Meet our 2026 Renewable Heat Award winners!
This year we again hosted the Renewable Heat Awards as part of the Australasian Renewable Heat Conference to recognise and celebrate the innovative and impactful projects leading the transition to renewable heat across the industrial and commercial sectors.
Congratulations to all the winners listed below - and to Jonathan Jutsen, who received the A2EP Lifetime Achievement Award!
Thanks also to all the applicants and finalists. The projects submitted were all very impressive and impactful and we look forward to sharing details of these projects soon.
2026 Outstanding Industrial Bioenergy Project
FINALISTS:
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Australian Consolidated Milk (ACM) Biogas Project by Complex Enviro Services
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Boiler 6 Coal-to-Dual Fuel (Biogas and Natural Gas) Conversion by Manildra
WINNER: Optimal Group Australia & Saputo Dairy Australia
Optimal Group Australia worked with Saputo Dairy Australia to utilise biogas which was being flared to significantly reduce fossil gas use and emissions from the site.
2026 Outstanding Commercial Electrification Project
FINALISTS:
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Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade by Bridgeford Group
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Two Melbourne Quarter (MQR2) Large-Scale High-Rise Hot Water Electrification by CHWAM
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101 Collins Street by Trane Australia
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Victoria Park Pool Heating and Domestic Hot Water Electrification by Propool Heating
WINNER: Monash University
This project by Monash University has seen innovative work on lowering heating hot water temperatures, heat recovery and the installation of heat pumps to enable asset electrification.
2026 Outstanding Industrial Electrification Project
FINALISTS:
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Fonterra Waitoa Manufacturing Site by Fonterra
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Electric boiler installation at Speight Brewery by Lion
WINNER: Alsco Uniforms Australia
This project involved the installation of a high-temperature industrial heat pump which was supplemeted by heat recovered from wastewater to ensure its temperature compliance for the local water authority. Alsco Uniforms is looking to install similar solutions at its other sites.