Wood Energy Ashden Award Winner 2007

Wood Energy Limited has won the coveted Ashden Award for Renewable Energy.  The North Devon based company met HRH Prince Charles and was presented with the award by leading environmental campaigner, former US Vice President, Mr Al Gore, at a high-profile awards ceremony held last night (21st June) at the Royal Geographical Society in London.

The Ashden Awards are recognised as the world's leading green energy prize and reward and promote local sustainable energy solutions in the UK and abroad.

The judges of the awards commented that they were highly impressed by Wood Energy's combination of a sound business strategy with innovative application of a highly promising technology.

Senior managers and directors of Wood Energy attended the glittering awards ceremony and managing director and founder of the company, Dr Robin Cotton, collected the award.

On receiving the award Dr Robin Cotton, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award. It is fantastic that the biomass sector is receiving some well-earned recognition in the renewable energy field and to have Wood Energy acknowledged as a leader in this area is very gratifying. We hope this award will raise the profile of biomass and its benefits when delivering energy efficient, low carbon solutions in commercial applications."

Wood Energy is the UK's leading biomass heating business, providing over a third of the country's total wood heat capacity and saving almost 12,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions a year through its boiler installations. The company, which operates around the UK and Ireland, has assisted with the development of the Ignite Wood Fuel training course, which is the UK's only accredited wood fuel training course for the industry. The course, which will help to raise industry standards, is managed by Rural Development Initiatives and was the winner of a prestigious National Training Award in 2006. Wood Energy has also worked hard to ensure a reliable supply of fuel for the heating systems it installs, by supporting local wood-fuel supply businesses and pellet mills.

Commenting further, Dr Robin Cotton said: "We have been experiencing dramatic growth in interest for our Binder boilers as more companies seek to reduce their carbon footprint and reduce energy costs.  One of our recent installations in the South West was at Blaise plant nursery for Bristol City Council. By installing a 400kW biomass boiler, the nursery has been able to significantly reduce its energy costs and CO₂ emissions. A further benefit has been using wood chip made from wood waste generated by the council's parks and woodland as its fuel source".

Sarah Butler-Sloss, Executive Chair of the Awards said: "Our winners demonstrate how many creative ways there are to save energy and generate energy while also reducing carbon emissions. If these technologies were expanded and replicated on a large scale they could play a significant role in helping to tackle climate change.  All we need now is the political will to scale up and roll out these solutions."

As a winner of the Renewable Energy Award, Wood Energy will receive up to £30,000 which it intends using to fund the installation of a small wood chip boiler system in a high profile public building.  The installation will educate the public on the benefits of biomass technology and help to raise its profile.

The Renewable Energy Award recognises organisations such as NGOs, non-profit groups, commercial organisations, Local Authorities and Energy Agencies which have carried out projects or programmes to increase the supply of renewable electricity and/or heat at a local level.

Wood Energy was founded in 2002 by Dr Robin Cotton. Since when it has grown to the UK's leading supplier and installer of biomass heating solutions. The company employs 28 people and has recently embarked on major expansion plans to facilitate the growing market for biomass technology in the UK and Ireland.