Winners crowned at Humber Renewables Awards
By David Laister, Business Editor (Humber) Business Live
Orsted’s decade of deployment on the Energy Estuary heralded as it takes top honours at regional bash.
Offshore wind leader Orsted stole the show at the Humber Renewable Awards, as it was named Large Company of the Year.
Efforts to engage the next generation were also saluted as the firm celebrated 10 years in Grimsby, as the high profile event also clocked up a decade on the Energy Estuary.
The Danish multinational behind the world’s largest wind farms – operated and maintained by a 550-strong team by the Royal Dock – was celebrated by peers for its incredible contribution to the region.
Arriving to build Westermost Rough, it acquired then added Race Bank before launching into the Hornsea zone – with the unprecedented scale bringing global attention to Grimsby.
With assembly at Green Port Hull and Siemens Gamesa blades that are built on the Humber Bank catching the natural resource across hundreds of square kilometres of near North Sea, the accolade was celebrated by all.
The business has become a fulcrum for the wider industry’s growth, as vessel operators and supply chain operators look to take advantage of the cluster’s creation.
And efforts to ensure the industry is open to all, working with key community partners, saw Renewables Education and Diversity and Inclusion awards collected too.
Thrive, the immersive training facility at Immingham – brought forward with ATT as a legacy project for the region after inducting thousands of workers on Hornsea Two offshore wind farm – also took the Excellence in Renewable Skills and Training accolade.
Patrick Harnett, vice president for projects with Orsted, said: “I have worked in this area for over 10 years, I have seen it go from strength to strength, I have seen the talent in the region transferring from one industry to another, and we see a great future here where we can keep growing through the years.”
Reflecting on the evening, he said: “It is the way forward. Each and every person in the room should be incredibly proud of what we are all doing; changing the world, making the UK and the world greener and making ourselves energy independent, and there is no better time for us to be doing it. We should all celebrate a big decade.
“It is so good to see healthy competition as it drives the renewables industry forward. It feels like Formula One, pushing engineering on, showing what can be done and sharing it. We are constantly raising the bar.”
Staying with offshore wind, and Melanie Onn, Renewable UK’s deputy chief executive, was named Humber Renewables Champion, recognising her unstinting work for the sector in her current role, and also in her term as Grimsby MP as the industry rapidly expanded in the constituency.
She is the renewables industry diversity champion, and is sponsor of the People and Skills area of work for the Offshore Wind Industry Council – the public-private partnership that ensured a sector deal.
Ms Onn said: “This is a massive surprise, I’m chuffed to bits. I’ve been in the sector now for two years, and it is an incredibly warm and exciting industry to be in. I’ve been welcomed with open arms, and I am constantly amazed at the level of innovation, passion and commitment that everybody has for making a difference, not only to the world, the country or the region they work in, but the people they work with every day.
Going to work is a pleasure, and everyone in this room works so hard. The industry is flying, leading the way, and everyone should be incredibly proud.
Ms Onn
From top level policy to community, domestic and commercial application, awards covered all bases, with heat pumps, anaerobic digestion, electric vehicle charging and sustainable aviation fuel all recognised.
The latter saw a second major win in as many months for Phillips 66.
Before the awards were announced at the DoubleTree by Hilton Forest Pines Spa & Golf Resort, Andy Sykes, plant director for headline sponsor Siemens Gamesa addressed the audience, with Emma Jesson hosting on behalf of Reach Plc, the company behind Business Live, and the Grimsby, Scunthorpe and Hull news brands.
