Glasport Bio, NUI Galway, and Boston Scientific are among the shortlisted finalists in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland Energy Awards 2020.
The annual awards recognise and reward excellence in sustainable energy in business, communities, research, buildings, renewables and the public sector.
Twenty-four applicants across eight categories have been shortlisted, with the winners to be selected by a VIP judging panel in the coming weeks. Winners will be named at the awards ceremony in mid-October.
The successful finalists were chosen for their innovative sustainable energy solutions and for inspiring energy action among colleagues and peers.
Congratulating all the entrants, Fergus Sharkey, Head of Business and Public Sector with SEAI said: “This year, despite the obvious challenges that each of you faced, you continued in your commitment and passion for sustainable energy and climate action.
“Each year we are blown away by the quality of entries to the SEAI Energy Awards and this year has proved no different.
“We received 125 entries from businesses, communities, and organisations across the country who are leading the charge, reshaping our communities and businesses, and inspiring each and every one of us through their action.”
This year’s categories are Large Business – Exemplary Energy Management, Small and Medium Business – Exemplary Energy Performance, Public Sector – Energy Leadership, Inspirational Energy Community, Energy in Buildings, Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy, Energy Manager or Team of the Year, and Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation. The latter winner will receive a €10,000 bursary.
Glasport Bio is a finalist in the Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation category. This innovative SME is an example of demonstrated innovation arising from excellent research.
Its innovative solution aims to deliver increased renewable energy potential in the anaerobic digestion process, coupled with significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from treated agricultural wastes.
In the future, Glasport Bio plans to explore the application of this technology in other organic waste materials.
NUI Galway is a finalist in two categories. A research team at the university has been shortlisted in the Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation category.
The team’s VorTech technology has the potential to transform the energy intensive aeration process of wastewater treatment plants both in Ireland and internationally.
The patented VPA (Vortex Powered Aerator) technology has the potential to provide significant energy savings combined with hydropower energy generation.
The university is also a finalist in the Public Sector – Energy Leadership category. NUI Galway achieved the public sector 2020 energy efficiency target three years early.
Building on these results, the team continued with further projects setting a new ambitious target of 40% energy efficiency by 2020. This was achieved by the end of 2019.
With these targets already achieved, the university is demonstrating what a sustainable campus looks like and has big ambitions towards carbon neutrality by 2030.
Boston Scientific is a finalist in the Large Business – Exemplary Energy Management category. Boston Scientific has achieved 10% in energy savings across its manufacturing sites in Galway, Cork, and Tipperary in one year.
The success of the program and has given Boston Scientific the confidence to commit to achieving carbon neutrality in its manufacturing and key distribution sites by 2030.
Other finalists include: Energy Team/ Manager of the Year; Johnson & Johnson, Astellas Ireland, and Ian O Connor (John Sisk & Sons)
- Large Business; Wyeth Nutrition and Danone Wexford
- Small and Medium Business; SOLA Energy Solutions, Finian O’Harte Poultry and Terra Spirits & Liqueurs
- Public Sector; Ervia Business Services and Dublin City Council
- Inspirational Energy Community; Lárionad Acmhainní Nádúrtha CTR, Dunleer Sustainable Energy Community, and Leitrim Cróga (Ballinaglera SEC)
- Innovative Deployment of Renewable Energy; Aurivo Consumer Foods, Green Generation and Energia
- Excellence in Energy Research and Innovation; Glasport Bio and International Energy Research Centre (IERC)
- Energy in Buildings; ESB Engineering & Major Projects, Cosgrave Developments and SSE Airtricity Energy Services
