Trio with chance of green awards

Nov 21 2008 by Iain Howie, Stirling Observer Friday

A Stirling university student and two environment-linked companies in the area have been shortlisted for prestigious green gongs.

Renew Services of Fintry has been put forward for the best new business, Stirling University student Rosie Trodden is in line for an award for her project on domestic wind turbines, while the trailblazing Fintry Renewable Enterprise has been shortlisted for its ownership of a turbine for the community.

Renewable heat services company Renew Services Limited has made the shortlist for the best new business sponsored by All Energy.

The company was set up just 15 months ago by businessman Jon Cape and has been working with a number of housing associations to provide renewable wood fuel heating to communities across Scotland.

The Fintry Renewable Energy Enterprise is up for the best community initiative award sponsored by E.ON UK Limited. The organisation has become one of the first in Scotland to take ownership of a commercial wind turbine for community use.

The group now owns one of the 15 turbines at the Earlsburn wind farm and funds made from the surplus electricity sold back to the grid is used to help tackle fuel poverty in the community.

And University of Stirling student Rosie Trodden has made the shortlist for the best student project award, sponsored by wind turbine manufacture Repower UK, for her work looking at how renewable energy could be used more widely in homes.

Winners of the seventh annual awards will be announced at a gala ceremony on Thursday, December 4, at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

Jason Ormiston, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “All the nominees for the Green Energy Awards are green energy heroes and they highlight an excellent year for the renewable energy industry in Scotland.”

Paul Cowling, managing director of npower renewables, the headline sponsor of the Scottish Green Energy Awards, said: “The renewables industry is an extremely dynamic sector and the high calibre of nominations for these awards demonstrates this.

“We congratulate all those who have been nominated, as well as Scottish Renewables for acknowledging the green contribution thousands of people in Scotland make to ensure a green future.”