SMEs and entrepreneurs from around the world who are pushing the boundaries of innovation in the electricity, gas and/or renewables sectors are being urged to enter the UK Energy Innovation Awards 2016.

Hosted by innovation lab, the Energy Innovation Centre, the awards provide a platform for pioneering small businesses and individuals to promote the technologies and ideas that have the potential to shape our energy future.

Now in its seventh year, the UK Energy Innovation Awards are supported by the UK’s energy distribution networks and the Offshore Renewable Energy. The 2016 awards include ten award categories which reflect the evolution of the energy sector’s innovation ambition.

The full list of award categories includes:

• Best Electricity Network Improvement
• Best Gas Network Improvement
• Best Innovation Implemented or Adopted by a Utility Contractor
• Best Innovation Contributing to Quality & Reliability
• Best International Trade
• Best Offshore Renewable Energy Innovation
• Best Safety Innovation
• Environmental Impact
• Best Smart Grid Innovation
• Best University Technology

Entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including chief executive officer of Northern Gas Networks and EIC chairman, Mark Horsley, and the winners will be announced at a black-tie dinner in Manchester on Thursday, 28th April 2016.

Denise Massey, managing director of the Energy Innovation Centre who will also sit on the judging panel, said:

“The awards are growing year-on-year which proves that the innovation culture within the energy sector is continuing to thrive. There are so many creative companies and individuals out there that are working hard to drive innovation forward in the sector but we know that there is still a big challenge for them around how quickly the energy networks take-up these ideas.

“The awards are a fantastic opportunity for these businesses to build some momentum around their ideas and technologies, and to tell their stories in front of an audience of over 400 people drawn from industry and our growing innovator community.”

The deadline for submitting entries is Friday 11th December 2015 and the shortlist will be announced in February 2016. Entries can be made online by visiting www.energyinnovationcentre.com