Annual Energy Show attracts 4,000 visitors to the RDS
Media Release
12 April 2011
Signals Strong for Thriving Energy Sector
~Energy Saving Lighting Devices scoop Product of the Show and Inaugural Sustainable Energy Innovation Award ~
Over 4,000 energy professionals attended the recent Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) annual Energy Show at the RDS in Dublin which ran from Wednesday March 30th to Thursday March 31st. This year’s Energy Show highlighted the significant strengths of Irish companies in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable technologies and the huge opportunities for Irish businesses in the emerging clean tech sector.
Minister Pat Rabbitte, who officially opened the Show, was on hand to greet exhibitors and to outline his support for the continued work of SEAI, underlining the importance of energy innovation as a driver of Ireland’s economic recovery. “Sustainable energy offers many opportunities for businesses in Ireland – both for companies bringing innovative energy saving products and services to international markets, and for companies who have adopted energy efficiency as a core practice. Green jobs have an important role to play in our economic recovery as businesses are beginning to realise the benefits to be achieved from sustainable energy. “
Reflecting the high calibre of companies and energy entrepreneurs in attendance, SEAI Chief Executive Professor J. Owen Lewis, said: “It is evident from the success of this year’s Energy Show that companies are embracing the significant opportunities that exist within the clean tech sector. A level of innovation and entrepreneurship is driving investment and growth potential in this expanding sector and many Irish companies are looking overseas as they assess the export potential for many of their businesses.”
Professor Lewis continued: “Positive things are happening in the energy sector.We must now take the opportunity to ensure this dynamic sector is front and centre of our export-led economy, and that we align the structures at policy level and the ideas at business level to deliver on the potential of a thriving export-led green economy.”
For the first time this year, SEAI also hosted a Product of the Show Award and a Sustainable Energy Innovation Award. The Product of the Show Awards were welcomed by the 200 exhibitors who had the opportunity to submit their best energy products across four different categories. After a rigorous judging process by a panel of energy experts, Philips Electronics Ireland was awarded Overall Product of the Show Award for their Philips Master LED bulb, the first dimmable LED replacement for a 60W GLS bulb.
Energy entrepreneurs Dr. Ger Devlin and Brian McDonnell, based at NovaUCD, the Innovation and Technology Transfer Centre at UCD, won the inaugural Sustainable Innovation Energy Award. The winning product, the HIDLightSaverTM, is the result of research into the costs associated with lighting and High Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps found in street lighting, floodlit arenas, motorways and retail outlets. The HIDLightSaverTM was developed and manufactured in Ireland and will help organisations reduce their energy costs and associated carbon footprint by as much as 35%, and the technology has the potential to generate savings of €14 million on street light running costs alone.
The Energy Show featured a whole host of companies and products across the sustainable energy sector, from the latest in intelligent energy management systems to cutting-edge renewable energy devices in the areas of solar photovoltaics, biomass boilers and ocean energy. An electric vehicle exhibition area also attracted great interest amongst visitors with a number of suppliers and manufacturers displaying the latest available models of electric vehicles including cars, vans and trucks.
For further information visit www.seai.ie/energyshow
Notes to Editors:
Sustainable Energy Innovation Award
- Eight companies were short listed for the SEAI Innovation Award; the Wave Energy Conversion Corporation of Ireland, EnDeCo, Kingspan Renewables, Trislate, Activation Energy Ltd, EcoAppz, Belfield Technologies and Powersavvy Ltd
- The judging panel comprised of Brendan Halligan, Chairman SEAI, Niamh Boyle, Managing Director Corporate Reputations, Terence O’Rourke, Managing Partner KPMG Ireland and Joe Harford, Director of the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic
Winners of the Energy Show Product of the Show Awards:
Overall Product of the Show Award 2011
Philips Electronics Ireland
Product
Philips Master LEDbulb
Best Energy Efficient Product (Domestic)
Potterton Myson Ireland
Product
Baxi Megaflo eco
Best Energy Efficient Product (Commercial)
MA Services
Product
Weishaupt Digital Burner Range
Best Innovative Product
Philips Electronics Ireland
Product
Philips Master LEDbulb
Best Renewable Energy Product
Grant Engineering (Ireland)
Product
Grant Condensing Wood Pellet Boiler
Best Services Provider
Authentic Solutions
Product
ECOdrive Fleet Training
Special Award
Sheep Wool Insulation
For their range of environmentally friendly insulation materials made from natural wool
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