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The award recognizes pioneering developments in decentralized energy production. The exhibiting companies receiving the prestigious awards exemplify the industry's commitment to advancing practical solutions for renewable energy generation. Presented every two years by an independent expert commission, the competition is open to all registered exhibitors at EnergyDecentral 2026.
This year, 17 eligible innovations were evaluated by an independent expert jury appointed by the DLG (German Agricultural Society), organizer of the EnergyDecentral and EuroTier trade fairs. The expert jury awarded two Gold Medals and six Silver Medals. To participate innovations must be world premieres at EnergyDecentral, the leading exhibition for decentralized energy supply, held in parallel with EuroTier, the leading trade fair for livestock production. Both exhibitions are held from 10 to 13 November 2026 in Hanover, Germany. Some 250 exhibitors are from the energy sector among the 2,100 exhibitors across both trade fairs.
A Gold Medal is awarded to a product featuring a fundamentally new concept where functionality has significantly changed, enabling a new process or substantially improving an existing one.
The key criteria for a Gold Medal include:
- Practical relevance
- Benefits for farm and labor management
- Improvements to environmental and energy performance
- Contributions to easier and safer working conditions
A Silver Medal is awarded to an innovation that significantly advances an existing product and is expected to result in substantial functional and procedural improvements, although the requirements for a Gold Medal are not fully met.
Key Silver Medal criteria include:
- Economic importance for practical application
- Benefits for labor productivity and work quality
- Improved operational reliability
- Positive effects on environmental and energy performance
Award-winning products must be fully functional at the time of exhibition and must be commercially available no later than EnergyDecentral 2028.
Gold Medal Winners
Innovation: MethaLoop
Company: Malmberg Bioerdgastech GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand F04
Methane slip from biogas plants has a substantial climate impact and has previously required costly thermal post-treatment of exhaust air. Malmberg’s new MethaLoop membrane recovery process reduces methane losses in water scrubbers from around 1 percent to below 0.2 percent. This enables compliance with legal requirements, increases methane recovery, eliminates expensive RTO treatment and improves both environmental performance and profitability.
Innovation: OASU
Company: ATFO GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand I03
ATFO’s OASU acid sensor unit enables the first fully automated measurement of acetic and propionic acids in raw biogas. By analyzing the acid ratio, the system detects process conditions early, predicts methane production and provides recommendations for plant control. This increases yields, operational reliability and profitability while reducing labor requirements.
Silver Medal Winners
Innovation: SBHKW 2500 Storage CHP Plant
Company: Biogas Service Tarmstedt GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand J08
The SBHKW 2500 Storage CHP Unit combines constant CHP output with integrated electricity storage to provide demand-oriented electricity generation from biogas and biomethane. By decoupling power generation from power marketing, the system increases flexibility and profitability, reduces investment costs, and improves the ability to provide reliable renewable baseload power.
Innovation: PoS Management for Biomethane and Bio-LNG
Company: agriportance GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand H17
The PoS Management Module from agriportance GmbH is the first solution to automate the entire lifecycle of sustainability certificates for biomethane and bio-LNG. It digitally captures, validates, processes and documents PoS certificates, generates audit-ready mass balances and reduces errors. As a result, compliance, transparency and efficiency are significantly improved throughout the certification process.
Innovation: Wood Energy Roof
Company: Rudolf Hörmann GmbH & Co. KG
Stand: Hall 15, Stand F11
The Wood Energy Roof from Rudolf Hörmann GmbH & Co. KG is the first system to combine a load-bearing solid timber roof structure with an economically viable in-roof photovoltaic solution for large agricultural buildings. Its specially developed support structure integrates timber construction and solar power generation while reducing material requirements and installation effort. The design also provides a rainproof in-roof system using standard framed photovoltaic modules.
Innovation: Guntamatic Powerchip Biochar
Company: Guntamatic Heiztechnik GmbH
Stand: Hall 11, Stand B52
The Guntamatic Powerchip Biochar is the first woodchip heating system in the 50 to 100 kW range to integrate controlled pyrolysis. By producing high-quality biochar alongside renewable heat, the system combines climate protection, regional value creation and resource efficiency. The resulting biochar can improve soil quality, sequester carbon over the long term and contribute to a negative carbon balance.
Innovation: STORION-LC-TB150 Ultra
Company: Alpha ESS Deutschland GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand M11
The STORION-LC-TB150 Ultra from Alpha ESS is the first commercial and industrial battery storage system to extend liquid cooling to both batteries and electronic components. This increases system output and service life while reducing noise levels. An active pressure-relief system further enhances safety in the event of a fire.
Innovation: Biotaktix SubstratScan
Company: Biotaktix GmbH
Stand: Hall 25, Stand D13
The SubstratScan from Biotaktix GmbH is the first system to combine continuous NIR nutrient analysis with vehicle weighing systems and ERP software. Measurement data are automatically linked to weighbridge records and used for invoicing, reporting and nutrient accounting. This improves data quality, transparency, workplace safety and profitability in biogas plant operations.
September 15, 2026 - DLG
