WWF Scotland Director Named Champion at Scottish Renewables’ Awards

WWF Scotland Director Lang Banks has been named 2014 Champion of Renewables at Scottish Renewables’ Green Energy Awards.

The environmentalist, described by judges as “an outsider who makes people understand why renewables are so vital”, bagged the coveted trophy at a 1,250-guest ceremony in Edinburgh last night (Nov 27).

The awards, now in their 12th year and sponsored by EDF Energy Renewables, were held as it was revealed renewables became Scotland’s main source of power in the first six months of 2014.

Onshore wind stalwart Harry Malyon, a director at Glasgow wind farm development company Coriolis Energy, began his career as a forester and was honoured with the Outstanding Contribution Award for more than 20 years as a renewable energy leader.

The first ever Rising Star Award was handed to Robbie Macdonald of tidal turbine developer Nautricity, whose managers credit the success of their testing programme to the 26-year-old’s “hard work, original thought and drive”.

Scottish Renewables Chief Executive Niall Stuart hosted the evening at Edinburgh’s EICC. He said: “The Scottish Green Energy Awards ceremony is the biggest night of the year for the renewable energy industry, and it’s particularly pleasing to celebrate 2014’s successes on the day our figures revealed green energy has become Scotland’s main source of power.

“This year’s winners are genuine pioneers and innovators who are making a real difference to our environment, economy and society – and there is no better way to recognise them than in front of more than 1,200 of their peers.

“The awards are all about celebrating the best of Scotland’s green energy industry. So many parts of that industry are reflected in this year’s roll call of winners, from community projects like the Barra and Vatersay turbine and brilliant business successes like Natural Power and MacArthur Green to outstanding pieces of technical innovation like the FloWave test tank, to mention but a few.

“The event goes from strength to strength and is a testament to the commitment of those who work in the industry.”

Some of the other winners at the event are:

Best Innovation Award – FloWave TT Ltd for the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility: a world-class wave and tidal device testing facility in Scotland’s capital city.

Contribution to Skills Award – Mines Rescue Wind Turbine Training Facility: the launch of this new purpose-built working-at-height facility in Crossgates, Fife, stemmed from the growing importance of creating a fit-for-purpose future renewables workforce.

Rising Star Award – Robbie Macdonald, Nautricity: Robbie has “consistently risen to the challenges that have been presented to him” during the development of Nautricity’s CoRMaT tidal turbine, and displayed “great maturity in finding solutions to problems that are often outside his field of specialisation”, according to his employer.

Judges Award – MacArthur Green: the ecological and ornithological consultancy grew its profits by 200% in the 12 months from January 2012 and has expanded its remit from onshore and marine renewables into offshore, solar and hydro.

Christian Egal, CEO of sponsors EDF Energy Renewables, said: “These awards are a perfect showcase for the passion and ingenuity that is delivering renewable projects not only in Scotland, but much further afield.

“Scottish Renewables members are now taking their expertise to every corner of the globe, and we were pleased to be part of highlighting the talent and know-how that the Green Energy Awards rightly celebrate.”