Council Engineer is Highly Commended at British Renewable Energy Awards

A Highland Council engineer has received a Highly Commended accolade in the tightly contested Champion Award at the 10th British Renewable Energy Awards recently held in London.

Eddie Boyd, Principal Engineer with the Council’s Development and Infrastructure Service was nominated for his lead in renewable energy and energy efficiency across Highland Council’s properties. Through his leadership Highland Council’s renewable targets have been determined, surpassed and are now providing a significant catalyst for change in the Highlands.

Highland Council Leader, Councillor Margaret Davidson congratulated Mr Boyd on his award, she said: “Well done to Eddie for this remarkable achievement. His positivity and passion for energy and sustainability issues is demonstrated in all that he and his team have achieved in recent years. Eddie’s enthusiasm has led Highland Council to succeed and in some cases surpass goals in much of their carbon management targets and become a significant leader in public sector renewable energy. 

Eddie’s work was commended for achieving impressive results in real savings. For example through his work The Highland Council has displaced 1.5 million litres of fuel oil in the past year, resulting in a carbon saving of 5200 tonnes CO2. 19,026,950kWh of renewable heat generated in 2014, with a 31% oil consumption reduction and a saving of £391,955 achieved in direct fuel costs.

In the past year, Eddie has championed a programme of energy related income and £2.5m+ has been secured as well as £9m for energy efficiency works, leading to 9,000 fabric improvement measures have been undertaken in private dwellings as part of a programme led by the Council across the Highland Council area.  The CO2 emissions reductions target 2007/08-2011/12 for Eddie’s sector was exceeded by 4%; a total of 16% reduction.

Leader Davidson added: “The impact Eddie has made on the way that Highland Council view energy and sustainability is extraordinary and highly commendable.  He continues to be a key leader in making real, significant impacts in reducing the council’s targets of reducing carbon emissions and expenditure.”