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New Energy World magazine anniversary logo

Celebrating two years of reporting on the industry’s progress toward net zero

ISSN 2753-7757 (Online)
Winners of the Energy Institute’s 23rd annual awards gathered together on stage Photo:  Energy Institute/Oliver Dixon
Winners at the Energy Institute’s 23rd annual awards, held in London on 24 November 2022

Photo:  Energy Institute/Oliver Dixon

The Energy Institute’s 23rd annual awards honour some of the energy industry’s outstanding people and projects. They highlight the talent, innovation and expertise in a wide-ranging sector that is being transformed on the road to net zero. Kim Jackson, New Energy World, reports.

Speaking during the ceremony, EI President Juliet Davenport OBE HonFEI commented: ‘The global energy transition will need to be centred around people, and in particular – highly skilled people, who will need the support of training and professional development to keep up with the pace we need to work at.’

 

Here, we take a look at the initiatives and individuals that received the EI’s highest honours at this year’s ceremony, which was hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern.

 

Access to Energy Award 
Nigeria Sunshot project – Husk Power Systems   
Even though energy is now benefitting the lives of more people around the world than ever, some 800mn human beings have no access to electricity and 3bn are still cooking using dirty, dangerous cooking fuels, leading to severe bronchial illness and around 4mn premature deaths each year.

 

Ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is central to the UN Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and will require more sustained efforts worldwide.

 

This year’s Access to Energy Award went to solar mini-grid developer Husk Power Systems for its ‘Nigeria Sunshot’ project that is providing reliable, sustainable and clean energy to rural communities in Nigeria and creating new job opportunities. The project has benefitted 25,000 Nigerians so far, through the provision of electricity and via sales of energy-efficient appliances.

 

Husk plans to have over 25 solar mini-grids operational in Nigeria by the end of the year and aims to roll out 500 systems in the country by 2026 to benefit over 2mn Nigerians. The company also plans to expand operations into other African nations.

 

aerial view over Husk Power Systems’ Kiguna solar mini-grid project in Nigeria

Husk Power Systems’ Kiguna solar mini-grid project, Nigeria   
Photo: Husk Power Systems

 

Energy Management Award   
Sustainable banknote printing: Successes for CCL Secure’s sustainability journey – CCL Secure and Verco   
Effective energy management is crucial to ensure the efficient use of energy in domestic, commercial and industrial settings. Investments in energy management produce a wide range of benefits, including reduced company costs, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy security.

 

This year’s Energy Management Award winner, CCL Secure UK, aims to provide the most sustainable banknote to central banks and has already achieved a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions, 31% in energy and 40% in water per tonne of product versus a 2018 baseline.

 

Resulting cost savings have added to the company’s bottom-line and has engaged its entire value chain in the move to become more sustainable and environmentally friendly on the road to net zero.

 

aerial overview of CCL Secure's Wigton site in the UKCCL Secure has achieved a 26% reduction in carbon emissions per tonne of product at its Wigton site in the UK   
Photo: CCL Secure

 

Environment Award 
Capturing and converting methane: From gas fields to farms – Qnergy   
For the EI Environment Award, the judges looked for a project that demonstrated a responsible and ethical commitment to managing the risks of energy to the environment.

 

This year’s winner is Qnergy, for its ‘field to farms’ methane capture and conversion technology. According to the company, a major stumbling block to abating the more than 360mn t/y of anthropogenic methane emissions from energy and food production has been lack of technology scaling down to the small, highly distributed amounts of methane released by millions of farms, energy fields, landfills and wastewater sites.

 

With this in mind, Qnergy developed a flexible technology platform that can be deployed at a range of facilities, capturing vented methane gas and converting it to heat and power to be used on site at a reported cost of less than $2/tCO2e.

 

interior of Qnergy's factory showing equipment lined up ready for shipmentQnergy’s methane capture and conversion technology can be deployed to a range of sites, including farms, landfills or wastewater facilities   
Photo: Qnergy

 

Health and Safety Award 
SafeLife: Contractor health, safety and environment oversight platform – Saudi Aramco   
The EI’s Health & Safety Award is given for projects which demonstrate best practice in safety as well as demonstrating potential to impact the energy industry’s overall health and safety (H&S) record.

 

Saudi Aramco’s winning ‘SafeLife’ health, safety and environment (HSE) monitoring system standardises contractor incident reporting, investigations, competency, risk management practices, leadership engagements and contractor compliance through structured inspections and audits. It utilises the captured data to obtain early warning alerts of potential incidents at specific contractor rig locations. This enables targeted interventions to be implemented to prevent incidents, leading to improved contractor safety and a reduced number of incidents.

