The Solar Power Portal Awards 2017 is now just a matter of weeks away and the shortlisted entrants have all been publicised.

Nearly 60 nominations have been shortlisted across the 12 public categories, the winners from which will be announced during the gala dinner ceremony at the Hilton Metropole Birmingham on Wednesday 4 October 2017. 

The occasion, always one of the highlights of the UK solar calendar, will this year be hosted by TV personality and renowned renewables advocate Robert Llewellyn.

As we countdown to the ceremony, Solar Power Portal is to shine the spotlight on this year’s shortlisted nominations, starting with the best use of solar in a community/social benefit project award.

The shortlisted entries are;

  • BBOXX and AERIS for work in Central and East Africa
  • Edinburgh Solar Co-op – Energy4All, Edinburgh Council, Emtec Energy
  • Empower Community Solar, Empower Peterborough and Drove Lane, and New Mains Solar CICs
  • Joju’s Big Community Summer – Joju Solar
  • Minvers Sports Hall Solar Rooftop – Nottingham City Council
  • South East London Community Energy – SELCE

With its Big Community Summer project, Joju has laid claim to one of the most concentrated deployments of community energy in the UK to date. Around 2.5MW of solar was installed across 46 sites, including 24 schools and the largest community solar roof in the country. 

More than £2.5 million of finance was raised from nearly 1,000 separate investors to support their deployment, which was completed in just 10 weeks.

And what’s more, the installations will have a tangible benefit for years to come. Joju has estimated that more than 10,000 schoolchildren will see solar and sustainability in action within the schools to have received it, with many times that number benefitting over the expected lifetimes of those systems.

So will Joju take the community energy crown this year? All will be revealed on 4 October 2017.

 

Tickets for the ceremony are available to purchase now, and include full access to the pre-ceremony drinks reception, black tie gala dinner, awards ceremony and evening entertainment. Tickets and table packages can be purchased online here or by contacting Sue Bradshaw.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available and include a VIP table for the evening. If you are interested in sponsoring a category at this year’s award, please contact Sue Bradshaw