Sponsored by Energia Group and supported by Tughans Solicitors and Ormeau Baths, the competition highlighted a range of inspiring ideas, from concrete made from recycled materials and software platforms promoting customer empowerment and health and safety at wind farm sites, to domestic and large scale waste plants.
David McMullan and Karol Harkin from Skylark took home the top prize of £2,500 and six months’ free workspace at Ormeau Baths for their networking software platform, which enables wind farm operators to manage workflow and personnel working in remote sites. Liz Gilligan from Material Evolution was awarded the Innovation Award for her concrete substitute made from recyclable material. This material reduces carbon consumption, enhances air quality and insulation, and also creates ‘green’ buildings, which allow plants to grow on the surfaces.
Jenny Livingstone, Head of Innovation at Energia Group, highlighted the strong competition and says the range of projects is encouraging. “It’s reassuring to see start-ups focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. At Energia Group, we encourage collaboration with pioneering companies which will deliver a more sustainable future for everyone. This event has emphasised the wealth of talent in the energy industry here and I’m looking forward to seeing these projects progressing to the next stage.”
