Trailblazing businesses and individuals who have played a key part in helping reduce Scotland's carbon footprint have won major accolades at the Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards.

Winners of the seventh annual awards, sponsored by npower renewables, were announced at a gala ceremony on Thursday, December 4th, at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

The event saw over 700 individuals from communities, the European renewables industry and from the world of politics and the media attend the awards. Leader of the

Jason Ormiston, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, added: "The winners and finalists at the Green Energy Awards are all heroes, highlighting an excellent year for the renewable energy industry in Scotland."

The Green Energy Awards demonstrate that projects of all scales can have major benefits. The Isle of Eigg electrification scheme uses small scale renewables to deliver green, affordable and reliable electricity to a remote community that struggled with diesel generators in the past.

"At the other end of the scale, Glendoe is a reminder of the days when Scotland first led the world in hydro and witnessed an enormous civil engineering exercise to bring power to the Glens. This centuries hydro projects will help in the fight against climate change and provide reliable sources of power," Mr Ormiston said.

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Paul Cowling, Managing Director of npower renewables, the headline sponsor of the Scottish Green Energy Awards, congratulated all the winners, as well as Scottish Renewables the contribution made to ensure Scotland's green future.

Scottish Renewables Green Energy Awards 2008 winners:

• Best Politician - sponsored by the British Wind Energy Association -Cllr Angus Campbell - Tireless promoter of the renewable potential of the Outer Hebrides, in-spite of sometimes concerted opposition.
• Best New Business - sponsored by All Energy- Arbuthnott Wood Pellets Ltd-Aberdeenshire and Scotland's first ever commercial producer of wood fuel pellets.
• Best Environmental Initiative - sponsored by BRE Scotland- Helius Energy - Greenfields Animal feed, fuel and fertiliser all provided from this single integrated biomass project.
• Best Renewable Project - sponsored by ScottishPower Renewables- Scottish and Southern Energy− Glendoe Hydro Electric Scheme-First large scale Scottish hydro project in nearly half a century.
• Best Community Initiative - sponsored by E.ON Climate & Renewables- Eigg Electric Ltd - Isle of Eigg Electrification- Round-the-clock renewable electricity for the first time on the island through a project conceived, designed and funded by the community.
• Best Business Achievement - sponsored by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group - Subocean Group Ltd - A leader in supplying the marine renewables industry, in the last year it has seen over £130m of sales, with work booked up to 2010.
• Best Renewable Innovation - sponsored by Scottish Enterprise - OpenHydr0 -The first tidal stream generator to provide electricity to the grid in Scotland, designed alongside the first ever tidal installation barge.
• Best Student Project - sponsored by Repower UK Ltd - Niall Buchan / David Collier / Peter McTaggart / Colin Prentice − University of Strathclyde - Smart Management of Electricity Demand
• Outstanding Contribution to the Renewables Industry Award - sponsored by Highlands and Islands Enterprise- Stuart Hall - Natural Power Consultants