Williams Advanced Engineering were amongst the winners at the 2014 British Renewable Energy Awards by taking home the Pioneer Award. The ceremony, held at the Savoy hotel in London, is the most prestigious event of the United Kingdom’s renewable energy industry calendar.
The event celebrates the achievements made by companies and individuals over the past twelve months, and promotes those people who have done amazing work in the renewables sector. The Pioneer Award is designed to honour an organisation that is ‘traditionally outside of the sustainable energy industry but has pioneered the use of renewable fuels, heat or power’.
Williams Advanced Engineering won this years’ Pioneer Award for its work the flywheel energy storage technology that was first developed for the 2009 Williams Formula One car, and for bringing it onto the market in the renewables and transport sectors. Williams Advanced Engineering is the engineering services and technology business of the Williams group of companies that includes the world famous Williams Martini Racing Formula One team.
Proof that the flywheel energy storage technology is being utilised is in a project in the Scottish Highlands, where a project backed by the UK government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change is seeing the technology installed on two microgrids that assist in the stabilisation of the power grids. This also helps with improved energy efficiency and with the reduction in emissions from non-renewable power sources.
Managing Director of Williams Advanced Engineering Craig Wilson was delighted to see his teams’ work being recognised with the Pioneer Award.
“Flywheel energy storage technology really kick started Williams’ diversification programme beyond motor racing and has set the scene for Williams Advanced Engineering’s subsequent expansion into other forms of energy efficient technology,” said Wilson. “The fact that in less than five years a technology first developed for a racing car is now being installed on a renewable microgrid is testament to the ability we have to accelerate technical innovations that help address important issues such as global warming.
“It’s is a real honour to be acknowledged for our R&D work in energy efficiency at such a prestigious awards ceremony.”