A Cornish sustainable energy pioneer was named best in the south west at the Green Energy Awards last night.
Wadebridge Renewable Energy Network (WREN)’s Stephen Frankel won the award for South West Sustainable Energy Champion, thanks to the impact he has had on sustainable energy through his roles as chair of WREN, visiting professor at the University of Exeter’s Energy Policy Group, member of DECCs Community Energy Contact Group, and member of the Smart Cornwall Steering Group.
Frankel said: “It is very encouraging to have won a SW Green Energy Award on behalf of WREN. This offers strong reassurance that we are travelling in the right direction, and is an indication that appreciation of the huge potential of community energy is now moving into the mainstream.”
Frankel’s wasn’t the only Cornish triumph at the awards, which were held at the Assembly Rooms, in Bath.
Truro-based Kensa fought off tough competition in the Green Energy Innovation of the Year category, winning the award with its recently-launched ‘Shoebox’ heat pump.
The miniaturised appliance is the smallest and quietest heat pump on the market, which means that that the renewable technology can – for the first time – be installed within a dwelling, creating a major new market opportunity for new-build residential developments.
Kensa’s managing director, Simon Lomax, said: “We’ve created a new opportunity with the Shoebox that will hopefully lead the mainstream take up of renewable heating in the domestic households. Winning this award is recognition of exceptional work from a team of some of the industry’s best engineers.”
Merlin Hyman, chief executive of Regen SW, which organised the event, added: “Every year the standard and number of entries we receive rises, demonstrating the growing strength and depth of the renewable energy industry in the south west. Stephen Frankel and Kensa are not only leading their field in this part of the country but also playing foremost roles in the development of renewable energy across the UK.”
More than 150 entries were received from individuals and companies from Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, former Avon, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. The winners were chosen from a high-quality shortlist of entrants from across the region by an independent panel of judges who have expert knowledge in sustainable energy.
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