Glenrothes Energy Network, a district heating network which delivers low carbon heat from RWE’s Markinch biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plant to buildings in Glenrothes town centre has won the Cities & Communities award at this years’ Decentralized Energy Awards.

The Decentralized Energy Awards are an annual event organised by The Association for Decentralised Energy, the leading trade association for decentralised energy, representing more than 140 interested parties from across the industrial, commercial and public sectors. The prestigious event was attended by hundreds of people from across the sector and was held in the Guildhall, London.

Fife Council  and RWE also won the Best Engagement Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards  for the partnership and promotion of the Glenrothes Energy Network.

Glenrothes Energy Network was also selected as a finalist at the Scottish Business Awards, in the Partnership category, for its collaborative approach to working with Fife Council.

Glenrothes Energy Network was established as a partnership between RWE, Fife Council and Scottish Government. At the heart of the project is the Energy Centre, which takes excess steam from the Markinch CHP biomass plant and has been delivering low carbon heat, efficiently and cost effectively since April.

Ian Calvert, RWE Head of Biomass said: “This project has shown what can be done by being bold and visionary and by working together across local government, national government and the private sector.  We have also shown it is possible to move at the pace which is required if we are to fully exploit the potential of District Heating in the UK’s battle against climate change.”

Lord Risby, President of the ADE, said: “This year’s Awards showcase the tremendous breadth of creativity and commitment from businesses, communities, policymakers and all those involved with the transformation of our energy system.”

One of the judges,  Alan Whitehead, Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, gave his comments on why the Glenrothes Energy Network won the award,  saying the scheme was ‘a worthy winner’ and the fact that RWE ‘repurposed the power plant at a former paper mill’, ‘persuading the local authority to build a heat network’.