Community Energy Awards 2019 | Community Energy England

Community Energy England and Community Energy Wales teamed up again to deliver the 2019 Community Energy Awards. The ceremony took place on the evening of 18 October at City Hall, London at 6pm.

The Community Energy Awards headline sponsors were Co-op Energy and Greater London Authority. Thrive Renewables sponsored the drinks reception.

The keynote speaker was Andrew Sims, author, political economist and campaigner. He is co-director of the NewWeather Institute, coordinator of the Rapid Transition Alliance, assistant director of Scientists for Global Responsibility, a research associate at the University of Sussex, and a fellow of the New Economics Foundation. Andrew devised ‘Earth Overshoot Day,’ marking when in the year we start living beyond our ecological means, and coined the term ‘Clone Towns’ describing the homogenisation of high streets caused by chain stores. He gave an impassioned presentation on the need for a rapid transition and asked why as a society we currently fail to quickly create change at scale?

The Awards were preceded by a half-day conference looking at some of the most innovative projects in the country and how replicable these projects could be. The event will feature an "open space" for extensive conversations.

Shortlisted entries and winners

Community Energy Champion

Nick Rouse

Community Energy Young Champion

Nadia Smith

Community Renewable Energy Project Award - The most outstanding renewable electricity generation project undertaken by a community group. Organisations nominated for this award must be members of Community Energy England or Community Energy Wales.

Egni Coop
North Kensington Community Energy - winner
Ynni Ogwen

Community Energy & Carbon Saving Award - The community group which has undertaken the most inspiring energy conservation and/or management project

Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative - winner
Carbon Co-op and URBED - People Powered Retrofit – highly commended
CREW Energy

Environmental Impact Award - New award for 2019. The project which has produced the most outstanding environmental improvement within their community.

Energy Garden
Green Wedmore
Naturesave - winner

Collaboration Award - sponsored by Power to Change - The most commendable collaboration between community and commercial / public / third sector partners

Thrive Renewables
Riding Sunbeams - winner

Community Energy Finance Award -The community group and/or its funders and advisers, which have achieved the most impact through a range of financial instruments/mechanisms, through grant funding, debt finance, community shares, funding platforms or new funding models.

Electricity North West
Friends Provident Foundation - highly commended
Power to Change - winner
UK Power Networks

Local Authority Award - sponsored by Power Paired - The Local Authority which has done most to help local community energy organisations through partnering, investing, policy or other support

Bristol City Council - winner
Greater London Authority
Islington Council - highly commended

Social Impact Award - New award for 2019. The community organisation who has used energy as a mechanism to make the widest-reaching improvement of lives in their community.