Shortlist for Scottish Green Energy Awards sees tidal, hydro, heat and more vie for honours

Gravity, indigenous crofters and in-turbine toilets are all key parts of projects which have been shortlisted for the 2021 Scottish Green Energy Awards, announced today (Oct 5).

A project which can capture and store renewable energy using gravity and 50 tonne weights, a hydro scheme developed and built by indigenous crofters which is providing clean energy and long-term employment to a fragile rural community and innovative in-turbine toilets which are improving safety, welfare and levelling gender balance in the offshore wind sector are all through to the finals of the annual awards.

This year’s Scottish Green Energy Awards will see 43 individuals, companies and projects compete to scoop prizes in 13 prestigious categories at the black-tie awards ceremony which returns in-person to Edinburgh on December 2.

The shortlist includes projects from across all major renewable energy technologies and represents the “innovation, dedication and passion” of industry, according to Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, which runs the awards.

She said:

“Once again I am truly astounded by the quality of nominations we have received for this year’s award ceremony.

“Our judges, as ever, struggled to pick even the shortlist, let alone the winners. The contenders represent the innovation, dedication and passions of an industry which is deploying new generation and maintaining the infrastructure which now provides the equivalent of 97.4% of the electricity we use in Scotland whilst bringing socio-economic benefits across the country.

“These awards showcase just some of the ground-breaking work we are doing here in Scotland to decarbonise our energy system and fight climate change – and it’s never been more important to shout about than in the year of COP26.

“I am looking forward to industry reuniting in-person in December to raise a glass to celebrate the truly incredible work being done as we work towards our net-zero ambition.”

Finalists include projects, people and organisations from Edinburgh, Moray, Dumfriesshire, Glasgow, Inverness and Orkney, among many other Scottish regions.

Some examples:

• The Queens Quay water source heat pump project – the UK’s largest high temperature river source heat pump facility – which will deliver substantial carbon savings as well as combating fuel poverty by producing more affordable heating, was shortlisted three times.
• Dumfries & Galloway College for its Green Energy Centre which houses a wind turbine, renewable heat sources, rainwater harvesting, solar panels and access to electric vehicle charging networks, and was designed to provide green skills essential for a green recovery.
• Ocean Winds’ 950MW Moray East Offshore Wind Farm which will be able to supply approximately 40% of Scottish households, saving more than 1.7 million tonnes CO2 every year.
• Nova Innovation’s world-leading M100-D tidal turbine which demonstrates the unique potential for tidal power to decarbonise island communities.
• ILI Group’s Red John Pumped Storage Hydro project which saves 23 million tonnes of CO2 by offsetting gas power, facilitates a further 22 million tonnes of CO2 through the additional renewables that can be installed on the grid network and replaces commercial forestry with a more natural woodland.

Full shortlist available here, and is detailed below:

BEST COMMUNITY PROJECT AWARD,
sponsored by Scottish National Investment Bank

• Bespoke Community Development Company for Greencraig Community Wind Turbine
• Hoy Development Trust
• SP Energy Networks for Warmworks Scotland

BEST ENGAGEMENT AWARD, sponsored by SmartestEnergy

• Muirhall Energy Ltd for Crossdykes Wind Farm
• Net Zero Technology Centre
• ScottishPower Renewables for Beinn an Tuirc 3 Windfarm
• SP Energy Networks for Green Economy Fund

BEST INNOVATION AWARD, sponsored by Red Rock Power Limited

• Anakata and Ventient Energy
• Gravitricity
• Nova Innovation for M100-D Tidal Turbine
• Orbital Marine Power
• StorTera Ltd for TRAICON

CARBON REDUCTION AWARD, sponsored by Statkraft

• City of Edinburgh Council for Kirkliston Social Housing Project
• Fort Augustus and Glenmoriston Community Company for Caledonian Court
• Scottish Sea Farms for Barcaldine Hatchery
• West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi for Queens Quay Water Source Heat Pump Project

CHAMPION OF RENEWABLES AWARD, sponsored by Crown Estate Scotland

• European Marine Energy Centre
• Nicola Percival, RWE
• Orbital Marine Power
• SSEN Transmission

CONTRIBUTION TO SKILLS AWARD, sponsored by SSE Renewables

• Cridhe Ltd for REETAP Programme
• Danish Wind Power Academy UK & Ireland
• ESP for Energy Efficiency Training Network
• Natural Power

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Winner announced on the night

OUTSTANDING PROJECT AWARD, sponsored by RWE Renewables

• Dumfries & Galloway College for Green Energy Centre
• Gravitricity Ltd for Energy Storage Demonstrator
• OceanWinds for Moray East
• Orbital Marine Power for the O2
• West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi for Queens Quay Water Source Heat Pump Project

OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD, sponsored by Green Investment Group

• Blargoans Ltd
• K2 Management
• McMillan Consultancy
• Renewable Exchange

POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT AWARD, sponsored by Natural Power

• European Marine Energy Centre​
• Pegasus Welfare Solutions for In-Tower Turbine Toilet
• Renewable Parts

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AWARD, sponsored by Hitachi ABB Power Grids

• Allt an Lagain Hydro Scheme
• ILI Group for Red John Pumped Storage Hydro Project
• West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi for Queens Quay Water Source Heat Pump Project

YOUNG & INSPIRING AWARD, sponsored by WSP

• Anthony Kinsella, ScottishPower Renewables
• Eishar Bassan, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
• Fraser Stewart, University of Strathclyde
• Jack Evans, TTI Marine Renewables Ltd

JUDGES AWARD, sponsored by Ocean Winds

Winner announced on the night

Ends

Notes:​

• More information on the awards is available from Scottish Renewables' website.
• Sponsors of the 2021 Scottish Green Energy Awards include EDF Renewables (Headline Sponsor), Aker Offshore Wind, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Crown Estate Scotland, Danish Wind Power Academy, EICC, Green Investment Group, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Hitachi ABB Power Grids, MacArthur Green, Mainstream Renewable Power, Muirhall Energy, Natural Power, Nexans, Northland Power, North Star Renewables, Ocean Winds, Ramboll, Red Rock Power Limited, RES, RWE Renewables, Scottish National Investment Bank, Siemens Gamesa, SmartestEnergy, SSE Renewables, Statkraft, Ventus, WSP, WWS Renewables and reNEWS.
• The awards’ judging panel was made up of representatives of sponsor companies.