DECC and the Ashden Awards support green entrepreneurs
Greg Barker, Climate Change Minister, announced DECC’s intention to work with the Ashden Awards to support green entrepreneurs during his keynote…
Greg Barker, Climate Change Minister, announced DECC’s intention to work with the Ashden Awards to support green entrepreneurs during his keynote speech at the 11th annual ceremony on Friday.
The Ashden Awards, held at London’s Geographical Society, recognise pioneers of low carbon energy in the UK and are the World’s leading green energy awards . They showcase practical solutions to combat climate change, rewarding outstanding and innovative low-carbon schemes in the UK and developing countries.
Addressing the attendees, Greg Barker said:
“I am delighted to announce that we intend to work with the Ashden Awards and other partners to explore how we can support entrepreneurial SMEs to increase access to clean energy in developing countries - using funding from the Government’s International Climate Fund”
Five ground-breaking initiatives from across the UK received their awards from Grand Designs presenter, Kevin McCloud and were presented with £10,000 to be spent on expanding their sustainable energy work.
The winners were:
- The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT), Powys, Wales,
- Midlands Wood Fuel Ltd, Shrewsbury,
- Severn Wye Energy Agency (SWEA), Gloucestershire and
- Transition Town Totnes, Devon.
The overall UK Gold Award winner (receiving £20,000 in prize money) was Hampshire-based housing association Radian, for their outstanding achievements in retrofitting hard-to-treat homes and building new homes to high environmental standards.