‘Sustainable energy champions’ announced as Ashden Award finalists

This year’s finalists for the UK Ashden Awards have been announced ahead of an awards ceremony on May 22. The green energy awards recognise businesses that are leading the way in the sustainable energy sector.

The diversity of the organisations announced, which ranges from a crowdfunding platform to a company helping to progress the electric vehicle revolution, demonstrates how broad the sector is and the vast impact these businesses can have.

Sarah Butler-Sloss, founder of Ashden, commented, “Across the UK, incredible people are doing incredible things to reduce carbon emissions and protect our precious planet.

“In schools, hospitals, charities and businesses across the country they are finding creative ways of cutting carbon, as well as improving wellbeing and boosting local economies. Our job is to shine a light on these sustainable energy champions, to give them a voice and help them grow even further.”

The awards are now in their 14th year and aim to celebrate pioneering businesses that are tackling climate change and improving people’s lives. Funders of the awards include Armstrong Energy, Coutts Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and Impax Asset Management.

To date, the Ashden Awards have managed to help more than 140 sustainable energy pioneers develop their work. The winner of the award will receive £20,000 and national recognition as a sustainable energy leader.

Karl Harder, co-founder and joint managing director of renewable energy crowdfunding platform Abundance Generation, one of the finalists, said, “We believe public participation is key to securing a sustainable future, and enabling that is at the core of our mission.

“To have this success recognised by Ashden is fantastic as we look to grow over the coming years. We all know how much there is to do, but there is a very real demand for positive investment in renewable energy, as people realise making a return doesn’t mean compromising their children’s future.”

In addition to the UK awards, three UK schools are also competing as finalists for two Ashden School Awards. The schools are Ashton Vale Primary School in Bristol, Sir George Monoux College in Walthamstow and St Faith’s Independent School in Cambridge.

Ashden Awards UK finalists 2014:

– Abundance Generation

– Centre for Sustainable Energy

– Global Action Plan

– Demand Logic

– Hemcrete Projects

– OVESCO

– Pure Leapfrog

– Severn Wye Energy Agency

Photo: land rover our planet via flickr

Further reading:

Draft UN report: investment in renewable energy must rise drastically

Renewable energy investment drops as technology becomes cheaper

Government poll: 77% of Britons support renewable energy

Finalists unveiled for British Renewable Energy Awards 2014

Renewable electricity share at 15% in 2013 as UK emission fall 2%