The best and the brightest of the UK cleantech market congregated in London for the New Energy & Cleantech Awards to celebrate the achievements of the past year.
James McKenzie, founder and CEO of PhotonStar LED, was awarded with Entrepreneur of the Year for his continued success with starting and growing green companies.
Serial entrepreneur McKenzie played roles in early-stage technology companies Bookham Technology, Team Photonics and Mesophotonics before setting up PhotonStar LED in 2007.
Commenting on his achievement, McKenzie said, ‘I’m most proud being able to develop products which are good, which save energy and do what they say on the tin.’
Also securing industry recognition was Ecology Building Society. Ecology, which scooped Financier of the Year and Company of the Year, was the first lender to offer green mortgages in 1981, and last year advanced over £18 million across 126 sustainable properties and projects.
The evening’s proceedings were led by sustainable architectural designer and TV presenter Oliver Heath, who spoke of his efforts to not only lead a sustainable life but to bring this into his design work.
The Innovator of the Year prize was awarded to i20 Water in acknowledgment to its innovative technology, which has seen leakage cut by 30 per cent in water networks located in Malaysia and Chile.
In a nod to the growing importance that community and peer-to-peer funding are having in the sector, Deal of the Year was picked up by Abundance Generation. Its 500 kilowatt wind installation in the Forest of Dean was backed by over 400 private investors who committed between 5,000 and 50,000 pounds each.
For the second successive year Oxford Capital Partners took home deal of the year. During 2012, the firm achieved a 40 per cent increase in assets under management, made follow-on investments in 11 portfolio companies and launched a new infrastructure fund dedicated to providing finance to a broad range of renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses.
Full list of winners:
Innovator of the Year: i20 Water
New Energy Champion of the Year: Bluestone National Park
Advisory Firm of the Year: Acuity
Investor of the Year: Oxford Capital Partners
Financier of the Year: Ecology Building Society
Entrepreneur of the Year: James McKenzie, PhotonStar LED
Developer of the Year: Derwent London
Retailer of the Year: M&S
University Spin-out of the Year: Smarter Grid Solutions
Deal of the Year: Abundance Generation
Company of the Year: Ecology Building Society
