A SAFETY manager at a wind turbine power plant in Campbeltown in Argyll was one of the nine winners at the Young Professionals Green Energy Awards in Glasgow.
Julie Blue of CS Wind UK started working with the company 10 years ago and is now the company’s quality manager and is member of the management team.
Systems put in place by the award-winner have been adopted across the globe by CS Wind, the South Korean company which acquired the factory last year.
She was handed the Judges’ Award – for an entry which the judges felt merited special commendation – after impressing a panel of green energy industry leaders.
Also honoured were Jason Morin, a wind-farm project manager whose work with communities was described as “a credit to the renewables industry” and Caitlin Long, whose work with wave and tidal energy developers has helped Orkney lead the world in the development of new renewable devices.
Jenny Hogan, director of policy at Scottish Renewables, the industry body which organises the awards, said: “Once again the renewable energy industry has come together to celebrate some truly worthy winners.
“Those who’re celebrating after the awards – and indeed all those who were shortlisted – should feel proud of the contribution they are making to tackling climate change and modernising our energy system.
“Not only is it remarkable to see so many talented young people in one place, it’s also great to see an almost 50-50 gender balance in both our shortlist and our roll of winners.”
ScottishPower Renewables was the headline sponsor of the 2017 Young Professionals Green Energy Awards.
Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower, said: “Our industry continues to invest billions of pounds and support hundreds of thousands of high-quality jobs.
“We continue to surpass expectations by meeting and exceeding all of the challenges that we are presented with. This is due in large to the highly motivated and talented people we have working in the industry.
“All of the award winners, and the range of exceptional projects that were shortlisted, highlight the fact that the future of our industry is in very good hands and that we have plenty to be optimistic about.”
The Academic Award, which was sponsored by Energy Technology Partnership. went to Caitlin Long, of the European Marine Energy Centre, and the Achiever Award, sponsored by SSE, was awarded to Virginia Ruiz Albacete, of ScottishPower Renewables.
The Business Development Award was awarded to David Rubie-Todd, of Wavepower and the Communicator Award went to Jason Morin, of Muirhall Energy.
Benjamin Williamson, from the University of Aberdeen, won the Engineer Award,sponsored by ESB; the Innovator Award, sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, went to Andrew Hynd, Atkins; the Professional Award went to Emma Reid, Pinsent Masons; and the Project Manager Award was given to Ailsa Smith, Wood Group These nine winners of the 2017 Young Professionals Green Energy Awards will go on to compete for the Rising Star Award at the annual Scottish Green Energy Awards held in Edinburgh on November 30.
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