Nominations are now open for the 2008 Green Energy Awards sponsored by n-power renewables. Scotland’s biggest green awards are organised by Scottish Renewables the green energy trade body. Now entering its seventh year, the awards attracted over 700 people at the event last year, and in 2008 will feature nine categories for the first time including a new Best Student Project Award.
 
Last year, First Minister Alex Salmond won Best Politician Award for his campaigning to ensure the energy industry is regulated in a way that helps rather than hinders the growth of renewables in Scotland. Most of the nine categories focus on how green energy is being rolled out in Scotland and the successful companies that are leading the way. But the awards also span a Best Community Initiative category - a village hall network in Angus working to install renewables into their facilities won the award last year. 

For the first time this year there is also a Best Student Project award that is being launched to encourage students to apply their innovative thinking to the world of renewable energy and hopefully consider a career in this growing sector. This award comes with a £1000 prize. The successful winner will be asked to present their findings at a Scottish Renewables conference and the project can be part of a course in any subject that has relevance to the industry from engineering to environmental management. Universities across Scotland have been invited to nominate up to three student projects for this year's awards. 

Henning Von Barsewich managing director of REpower, sponsors of the Best Student Project, said, “REpower UK is delighted to sponsor this new award category. Encouraging fresh young talent into the Renewables industry is vital to its growth and sustainability, and we feel this award will help to raise awareness among students of the exciting opportunities that are available to them in industry both during and after their studies. This is a rapidly growing sector and as such there are great long-term prospects for new graduates: it is important that companies such as REpower make sure that they are aware of them.”

The award follows the launch of the Scottish Renewables ‘Get Into Renewables’ guide at the All Energy ’08 exhibition designed to draw graduates into the expanding sector. Recruitment has been identified as the third most significant issue for Scottish Renewables members in a recent survey.

Jason Ormiston, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables said, “It’s amazing how the Green Energy Awards goes from strength to strength each year and as it does we will continue to acknowledge the contribution of the thousands of people, businesses, communities and organisations who have helped Scotland on the road to a green future. The Green Energy Awards are the only awards in Scotland that recognise excellence in renewables and even if you aren’t successful, we want to hail all the green energy heroes who are blazing a trail towards a green future for Scotland.”

The deadline for nominations is October 3rd 2008. The awards will be held at The Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh on 4th December 2008.

For more information, visit: www.greenenergyawards.co.uk