UK: Humber Renewables Awards 2012 Review

IT IS an industry experts predict will be worth £15 billion to the Humber over the next few years.

On Friday, March 2, companies helping to cement our region’s position as the UK leader in renewable developments were recognised at an awards ceremony in Hull.

More than 150 guests gathered at the Deep for the Humber Renewables Awards 2012.

The awards, which are the first of their kind in the region, recognised the Humber’s excellence in green energy and shone the spotlight on the innovative companies breaking new ground in this swiftly growing sector.

Run by Footprint Renewables in association with Mail News & Media, the ceremony was presented by Grimsby-born broadcaster Helen Fospero.

Speaking before the opening of the golden envelopes that revealed each of the winners, Andrew Morton, account director at Footprint Renewables, said: “Whatever walk of life or business you are in, it’s not often you get the chance to declare you’re the first at something, to say you’re ahead of the game.

“Well, tonight, we can all claim that.

 “At the very least, you are attending the first-ever regional awards recognising the Humber’s excellence in green energy.

 “But, much more than this, your involvement signals you are at the forefront of the Humber’s newest, most advanced and – potentially – most crucial industry.”

KC Business sponsored the awards.

Sean Royce, the company’s commercial and finance director, said: “Events like the Humber Renewables Awards are important because they raise the profile of the renewable sector and increase awareness of the opportunities it can deliver.

 “The very early groundwork’s been done and we’re on the brink of something special but we as local business people and representatives of the public sector need to emulate the efforts of those who’ve got us this far and keep driving us forward.

“It is down to us to ensure we get the prize.”

GWE Biogas in Kirkburn, near Driffield, was first on the stage after scooping the award for the Best Renewables Product In The Humber.

The award judges, who said the project “simply took their breath away”, said: “GWE Biogas epitomises what renewables energy is about in terms of taking a waste product and through its processes producing multi-use products.

“It was also a stunning build that goes against the boring misconception surrounding some elements of renewable energy.”

Hot on GWE Biogas’ heels was HETA, which won the Excellence In Renewables Training Or Education Award.

Alpha Energy – a Humber company that specialises in the provision of offshore and onshore wind turbine engineering personnel – was named Best Renewables Start-up, while Pulse Tidal was handed the Renewables Innovation Award.

The Engaging The Community Award was presented to Hull College, while the Small Renewable Business Of The Year Award was handed to HOTA.

The award judges said HOTA “stood out as a great example of good business practice in the Humber, demonstrating how a business that has been established for some time can evolve its offering to the emerging renewables sector, with fantastic results”.

The Large Renewable Business Of The Year Award went to Transwaste.

And last, but by no means least, was the award for the Humber Renewables Champion.

This was awarded to Sam Pick, of Renewables Network, who judges felt “had stood as someone whose renewable voice shouted loudest for our region”.

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Offshore WIND  Staff, March 06, 2012; Image: footprintrenewables