Congratulations to the winners of the 2018 Clean Energy Council Awards.

Carnegie’s three-unit array with the Department of Defence in WA is currently the only grid-connected wave energy project in the world, and produces both renewable energy and desalinated water. It is an important and pioneering project with genuine commercial potential.

Windlab’s community ownership program at Coonooer Bridge in Victoria has allowed those living near wind farms to have a collective sense of ownership of the project, and help to make the company a part of the local community.

Innovation Award finalists

Standards Australia developed a world-first Standard to evaluate the performance of solar heating and cooling systems. The technical committee working on the project used a framework they had developed in the1990s as a starting point, but substantial and innovative work was required to finalise the new Standard.

TransGrid used a combination of energy storage, solar power, LED light retrofitting and a web portal as part of its iDemand program to research energy demand management in New South Wales. The system was found to be able to reduce on-site peak demand by 50 per cent.

Business Community Engagement Award finalists

Hydro Tasmania, for its program of free community events and initiatives to celebrate 100 years of hydropower in the state. The program attracted thousands of locals and visitors, and involved the production of a documentary, a schools program, tours, a community open day and a concert with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Infigen Energy’s Run With the Wind 2014 event attracted 750 runners to the Woodlawn Wind Farm in Tarago, New South Wales, and was a unique way to generate significant goodwill with the local community and stakeholders. The fun run helped to raise awareness about renewable energy and included a farmers’ market, and proceeds were donated to local school and charities.