An evening of celebration in the heart of London!
The Community Energy Awards took place on Friday night at a ceremony in London’s City Hall. Over 120 people joined us in celebrating the success from the past year. The ceremony was led by Chair of the London Environment Committee, Leonie Cooper and the throughout the evening we heard insights from judges, sponsors, former winners and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan via video.
The proceedings started with the Community Renewable Energy Project Award (sponsored by Co-op Community Energy) being awarded to North Kensington Community Energy who put solar panels on two primary schools, a community centre and a sports centre this year. You can read more details on all winners in the case studies below.
Other winners include a world-first initiative to power trains using track-side community-and commuter-owned solar, as well as a unique conservation project using thermosolar beehives that generate heat to destroy the Varroa mite which has been devastating honeybee populations across the world as mites develop resistance to traditional chemical treatments.
The Collaboration Award Winners, Riding Sunbeam
In total 10 awards were presented as representatives from community energy organisations and their supporters celebrated the innovation, expertise and passion shown by the sector, united in their aim to create an energy system that is cleaner, greener and for the benefit of people over profit.
2019 Community Renewable Energy Project Award – sponsored by Co-op Community Energy
North Kensington Community Energy
2019 Community Energy & Carbon Saving Award
Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative
Carbon Co-op and URBED - People Powered Retrofit – highly commended
2019 Local Authority Partner Award – sponsored by Power Paired
Bristol City Council
Islington Council - highly commended
2019 Community Energy Finance Award
Power to Change
Friends Provident Foundation - highly commended
2019 Collaboration Award – sponsored by Power to Change
Riding Sunbeams
2019 Community Energy Young Champion
Nadia Smith
2019 Community Energy Champion
Nick Rouse
2019 Environmental Impact Award
Naturesave
2019 Social Impact Award
South East London Community Energy
2019 Community Energy Photo Award
Greater Manchester Community Renewables
Josh Brown, Head of Origination and Product at Co-op Community Energy, said: “The awards have showcased what community energy can achieve. The judges had a tough job to determine the final winners. Co-op Community Energy is proud to support community energy by providing a route to market for community energy schemes. The challenge to decarbonise the UK energy system is also an opportunity for the way we produce energy to become more democratic, we think putting communities at the heart of the process will generate a cleaner, greener and more efficient system for us all.”
Emma Bridge, Chief Executive of Community Energy England said: “We are honoured to have been able to celebrate the achievements of so many talented organisations and individuals. In a year when the sector has seen the removal of government support, it’s crucial for us to come together and learn from projects that are succeeding even though they are contending with such a challenging policy background. Community energy projects are taking ground-breaking technologies and testing them in real life settings, championing the transition to a decarbonised energy system and positioning themselves as the trusted intermediaries between institutions and the public. Quite simply community energy groups are showing their friends, families and neighbours now, how we will all need to change our energy behaviours in the future.”
Ahead of the ceremony, an expert panel of judges selected winners in each of the categories following an open application process; whilst the public voted for the Community Energy Photo Award, selecting the image they felt best captured the essence of the community energy movement. That image was...
Community Energy England and Community Energy Wales would like to warmly thank all of the nominators, nominees, judges, sponsors and staff at City Hall for their support in making this evening of celebration happen.