Introducing the Digital Energy 40

These challenges can’t be solved with hardware alone. They demand software, AI, data, and design thinking. That’s why we created the Digital Energy 40, our new report that recognises the most forward-thinking companies driving energy transformation through digital innovation.

This is a sister publication to the Electric 40, which maps the mobility landscape. But where the E40 focuses on movement, the Digital Energy 40 focuses on power. It’s about the companies building the digital backbone of Europe’s clean energy future.

The Digital Energy 40 is grounded in a clear, consistent methodology designed to fairly evaluate companies across different sizes and stages of maturity. Every company was assessed across four dimensions:

• Market Execution – how effectively a company delivers its solution at scale
• Market Innovation – originality in approach, model and customer engagement
• Technology Capability – the strength and sophistication of its tech offering
• Technology Impact – how far a company’s solutions move the needle on the energy transition

The framework accommodates both established players and innovative startups, balancing local market dynamics with international scalability and enabling fair comparisons across different company sizes and maturity levels.

As we reviewed candidates across the UK, DACH, and Nordics, several key themes stood out. Nearly half of the companies in the ranking are under 10 years old, and many of the most successful share a common approach: they’re using digital tools to bring flexibility, intelligence, and offer a better user experience to the energy system.

Some of the dominant trends across the top 40 include:

• Energy Flexibility and VPPs – Smart coordination of distributed assets like EVs, home batteries, and building systems
• AI as Infrastructure – Embedded across the stack, from grid optimisation to pricing and forecasting
• Battery Intelligence – Companies are using digital models to improve battery health, safety, and lifespan
• Customer-Centric Platforms – App-led smart interfaces that connect pricing, automation, and user control
• Interoperability & APIs – Open systems are replacing legacy tech. Many companies are building platforms designed to plug in, not lock down.

As a result, a new kind of energy ecosystem emerges. Many of these companies are innovating in both technology and how they engage customers and partners. The top performers in the ranking aren’t simply digitising the past, but rethinking an entire experience.

At the top of the 2025 Digital Energy 40 you’ll find a mix of recognisable names and rising challengers. Octopus Energy, for example, tops the list after a standout year, scaling its Kraken platform and expanding globally. Tibber, known for its smart home integration and user-first experience, comes in second. E.ON rounds out the top three with a strong blend of scale, renewables, and platform thinking.

The report also includes insights from key industry leaders at companies like Accure, Emulate, enmacc, and Rebase.energy, who offer perspective on what’s changing, what still needs to, and where the sector is headed next.