First Minister Alex Salmond has welcomed winning the 'Best Politician' award at The Scottish Green Energy Awards 2011 in central Edinburgh this evening. Mr Salmond sent his thanks in a recorded message screened at the ceremony, as he was unable to be present.

This is the 10th anniversary of the Awards, which were established by Scottish Renewables in December 2002 to bring together industry leaders in order to honour, acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of individuals and organisations in the renewable energy industry in Scotland.

There are 10 award categories to represent areas that are essential for the development and growth of the renewables industry, and to highlight the positive economic and environmental work and contribution that Scotland is making both nationally and internationally.

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In October, Mr Salmond received the 'South Australia International Climate Change Leadership Award' from the government of South Australia.

On Tuesday, the First Minister won the UK Political Studies Association 'Politician of the Year' award. Earlier in November, Mr Salmond won the Spectator magazine's 'Politician of the Year' award, and also the Herald newspaper's 'Politician of the Year' prize.

In his pre-recorded speech, the First Minister thanked the 950-strong audience for the 'Best Politician' award. Mr Salmond said: "I am absolutely determined that this country of ours, just as it powered and invented the industrial revolution, is going to invest, design, engineer, fabricate, construct, maintain and install the great energy machines that are going to dominate this coming century. I know there are sceptics, and folk that say it can't be done, but of course it can be done. Every single one of us should dedicate ourselves to the task that Scotland will lead the world in the new energy systems that will power this country in a way which is compatible with the future of this planet."

The keynote speech at the ceremony was delivered by the Energy, Enterprise and Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing.

(GK)