We are delighted that ENGIE UK have been shortlisted for The Energy Awards 2023 in the ‘Energy Champion of the Year – Organisation’ category. This award celebrates companies who ‘have made a demonstrable impact on the energy industry, whether through innovation, influence, or just plain enthusiasm and dedication’.

There are five key ways in which we act as energy champions:

  1. Making headlines

We are raising awareness of anaerobic digestion (AD) through local and national press features, including BBC News, The Independent, and Exeter Living. By translating scientific jargon into plain English, our videos and articles explain how AD benefits local businesses and energy consumers, enabling whole communities to engage with the energy sector.

  1. Encouraging innovation

From AI research to carbon capture technology, our AD sites are becoming innovation hubs. We bring together universities, businesses, and local authorities to collaborate on cutting-edge projects that will allow even more renewable energy to be generated in the future.

  1. Facilitating education

Last year, we welcomed over 200 visitors for informative tours of our AD plants and 2023 has proven equally busy so far. For example, we hosted the Exeter City Council Net Zero team and North Devon and Torridge councillors so they could see AD in action, alongside community groups such as the Exeter Civic Society.

  1. Supporting sustainable agriculture

We support local agriculture by working in close partnership with neighbouring farmers. Farmers are paid a fair price for the feedstock crops they supply to our AD plants, allowing them to diversify their income. They also receive digestate in return, the organic by-product of AD that makes a great natural fertiliser (digestate can replace artificial fertilisers that are both expensive and have a high carbon footprint).

  1. Engaging communities

Building relationships with the communities surrounding our AD plants is important to us. Our Condate Biogas plant is near South Molton, Devon, so we support local initiatives such as South Molton in Bloom and we sponsor Emma Sing (a home-grown South Molton rugby star who now plays for the England Red Roses team). Additionally, we sponsor the Exeter Athletic Rugby Club, which is very close to our Gorst Energy plant.

As well as being finalists in The Energy Awards, earlier this year, we won the Communications category at the British Renewable Energy Awards, as well as being AD Hero of the Year finalists at the AD & Biogas Industry Awards.

It is very rewarding to see that our efforts to promote renewable energy alternatives, educate people about AD, and drive innovation are being recognised. We are also honoured to be featured alongside so many other dedicated energy champions.

Logo for the 2023 Energy Awards.