Celebrating Community Energy in the heart of London

The Community Energy Awards took place on Friday night at a ceremony in London’s City Hall. Over 120 people joined us in celebrating the success from the past year. The ceremony was led by Chair of the London Environment Committee, Leonie Cooper and the throughout the evening we heard insights from judges, sponsors, former winners and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan via video.

The proceedings started with the Community Renewable Energy Project Award (sponsored by Co-op Community Energy) being awarded to North Kensington Community Energy who put solar panels on two primary schools, a community centre and a sports centre this year. 

Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-op (BHESCo) were winners of the carbon savings award. With just four full time members of staff BHESCo have delivered 42 energy projects in just four years, completed 670 energy audits, and advised 1,500 customers, making total annual CO2 savings of 441 tonnes.

Other winners include a world-first initiative to power trains using track-side community-and commuter-owned solar, as well as a unique conservation project using thermosolar beehives that generate heat to destroy the Varroa mite which has been devastating honeybee populations across the world as mites develop resistance to traditional chemical treatments.

BHESCo Community Energy Award WInners - Dan, Kayla, Patrick Allcorn
BHESCo Marketing Co-ordinator Dan Curtis (left), with Patrick Allcorn of The Dept for BEIS and BHESCo CEO and Founder Kayla Ente
In total 10 awards were presented as representatives from community energy organisations and their supporters celebrated the innovation, expertise and passion shown by the sector, united in their aim to create an energy system that is cleaner, greener and for the benefit of people over profit.
"It’s a great honour for BHESCo to be recognised by our esteemed peers in community energy. None of our work would be possible without the tireless dedication of our staff and volunteers supporting our efforts to transform our communities.
We are very grateful to receive this award for our work. It’s an inspiration to share what we are all doing together to accelerate the UK’s transition from fossil fuels in the energy supply and to bring fairness, equity and trust back to the energy industry"
Kayla Ente - CEO Founder - Brighton Hove Energy Services Cooperative (BHESCo)
Kayla Ente
Founder and CEO
BHESCo

Community Energy England 2019 Awards Winners

2019 Community Renewable Energy Project Award – sponsored by Co-op Community Energy

North Kensington Community Energy

2019 Community Energy & Carbon Saving Award

Brighton and Hove Energy Services Co-operative

Carbon Co-op and URBED – People Powered Retrofit – highly commended

2019 Local Authority Partner Award – sponsored by Power Paired

Bristol City Council

Islington Council – highly commended

2019 Community Energy Finance Award

Power to Change

Friends Provident Foundation – highly commended

2019 Collaboration Award – sponsored by Power to Change

Riding Sunbeams

2019 Community Energy Young Champion

Nadia Smith

2019 Community Energy Champion

Nick Rouse

2019 Environmental Impact Award

Naturesave

2019 Social Impact Award

South East London Community Energy

2019 Community Energy Photo Award

Greater Manchester Community Renewables

“We are honoured to have been able to celebrate the achievements of so many talented organisations and individuals. In a year when the sector has seen the removal of government support, it’s crucial for us to come together and learn from projects that are succeeding even though they are contending with such a challenging policy background. Community energy projects are taking ground-breaking technologies and testing them in real life settings, championing the transition to a decarbonised energy system and positioning themselves as the trusted intermediaries between institutions and the public. Quite simply community energy groups are showing their friends, families and neighbours now, how we will all need to change our energy behaviours in the future.”
Emma Bridge
Chief Executive
Community Energy England
“The awards have showcased what community energy can achieve. The judges had a tough job to determine the final winners. Co-op Community Energy is proud to support community energy by providing a route to market for community energy schemes. The challenge to decarbonise the UK energy system is also an opportunity for the way we produce energy to become more democratic, we think putting communities at the heart of the process will generate a cleaner, greener and more efficient system for us all.”
Josh Brown
Head of Origination and Product
Co-op Community Energy

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