At TANDEMS, we believe that energy communities are at the heart of Europe’s justand sustainable energy transition. And today, we are thrilled to share some amazing news: Sophie Loots and the Otterbeek Social Housing project, both closely linked to TANDEMS have been nominated for the 2025 European Sustainable Energy Awards! Both nominations highlight what TANDEMS stands for — community-led innovation, social inclusion, and real action on the ground.
If you know TANDEMS, you probably already know Sophie Loots. As the head of the Flemish energy cooperative ZuidtrAnt, active in 16 municipalities around the city of Antwerp and a key contributor to our work, Sophie has been at the forefront of citizen-led renewable energy in Belgium. Now her work has been recognised at the highest level: Sophie is one of three finalists in the Woman in Energy category of the EUSEW Awards 2025!
Challenging Old Structures and Advocating for Fair Access to Energy
Through her leadership, Sophie has helped more than 300 households gain access to clean and affordable energy. But her impact goes much further than that: She is challenging outdated structures in the energy sector, championing gender equality and demonstrating that a just energy transition must put people first. Most notably, 70% of ZuidtrAnt’s leadership team are women – a rare and outstanding achievement in a sector that remains largely male-dominated.
One of the key challenges Sophie addresses – particularly through her work with TANDEMS – is fair access to the energy transition: Who gets the opportunity to produce, share and sell energy in increasingly complex markets and regulatory frameworks? Through TANDEMS, Sophie and her team are working to make participation in the energy system more inclusive, accessible and equitable for all – helping to reshape the energy landscape one community at a time.
Your vote can make the difference!
Both Sophie and the Otterbeek project are now in the running for the final EUSEW Awards. Voting is open until 1 June 2025, and the winners will be announced on 10 June 2025 during the EUSEW Awards Ceremony.
Support our partners and vote here:
https://interactive.eusew.eu/awards/woman-in-energy/sophie-loots
