Video: Standout decentralised energy projects crowned in virtual award ceremony

Normally carried out in person at a glittering ceremony, the 2020-21 Decentralised Energy Awards were taken online to ensure that Covid-19 wouldn’t prevent the achievements being made by this burgeoning industry from being recognised.Hosted by the ADE’s Head of Policy Caroline Bragg, the event is the leading Awards for those involved in decentralised energy, recognising and celebrating the people and projects which have developed innovative decentralised energy solutions designed around the needs of the user. 2020 has presented many challenges but has also highlighted the importance of the industry in providing people with security, comfort, flexibility and a template for a clean energy future.Award winners include projects which utilise waste heat from London’s underground tube network to provide lower cost and greener heat to local homes, the first online virtual marketplace allowing community participants to sell surplus decentralised power and the first subsidy-free solar farm installed by a local authority.Lord Duncan of Springbank, President of the ADE said: “This year’s Awards showcase the tremendous breadth of creativity and commitment from businesses, communities, policymakers and all those involved with the transformation of our energy system.”The full list of Award Winners: Heat and Efficiency: Operational – Presented to E.ON for its Black Horse Lane Regeneration project. This project implemented an innovative expansion of an existing low carbon heat network in the London Borough of Waltham Forest. Heat and Efficiency: Design Innovation – Presented to the London Borough of Islington for the Bunhill 2 project. Bunhill 2 uses waste heat from London Underground’s Tube network to provide lower cost, greener heat to nearby homes, a local school and two leisure centres. Heat and Efficiency: Digital Innovation – Presented to Kurve Technologies Ltd, a joint venture between Insite Energy & SAV Systems for KURVE. KURVE is the first-to-market digital smart metering and pay-as-you-go web-app for heat networks. Power and Flexibility: Operational – Presented to Sport in Desford for SID Power. Sport in Desford made insulation improvements, switched to LED lights, installed 44KWp of solar PV and 6 Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries to become a net exporter of electricity. Power and Flexibility: Innovation – Presented to Centrica for its Cornwall Local Energy Market (LEM). LEM is the first online virtual marketplace allowing community participants to sell surplus decentralised power. Integrated Energy – Presented to Silver EMS and the GreenSCIES consortium for GreenSCIES. GreenSCIES is supplying the local community through a 5th generation District Heating network, harvesting waste heat to supply Heat Pumps integrated with a smart grid, battery storage and V2G points. Special Award for Contribution to Net Zero – Presented to Pivot Power for the Energy Superhub Oxford. The superhub is pioneering an integrated approach to decarbonising power, transport and heat to accelerate Oxford’s journey to zero carbon. Special Award for Contribution to Net Zero (Highly commended) - Npower Business Solutions received recognition from the judges in this category for its Westhampnett Solar Farm. Westhampnett is the first subsidy-free solar farm installed by a local authority, made possible through Npower’s partnership with West Sussex County Council. Rising Star – Presented to Selene Molina Blanco, Engineering Manager at Vattenfall Heat UK. Selene is paving the way for more energy efficient practices in the UK district heating market. Champion Award – Presented to Nicky Butterworth of Guru Systems. Nicky was recognised for a decade’s work in the heat networks sector, including playing a pivotal role in the creation of Heat Trust, the Heat Network Delivery Unit and the Heat Network Investment Project.Watch the ceremony online here.ENDSNotes to editors: For photographs and more details of the Awards winners, please contact Lucinda Dann from the ADE To find out more about the projects that were shortlisted, please visit the ADE Vimeo page: https://vimeo.com/showcase/7611868 The ADE is bringing energy together to advocate on the priorities for the UK in achieving net zero. We are driving the decarbonisation of heat, championing the role of industry in the green transition and pushing for UK homes, places of work and public services to be energy efficient and smart. Only by getting users engaged and investing in energy efficiency, low carbon heat and providing smart flexibility will be the UK truly be able to decarbonise its energy system. For this to happen, energy must work for the user. At the ADE, we believe that an energy system designed around the user’s needs, enabling the right technology choice in the right place, serves everyone better.