Ashden Awards for climate solutions reveals 2023 shortlist

12 UK projects aimed at tackling the environmental crisis have made the Ashden Awards 2023 shortlist in categories including Energy Innovation and Local Nature Recoverers.

Launched in 2001, the annual awards recognise the most innovative work taking place in sustainable energy and development. 

Starting with four projects per category, in June judges will cut these down to just two, with final winners set to be announced in early-winter, coinciding with the annual COP climate change conference. You can find a full list of all the full UK shortlist below, with full information on the Ashden Awards here.

The 2023 Ashden Awards – UK categories

Ashden Award for Energy Innovation

Advanced Infrastructure – UK-wide
Advanced Infrastructure’s geospatial planning tool “LAEP+” is supporting local authorities in the UK, energy networks and practitioners to identify and plan viable pathways to decarbonise local areas.

The Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust – UK-wide
The Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust is originating carbon credits to unlock funds to support UK homes in need of retrofitting.

tepeo – UK-wide
tepeo’s Zero Emission Boiler (ZEB®) is a plug-n-play replacement for existing fossil fuel boilers, that works with a hot water tank to deliver low carbon and low cost home heating in the UK.

UrbanChain – UK-wide
UrbanChain runs a safe, transparent and unique energy market for renewables, enabling UK consumers to place an order for electricity and for generators to meet that order.

Ashden Award for Local Nature Recoverers

Liverpool City Council – Liverpool
Liverpool’s 40 URBAN GreenUP projects range from green walls and rain gardens to mobile forests – with 120,000 residents benefiting from the work.

Trees for Cities – UK coastal areas
Trees for Cities’ Forgotten Places scheme delivers training, volunteering, tree planting and new resources for neglected coastal communities in the UK.

Alconbury Flood Group – Cambridgeshire
The Alconbury Brook Flood Group is a community organisation, harnessing nature-based solutions to protect villages in Cambridgeshire threatened by devastating floods.

Thames 21/Enfield Council – London
Working with local residents, this collaboration has restored rivers and created new ponds, woods and wetlands to build climate resilience in north London.

Ashden Award for Future Farmers

FarmED – Cotswolds
FarmED is a Cotswolds not for profit showing regenerative agriculture in action, and working to transform attitudes to food and farming.

Bishop Burton College – East Yorkshire
Agriculture courses at Bishop Burton College in East Yorkshire combine cutting-edge technology with climate-friendly techniques.

Black Mountain College – Brecon, Wales
Education at Black Mountains College in Wales supports climate action and adaptation. Vocational courses teach regenerative approaches to land and woodland management, and are taught in nature, with a focus on creating positive change in the region and beyond.

The Apricot Centre – Devon
The Apricot Centre in Devon offers free traineeships and placements, working in partnership with local farms to support skills for regenerative agriculture.

Image: Liverpool 40 URBAN GreenUP (C) BCA Landscaping

More on Ashden Awards: 

Global innovative climate solutions recognised at Ashden Awards ceremony