The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced the finalists of the SEAI Energy Awards 2020.
The association whittled applicants down to 24, across eight categories, for the shortlist, with the winners to be selected by a judging panel in the coming weeks.
Winners will be named at the awards ceremony in mid-October.
The successful finalists were chosen for their innovative sustainable energy solutions and inspiring energy action among colleagues and peers.
SEAI business and public sector head Fergus Sharkey said: “This year, despite the obvious challenges that each of you faced, you continued in your commitment and passion for sustainable energy and climate action.
“Each year we are blown away by the quality of entries to the SEAI Energy Awards and this year has proved no different.
“We received 125 entries from businesses, communities, and organisations across the country who are leading the charge, reshaping our communities and businesses, and inspiring each and every one of us through their action.”
The small and medium business finalists include SOLA Energy Solutions in Templemore, Tipperary, for showing how small businesses can transform an old inefficient building to an A-rating through a combination of energy efficiency measures and renewable technologies.
The renewable energy category finalists include Green Generation for taking unsold food from Tesco that is fed to an anaerobic digester, which then sells the biogas generated back to Tesco for use in its stores.
Plastic packaging from the food is processed to manufacture durable plastic products and the digestate from the process is used as fertiliser to grow food.
Another finalist in the same category is Energia which has developed a system that includes battery, solar and smart electric vehicle charging for delivering services to help balance the grid.