 

computer generated images showing monitoring system information on PC monitors, tablets and phone screensSaudi Aramco’s ‘SafeLife’ health, safety and environment (HSE) monitoring system leads to improved contractor safety and a reduced number of incidents   
Photo: Saudi Aramco

 

Innovative Technology Award   
Supercharging solar with perovskite photovoltaics – Oxford PV   
Oxford PV’s new perovskite photovoltaics (PV) technology was regarded by the EI Awards judges as this year’s best innovative technological development with the power to become a gamechanger or disrupter in the energy sector.

 

The sun provides abundant energy, yet it powers only 3% of our electricity needs. Most solar panels today only convert up to 20% of sunlight into electricity because conventional silicon solar cells have reached their performance ceiling, limiting the amount of energy that can be generated.

 

Oxford PV has developed a sustainable, low-cost material – perovskite – that can be integrated with conventional silicon solar cells in a tandem configuration, achieving a conversion efficiency of over 26%. Designed to be produced using existing solar manufacturing infrastructure and lower-energy processes, the new solar panels increase solar energy generation while reducing land use.

 

Furthermore, the technology is also claimed to be more resource-efficient, with only 35 kg of perovskite needed to make a MW of PV electricity compared with 7 tonnes of silicon, according to Oxford PV.

 

close up of solar cell being manufactured with lab technician's blue gloved hands in viewOxford PV’s perovskite solar cell can help solar panels achieve a conversion efficiency of over 26%   
Photo: Oxford PV

 

Low Carbon Award 
‘room2 Chiswick’ – Lamington Group   
The EI’s Low Carbon Award recognises schemes and projects that have made significant progress in reducing carbon emissions to help reach net zero by or before 2050.

 

The year’s Low Carbon Award went to Lamington Group for ‘room2 Chiswick’, claimed to be the world’s first whole life net-zero hotel, which opened in December 2021. The hotel features a number of low-carbon technologies, including ground source heat pumps and a low-heat hot water system that is expected to reduce energy use by 9%. Two ‘labrooms’ provide granular data on energy and water consumption, allowing the hotel to trial different interventions. The roof incorporates ‘blue’ and ‘green’ roof technologies, alongside bee hives, as well as solar panels that meet 5% of the hotel’s energy demand. The remaining electricity is supplied from a 100% renewable energy tariff.

 

Forecast to be 89% more energy efficient than a typical UK hotel, the building is certified BREEAM Excellent and is predicted to achieve gold for Green Tourism.

 

In addition, sustainability has been incorporated into all decision making, with a ‘sustainability checklist’ used for procurement which prioritises suppliers that use renewable energy. The hotel features bespoke 3-in-1 bins in every guest room as part of its zero waste to landfill policy, reportedly a first in UK hotels.

 

photo of hotel courtyard looking up at buildings through palm trees and plantsroom2 Chiswick is claimed to be the world’s first whole life net-zero hotel   
Photo: Lamington Group

 

Public Engagement Award  
Digging up Leicester Square – UK Power Networks   
Effective public engagement is very often the key determinant of the success or failure of any initiative. This year’s Public Engagement Award went to UK Power Networks, for its communications programme while upgrading the power supply to London’s ‘theatreland’ in Leicester Square. This programme included interactive hoardings and ‘selfie spots’, and the creation of social media and collaborative video bulletins to tell the story and keep the public in the picture.

 

The £16mn substation upgrade also saw more than 150 tours organised and youngsters from deprived backgrounds took part in a Youth Training Scheme about low carbon and the green economy.

 

By consulting and communicating with local stakeholders, UK Power Networks also found ways to accelerate the three-year programme to two years.

 

woman in front of red selfie board with stylised electricity circuit and company promo phrase Recharging the heart of LondonUK Power Networks communicated with the public about its Leicester Square power supply upgrade project in a range of ways, including interactive hoardings and ‘selfie spots'   
Photo: UK Power Networks


Talent, Development and Learning Award   
TNB Reskilling Malaysia Programme: TNB Integrated Learning Solution (TNB ILSAS) – Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB)   
The energy industry needs people with the talent, the drive and the passion to help tackle climate change and meet the needs of the world’s growing population. This award recognises work undertaken to bring new talent into the energy sector, as well as the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) schemes, innovative learning solutions and collaboration between industry, academia and other partners.

 

Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is the leading power utility provider in Malaysia and the largest public-listed power company in south-east Asia. The winning TNB Reskilling Malaysia Programme aims to assist both employers and employees in Malaysia overcome the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw unemployment rise to the country’s highest level, 4.9%, in January 2021.

 

Spearheaded by TNB Integrated Learning Solution (TNB ILSAS), the programme aims to match Malaysian employers and prospective employees by providing fully funded training prior to employment. Training is offered to school leavers, graduates and retrenched workers, with a focus on the electricity supply sector, including energy efficiency, renewable energy, the grid of the future, electric vehicles, and digitalisation and automation technologies.

