Solar Power Portal is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2014 Solar Power Portal Awards.

The outstanding projects shortlisted help reflect the good practice, professionalism, quality, safety and level of innovation that has catapulted the UK solar industry into one of the top five global PV markets.

After a day of deliberation by the Solar Power Portal Awards judges, the entries have been whittled down into the following shortlist:  

Public space installation

The public sector and community spaces serve as natural showcases for solar energy, benefitting both communities and the wider environment. Entries for this category ranged from colleges to churches and hospitals; the sheer breadth of solar projects make for a perfect showcase of solar’s flexibility.

  • Ash Green Community Primary School, Enphase Energy
  • Middlesex University Hospital, Spirit Solar
  • St Bartholomew's school enhancement project, ArchitectureLIVE

Most successful integrated renewables system

The launch of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), the rise of energy storage, monitoring, smart grids and smart meters; coupled with declining tariffs has pushed the need for installers to look at how solar can play a role in a whole house solution. The two shortlisted projects in this category exhibited exceptional system designs that significantly reduced customers’ energy bills as well as emissions. 

  • Sheeplands Farm, The Greener Group
  • The Solar House, Newform Energy

Renewable heat installation

Awarded to the most effective, innovative and responsive renewable heat installation – three particular projects stood out from the crowd. The shortlisted projects showcased exceptional system design to perfectly marry output with demand.

  • Bradfield college art wing, Spirit Solar
  • Carr Hall Castle, Think Renewable Energy
  • Granby Lodge Farm, Radiant Heating Solutions        

Commercial rooftop installation sponsored by Rexel Energy Solutions

Our most-entered category, commercial rooftops present the perfect marriage between roofspace, energy demand and solar production. The government’s Solar Strategy clearly marked out the commercial sector as its priority, the shortlisted projects demonstrate why there is strong political will to make the sector fulfill its potential.

  • AV Dawson, Duncan Renewables
  • ASDA Abbey Lane, G&H Sustainability
  • Kingspan Insulation Selby, Kingspan Energy
  • Lakeside Energy from Waste, BELECTRIC UK
  • Potato power, Renewables4Business

Community installation

Community installations serve as natural showcases for solar energy, benefitting both the local populace and the wider environment. The shortlisted projects recognise the enthusiasm and commitment of the community groups that chose to make a difference with solar.

  • Babergh District Council, Campbell & Kennedy
  • Coalfields community sustainable energy programme, CRT Renewable Energy
  • St Matthew’s Church, The Phoenix Works

Ground mount solar site (<10MW)

Despite the push towards ever larger solar sites, smaller scale ground mounted solar arrays remain an extremely important sector of the UK solar market. The shortlisted projects all demonstrate innovative solutions, sensitive siting, appropriate site management and exceptional energy yield.

  • Baglan Bay, St Modwen Plc and Eco Energy Power Solutions
  • Ketton cement works, Lark Energy
  • Willersey Solar Farm, BELECTRIC UK

Utility-scale solar farm (>10MW)

The utility-scale solar sector exploded into life this year, propelling the UK past 5GW of cumulative solar – one of only six global markets to do so. As the most contentious form of solar energy generation, well-designed and considered solar farms are essential to the sector’s continued success. From extensive community engagement to boosting biodiversity, the shortlisted entries serve as lighthouse projects for the rest of the sector. 

  • Ermine Street Solar Farm, Lightsource Renewable Energy
  • Lackford Estate Solar Park, Low Carbon
  • Nova Scotia Farm, Conergy UK                            

Domestic rooftop installation

Sponsored by Zeversolar

Domestic solar installations remain the core of the UK solar sector. As the most publicly visible of all installations completed, the importance of well designed and installed systems cannot be underestimated. The shortlisted entries exhibited exemplary design and implementation to form truly special arrays for their owners.               

  • Croyde Cottage, Solarsense UK
  • River Bank, Spirit Solar
  • My Eco Home, IRFTS                       

Communications campaign

The solar industry presents communication professionals with unique challenges; poorly-educated consumers, misleading mainstream media, anti-renewable campaigners, policy shifts and anti-dumping troubles have all contributed to an ever-changing outlook. The shortlisted communication campaigns utilise all available channels to successfully achieve their objectives.

  • 10 Commitments, The Solar Trade Association            
  • Enphase Energy, Hill + Knowlton Strategies
  • Solar Independence Day, The Solar Trade Association

Project finance innovation

An award designed to recognise those who break industry conventions to deliver project finance to solar developments in challenging circumstances. The rise in demand for finance coupled with diminishing government sources have driven the need for ground-breaking solutions in lower costing capital. The shortlisted projects demonstrate the best the sector has to offer.

  • Abundance Generation
  • Foresight Group
  • Liddeston Ridge PV array, Port of Milford Haven
  • Lightsource Renewable Energy

Installer of the year

Sponsored by BayWa r.e.

Awarded to an installer who has consistently demonstrated an unparalleled level of high-quality solar installations throughout 2014.

  • EvoEnergy
  • Kingspan Energy Installations
  • SALIIS NI Solar Energy Project
  • Spirit Solar
  • Sungift Solar

The Solar Power Portal outstanding achievement award

Last but not least, the Solar Power Portal achievement award goes to an individual deserving singular recognition for their outstanding service and contribution to the solar industry. The winner of this award will be announced on the night.

The awards will take place at this year’s Solar Energy UK event in Birmingham. Winning entrants will receive their awards at a prestigious presentation and gala dinner ceremony at the Hilton NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 14 October. 

Tickets for the Solar Power Portal Awards Gala Dinner can be booked here.