HIE gets recognition at Scottish Green Energy Awards

The winners of the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2015, a renewable energy competition, have been revealed.

HIE was honoured for its work in the renewable energy sector with The Judges award that was given to the agency as recognition of the wide ranging work carried out across the sector since its inception in 1965 and which has included leading on the establishment of EMEC and, in the last year, the setting up of Wave Energy Scotland and support for developments like tidal stream project, MeyGen.

Receiving the award on the behalf of HIE, Calum Davidson, Director of Energy and Low Carbon, said: “The renewable energy sector is a diverse, fascinating but challenging area to work in. We are full of admiration for businesses which repeatedly take risks in developing innovative technology as they seek to find solutions to support the generation of power from renewable energy.”

Point and Sandwick Power from the Isle of Lewis received the award for the Best Community Project for the Beinn Ghridaeg Wind Farm.

The award for best supplier was jointly won by Green Marine, and Leask Marine. According to HIE, both companies have taken an innovative approach to supporting marine energy developments, demonstrated by their ability to deploy vessels which can cope with complex projects in testing environments.

Commenting on the success of businesses from the Highlands and Islands, Niall Stuart, CEO of Scottish Renewables said: “Our congratulations in particular to Orkney, which is home to two supply chain companies who were jointly awarded the Best Supplier Award for their work with the Energy Islands’ wave and tidal industry, and to Point and Sandwick Trust for their impressive work on the UK’s largest community wind farm on the Isle of Lewis.”