 

Overall, the TNB Reskilling Malaysia Programme plans to train and reskill some 17,500 Malaysians between 2020 and 2024.


three people installing solar panel on roofSolar panel installation training in Malaysia   
Photo: TNB Integrated Learning Solution

 

Outstanding leaders   

Alongside winners of the EI Awards’ eight project categories, two ‘individual’ awards – Energy Leader and Young Energy Professional of the Year – were also awarded, in celebration of those ‘championing’ the energy industry and highlighting the innovation, drive and passion of the younger generation of energy talent.

 

Energy Leader Award   
Winner: Omar Farouk Ibrahim – Secretary General, African Petroleum Producers Organization

 

head and shoulders photo of Omar FaroukIbrahimOmar Farouk Ibrahim, winner of the Energy Leader Award 2022   
Source: APPO

 

Committed to fostering professionalism in his own work as Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) and among his industry colleagues and peers, Omar has supported numerous oil and gas regional projects across Africa, as well as regional training centres. He has also been instrumental in promoting collaboration among African oil and gas producers and their national oil companies.

 

A regular speaker at energy events, Omar is a keen advocate of promoting knowledge, improving skills, and developing and applying good practice in the workplace and the broader energy industry. He champions the industry by leading a diverse and inclusive workforce that is developing Africa’s energy resources against the backdrop of the energy transition in a bid to end energy poverty across the continent.

 

Highly commended: Mukabanji Mutanuka – Head of Minigrids, Engie Power Corner Zambia   
Mukabanji brings a wealth of experience in design, resource mobilisation, financial closure and implementation of offgrid innovations across Zambia in her role as Head of Minigrids, Engie Power Corner Zambia. Performance-driven, she has been key to improving energy access for many Zambians. Comfortable with negotiating with governments, she plays a major role in policy discussions for renewables development in Zambia.

 

Mukabanji is keen to promote diversity and inclusion, and is actively engaged in leadership and mentoring, both internally for Engie staff, and externally, for example through her work with the International Labour Organization for Chiziye Secondary School girls.

 

Young Energy Professional of the Year Award  
Winner: Guilherme Castro – Solutions Consultant, Energy & Utilities, Dataiku   
 

photo of Guilherme Castro and his award with two other peopleGuilherme Castro (centre), Solutions Consultant, Energy & Utilities, Dataiku, winner of the Young Energy Professional of the Year Award, which was presented by Max van der Lande (left), Renewable Energy Analyst at Octopus Energy, and with EI Awards host Steph McGovern (right)    
Source: Energy Institute/Oliver Dixon

 

Guilherme has a deeply rooted passion for wanting to make the world a cleaner, greener, more socially and ethically fair place. In his previous role as Project Innovation Manager at Octopus Energy Generation, he has played a key role in developing a number of innovative projects for the company, including the design of a disruptive business solution to transform bus depots into recharging hubs for third-party fleets using on-site generation, and implementing the ‘Fan Club’ tariff, which offers communities living close to Octopus Energy wind turbines up to a 50% discount on their energy rates.

 

Keen to develop and share his knowledge of the energy sector, Guilherme is Chairman of the Energy Institute’s London Young Professional Network (YPN) and has developed a series of innovative propositions to improve the experience of the EI’s volunteers as well as leverage the YPN’s impact on the energy sector. Among his successful initiatives is the ‘My Energy Journey’, where a senior energy professional joins the London YPN monthly Committee meeting to talk about their pathway in the sector, challenges they faced and advice for young professionals.

 

Highly commended: Ramy El Adli – R&D Manager, Infinity   
Keen to highlight the importance of sustainability and the role of renewable energy technologies in Egypt through his role as R&D Manager at Infinity, Ramy founded the company’s Future Energy Leaders Programme, a one-of-a-kind learning experience for high school students.

 

The programme provides an opportunity for the students to learn more about renewable energy resources and technologies, tour a solar facility in Cairo, meet Infinity employees and take part in hands-on activities with solar photovoltaics panels, inverters, solar water heaters, irradiance sensors, and more. Some 300 students have completed the programme in its first year of operation. It is planned to expand the scheme to many more schools in Egypt, not only in Cairo but also in other governates.

 

Highly commended: Manesha Thiyaga Rajan – Process Engineer, Petronas   
Manesha is a process engineer at Petronas and is passionate about analytics and environmentally sustainable technologies. Working in different sectors within the energy industry, ranging from oil and gas to clean energy solutions like solar and hydrogen, she has helped innovate and develop a number of digital solutions. Technical projects in which Manesha has been involved include developing a machine learning predictive model to assess corrosion rates in oil and gas pipelines, and a digital greenhouse gas emissions quantification and equipment performance monitoring solution for an LNG plant.

 

Keen to make a difference outside of work, Manesha is involved in Engineers Without Borders Malaysia, a non-profit organisation that aims to provide underprivileged communities across south-east Asia with access to necessities such as clean water and sanitation.   
 

For more about the EI Awards 2022, please click here.