Energy Management Forum

The finalists are Nyobolt (UK) for its Dynamic Response System, a shelf-level power solution architecture for AI GPU racks that consolidates fast peak shaving and battery backup into a single unit, thereby reducing power conversion stages; RECOM (Austria) for its RACM1200-V Series AC/DC power supply whose efficient and compact design serves fan-less industrial, medical, automation, robotics, and AI infrastructure applications; Apple (US) for its iPhone 16 Pro Max, which uses the least current of the top 10 Smartphones for battery life, despite being the 4th largest form factor and heaviest phone; and WeavAir (Canada) for its Intelligent Edge Control Platform, a breakthrough hardware-software ecosystem that optimizes energy efficiency of continuously running, electric motor-driven systems and industrial power distribution networks.

Beyond energy conservation, the judging panel has evaluated the finalists based on their total potential impact on the power electronics industry, whether through volume shipments or by social outcomes.

We thank all participants who submitted nominations for the award for their continuing contributions to global energy efficiency.

The award will be presented to the winner during next year’s Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) in New Orleans, March 7-11, 2027.

2027 Energy Efficiency Award

For the best system design advancing energy efficiency

Nominations will open on April 22, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY:

This award is open to all companies and organizations around the world that design, incorporate, or manufacture electric-powered systems such as consumer electronics, appliances, automotive and office equipment. Nominees do not need to be members of the PSMA.

All nominations must be submitted by September 8, 2026.

DESCRIPTION:

The goal of this award is to recognize a world achievement in system design to improve energy efficiency. In certain cases, more than one technology may be implemented to make the overall improvement to system efficiency.

PSMA will publicly announce the winner of the award at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2027 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. Travel expenses (up to US$2,500) will be covered for the awardee (or delegate) to attend the award ceremony to receive the award plaque or trophy.

MILESTONE                                                                  DATE

Announcement of candidate search                                           4/22/2026 (Earth Day)

Deadline to receive nominations                                               9/8/2026 (Day after Labor Day)

Announcement of final nominees                                              10/7/2026 (Energy Efficiency Day)

Announcement of winner at APEC 2027 in New Orleans, LA         3/07/2027-3/11/2027 (APEC 2027)

CRITERIA:

The award is intended to recognize breakthrough innovations showing:

• A focus on energy efficiency (rather than renewables or electrification)
• A focus on appliances and equipment (rather than building codes)
• High global impact

Example applications with high global impact include but are not limited to LED lighting, air conditioning, comfort fans, refrigerator-freezers, heat pump space and water heating, electric motors, electric cookers, TVs, and water pumps. Regarding energy usage, electric-powered systems that are prevalent and running constantly have higher impact.

NOMINATION INFORMATION:

Nominations are now closed

PSMA presented the winner of the Global Energy Efficiency Award for 2026 on March 23 on the Exhibition Hall floor of APEC 2026. David Chen, Chair of the Energy Management Committee, outlined the decision making process, saying there was a focus on energy efficiency, innovative design and potential global impact.

David then introduced the first finalist, Recom, with their industrial Automation Power Supply RACPRO1-T960/24. This power supply is a compact, high-reliability 3-phase AC input DIN rail mount power supply with an efficiency of 96.9%. This efficiency means the RACPRO1 uses ~268,000 kWh less energy for a typical factory hall on a 3-shift operation (or 102 tons of CO2). This lowers operating costs while also meeting climate targets

David then introduced the winner, VoltServer, with their Energy Mangement System Fault Managed Power (FMP) Networks. The design was chosen for its transition toward DC architectures, which are often more adaptable, controllable, and efficient with fewer power conversion steps. Additionally, it is inherently more compatible with renewable energy and storage resources which operate natively in DC. The FMP networks consist of touch-safe and arc-free transmitters and receivers of electrical energy (up to 450VDC) and data packets.

Raising the Bar for Energy Efficiency

PSMA awarded its first Global Energy Efficiency Award at APEC 2025 in Atlanta, GA to Pulsiv for its 65W USB-C design. Congratulations to Pulsiv for adopting leading technology (such as GaN switches and AI optimized custom magnetics) for its energy efficient design! PSMA recognizes Pulsiv for energy efficiency excellence and hopes that this will inspire others to innovate. For more details on the finalists, see the PSMA newsletter article here. To see the award presentation, go here.

Nominations are now open for the 2^nd Global Energy Efficiency Award at APEC 2026 in San Antonio, TX until September 2, 2025. PSMA members should take the lead to nominate any of its customers that have interesting energy efficient systems, although the award is open to nominations from anyone. For more details and to enter nominations, go here. Together we can raise the bar on energy efficiency! Furthermore, each member can nominate more than one.

The biggest criterion is the global impact of energy efficiency which translates to energy savings. This means that both large high power industrial systems which constantly run all day, every day, or small (but pervasive) low power systems are candidates for this energy efficiency award.

Questions? Email power@psma.com.

David Chen

Ada Cheng

2026 Energy Efficiency Award

For the best system design advancing energy efficiency

Nominations will open on April 22, 2025.

ELIGIBILITY:

This award is open to all companies and organizations around the world that design, incorporate, or manufacture electric-powered systems such as consumer electronics, appliances, automotive and office equipment. Nominees do not need to be members of the PSMA.

All nominations must be submitted by September 2, 2025.

DESCRIPTION:

The goal of this award is to recognize a world achievement in system design to improve energy efficiency. In certain cases, more than one technology may be implemented to make the overall improvement to system efficiency.

PSMA will publicly announce the winner of the award at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC) 2026 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, TX. Travel expenses (up to US$2,500) will be covered for the awardee (or delegate) to attend the award ceremony to receive the award plaque or trophy.

MILESTONE                                                                  DATE

Announcement of candidate search                                           4/22/2025 (Earth Day)

Deadline to receive nominations                                               9/2/2025 (Day after Labor Day)

Announcement of final nominees                                              10/1/2025 (Energy Efficiency Day)

Announcement of winner at APEC 2026 in San Antonio, TX         3/22/2026-3/26/2026 (APEC 2026)

CRITERIA:

The award is intended to recognize breakthrough innovations showing:

• A focus on energy efficiency (rather than renewables or electrification)
• A focus on appliances and equipment (rather than building codes)
• High global impact

Example applications with high global impact include but are not limited to LED lighting, air conditioning, comfort fans, refrigerator-freezers, heat pump space and water heating, electric motors, electric cookers, TVs, and water pumps. Regarding energy usage, electric-powered systems that are prevalent and running constantly have higher impact.

NOMINATION INFORMATION:

Nominations are now closed.