HIGHLANDS and Islands companies shone at a glittering ceremony last night, taking home prestigious Scottish Green Energy Awards.
Nigg Skills Academy won the Contribution to Skills and Training award, Edinbane windfarm won Best Project and Rob Gibson was named Best Politician. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) was announced as the winner for Best Public Sector Initiative.
Calum Davidson, director of Energy and Low Carbon at HIE, who addressed the guests during the opening reception, said: “It’s been another fantastic year for our region, with the Highlands and Islands winning four of the 11 categories at the Scottish Green Energy Awards.
“We recognise that it is not just the availability of resources that is making us the world leader in renewable energy, but also the ambitious and innovative people and companies who lead the way.
”The night was topped off for the region when HIE was awarded best public sector initiative, in recognition of our leadership for the wave and tidal sector and commitment to developing the infrastructure required to support the burgeoning offshore renewables sector.
”We wish to congratulate all of the winners on what is a great achievement.”
Niall Stuart, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “The winners reflect the huge strength we have in Scotland’s homegrown renewable energy sector, in our supply chain and in the individuals that have all worked incredibly hard to make it another successful year for the industry.
“The fact the Scottish Green Energy Awards has grown by some 50 per cent in just three years is also testament of the growth of the industry to become what is one of the largest corporate award ceremonies in the country.
Mr Stuart added: “This year has been incredibly important for the sector with the setting of a new interim target of generating the equivalent of 50 per cent of our electricity needs from renewables by 2015.”
The event, now in its 11th year, was held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on Thursday (6th December), with a record 1,000 guests.
The Scottish Green Energy Awards were established by Scottish Renewables in December 2002 to bring together industry leaders to honour, acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of individuals and organisations in the renewable energy industry in Scotland.
There are now 11 award categories which have been created to represent areas that are essential for the development and growth of the renewable energy industry, and to highlight the positive economic and environmental work and contribution that Scotland is making both nationally and internationally.
For the full list of winners, visit: http://www.scottishrenewables.com/news/scottish-green-energy-awards-2012-winners/
Ends
Photograph: Calum Davidson (centre), director of Energy and Low Carbon at Highlands and Islands Enterprise is standing with comedian and presenter Fred MacAulay (left – host of Scottish Green Energy Awards) and Ronnie Bonnar managing director of Repsol (right).
For further information, visit: http://www.scottishrenewables.com/events/scottish-green-energy-awards-2012/
Note to editors:
The Contribution to Skills and Training award, sponsored by Repower UK, is in recognition of the individual, company or organisation that has made the greatest contribution to the development of today’s or tomorrow’s workforce.
Best Project, sponsored by Smartest Energy, recognises a renewable energy project that has demonstrated exceptional practice in development and/or operation.
Public Sector Initiative, sponsored by Repsol , recognises the public sector department or institution that has done most to support government and industry’s shared ambitions for the growth of the sector, whether local or central government, agency, or academic institution.
Best Politician, sponsored by RenewableUK, recognises the most outstanding contribution by a politician (councillor, MSP, MP or MEP) to the development of the renewable energy industry in Scotland.
The GEA Brand – For the tenth anniversary in 2011, the new Scottish Green Energy Awards brand was created to bring new energy to this successful event. The brand was created using an orb to represent evolving green energy and the orb has been brought to life using slow shutter photography to create unique imagery.
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