25 July 2013
A remote South Australian geothermal project by Geodynamics, Marcus Priest from the Australian Financial Review and Hydro Tasmania all have one thing in common: they were crowned winners of the 2013 Clean Energy Council Awards last night.
Hosted by the Clean Energy Council as part of Clean Energy Week – Australia’s largest industry-run event for the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors – the awards recognise industry excellence in the areas of community engagement, innovation and media.
Geodynamics took out the Innovation Award for its Habanero geothermal project, Marcus Priest won the Media Award and Hydro Tasmania was crowned the Community Engagement Award winner.
Clean Energy Council Chief Executive David Green said the competition in every category was tough, with many strong contenders vying for the honours, and that each winner had made an outstanding contribution to the industry.
“These awards are an important way to celebrate the many achievements across our industry at a time when local clean energy is generating tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment across the country,” Mr Green said.
“I congratulate all the winners and finalists on the great work that they do. Each unique entrant has demonstrated that we are part of an innovative, dynamic and growing industry, with an important role to play in Australia’s energy future.”
The winners and finalists of the 2013 Clean Energy Council Awards are:
Community Engagement Award
Winner: Hydro Tasmania – For its community engagement program delivered as part of the construction of the Musselroe Wind Farm.
Finalists:
Infigen Energy – For its community fun run held at the Woodlawn wind farm near Tarago and Bungendore, NSW.
Poo Power – For the promotion of biogas – powered by dog poo – to provide sustainable lighting to Melbourne’s parks and gardens.
Innovation Award
Winner: Geodynamics – For the production of geothermal power at the Habanero 1 MWe Pilot Plant in South Australia’s Cooper Basin.
Finalists:
Goldwind – For introducing Permanent Magnetic Direct Drive wind turbine technology into the Australian energy market.
Vestas/Leighton Contractors Consortium – For the construction of AGL’s Macarthur Wind Farm in south-west Victoria – the largest wind farm in the Southern Hemisphere.
Media Award
Winner: Marcus Priest (Australian Financial Review) – For a number of articles, opinion pieces and feature stories relating to carbon pricing and climate change.
Finalists:
Kerry Brewster (ABC TV – Lateline) – For her report about the late Port Augusta Mayor, Joy Baluch, and her campaign for a large-scale solar thermal power plant.
Nigel Morris (Solar Business Services) – For his contribution through a range of media promoting the benefits of solar power.
Giles Parkinson (RenewEconomy) – For reporting on the need for Australia’s energy system to adapt to the wave of investment in household renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, rather than the other way round.
The winners were announced last night in Brisbane at the NAB Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
Winners of the Clean Energy Council Solar Design and Installation Awards, which recognise excellence in the solar PV and hot water industry, will be announced on Friday 26 July at the ReneSolar ATRAA Formal Dinner – the final day of Clean Energy Week 2013.
The Clean Energy Council is the peak body for Australia’s clean energy industry, working with more than 600 solar, wind, energy efficiency, energy storage, bioenergy, hydro, cogeneration, geothermal and marine energy businesses. We are committed to accelerating the transformation of Australia’s energy system into one that is smarter, cleaner and more consumer-focused.
More information at cleanenergycouncil.org.au