and cooling innovation, market development, and decarbonization
July 2026 — The IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA SHC) is pleased to announce the five shortlisted nominees for the 2026 SHC Solar Award. Selected by an international panel of judges from the IEA SHC Solar Award Committee, the shortlisted projects represent a diverse and highly innovative group of solar heating and cooling solutions with measurable impact, strong market potential, and clear contributions to reducing the cost and environmental impact of heating and cooling.
The 2026 SHC Solar Award recognises outstanding innovations in solar heating and cooling that stimulate or create markets by improving technical or non-technical features. This year’s award focused on innovations developed within the last five years that demonstrate sustainability, measurable market impact, and a minimum technology readiness level of TRL 7. Additional consideration was given to startup companies less than 10 years old.
The five shortlisted projects will be recognised on the IEA SHC website and through IEA SHC communications. The Winner of the coveted SHC Solar Award will be announced during the EuroSun2026 Conference, taking place September 14–18, 2026, in Freiburg, Germany.