Clean Energy Council awards nominations open to recognise industry’s shining lights

PRESS RELEASE

Leaders and innovators from across the Australian clean energy industry are invited to nominate for this year’s Clean Energy Council Awards, to be announced in Sydney on July 18 as part of the Australian Clean Energy Summit.

The awards celebrate innovation and excellence in the Australian clean energy sector, and nominations close on 31 May.

Clean Energy Council Chief Executive Kane Thornton said the Clean Energy Council Awards, held during the NAB Gala Dinner at the Australian Clean Energy Summit, recognise the industry’s brightest innovators, best practice in community engagement, as well as leaders who have made an exceptional contribution to the sector.
“The awards are among many highlights in a packed two-day summit program,” Mr Thornton said.

“This year is shaping up to be the biggest for Australia’s large-scale renewable sector since the end of the Snowy Hydro Scheme more than 50 years ago.

“It’s a very exciting time to be in this industry, and the Australian Clean Energy Summit is the premier gathering of leaders driving this energy transformation.

“Heads of industry, government and finance will explore trends, insights and the latest policy and project developments. And technology innovators will talk about the accelerating cycles of disruption and change across the sector,” he said.

Speakers who have confirmed for the event include:

• Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition
• Richard Di Natale, Australian Greens Leader
• Lara Olsen, Regional Manager – Business Development, Tesla
• Andy Vesey, Managing Director and CEO, AGL
• Kirsten Rose, Principal, Low Emissions Technology, BHP Billiton
• Paul Italiano, Chief Executive, Transgrid
• Mark Collette, Executive – Energy, EnergyAustralia
• Clare Savage, Executive Director Policy, Energy and Climate Change, Business Council of Australia
• CEOs and Managing Directors of new innovative energy businesses including Greensync, and Reposit Power.

Nominations for the 2017 Clean Energy Council Awards are open until 31 May in the following categories:

• Innovation
• Community Engagement
• Outstanding Contribution to Industry

Victorian power utility United Energy received the 2016 Clean Energy Council Innovation Award for a project which used solar, storage and cloud technology to cut peaks in electricity usage and operate storage units remotely on demand. The Community Engagement Award was won by NT Power and Water Corporation for its work helping indigenous communities in the Northern Territory to reduce their power bills.

The inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Industry Award was last year awarded to Greenbank Environmental CEO Fiona O’Hehir, for her commitment to protecting the integrity of the solar industry.

More information on the Clean Energy Council awards can be found at cleanenergysummit.com.au/awards or by emailing awards@cleanenergycouncil.org.au. Entries close on 31 May 2017.

The Australian Clean Energy Summit will run from 18-19 July at the Hilton Sydney. More information and registration is available at cleanenergysummit.com.au. Early bird tickets to the summit are available until 31 May.

The Clean Energy Council would like to thank Goldwind Australia, the event’s major sponsor.

Please contact Clean Energy Council Media Manager Mark Bretherton on 0413 556 981 for more information or to arrange an interview.