The New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards and BlueFloat Energy, Energy Estate and Elemental Group, partners in the development of offshore wind energy in Aotearoa New Zealand, will introduce a new award category focused on celebrating social procurement for next year’s New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards.

The offshore wind energy partnership is promoting the new award category as part of its commitment to enduring positive benefits for communities and the environment through energy sector procurement practices.

“We are committed to ensuring that our own projects benefit communities from a social and economic perspective, as well as supporting biodiversity and the marine environment, and want to see others highlight the same” says Carlos Martin, chief executive of international offshore wind energy developer BlueFloat Energy.

“We strive to help significantly reduce global emissions, and passionately advocate for local supply chains and capacity building. Our development principles embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals in all aspects of our business,” says Rosie King, director, engagement and culture for Energy Estate.

Social procurement is intentionally using procurement as a tool to generate a positive impact alongside acquiring the goods, services and works required.

“Every purchase we make has an economic, environmental and social impact, whether intended or not. Social procurement aspires to have the most positive impact possible, “ says Justine Gilliland, partnerships director for the venture.

“This award category reflects our partnership’s commitment to enduring positive outcomes for tangata whenua, communities, regions, for supply chain and value chain participants, for the energy sector, and for Aotearoa.”

Freeman, the organiser of The New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards and publisher of Energy News, welcomes the addition of the new category, and thanks the offshore wind partnership for their leadership and support in this. Award categories are reviewed annually to ensure they align with the values and focus of the New Zealand energy sector. “It’s exciting to have the partnership onboard for 2023, helping us showcase the power of social procurement to deliver better outcomes as the industry works on decarbonisation initiatives,” says Irwin Munro, awards convenor and general manager at Freeman.

“We look forward to seeing the energy sector’s impact in this area grow, and be celebrated through these awards from 2023 on,” adds BlueFloat Energy’s Carlos Martin.

About BlueFloat Energy

BlueFloat Energy is developing offshore wind projects in various regions of the world, where it can implement its vision: to accelerate global deployment of offshore wind as a key enabler for the energy transition and economic growth. Founded by renewable energy professionals, BlueFloat Energy brings together remarkable team expertise in the design, development, financing, construction and execution of offshore wind projects.

About Elemental

Elemental Group is an international energy developer and consultancy dedicated to providing better energy outcomes for our clients. We deliver world class solutions for a world in energy transition, ranging from remote Pacific Island communities to megacities. We aim to create enduring benefits for people and place. We are diverse, smart, hard-working and innovative, with services across science, engineering, environment, project management and finance.

About Energy Estate

Energy Estate’s mission is to accelerate the transformation of the energy sector and the decarbonisation of industry. We are developing and accelerating a portfolio of renewable energy, storage and green hydrogen projects in Australia, NZ, the US and other markets. A key driver for Energy Estate is supporting the communities in which we operate and delivering enduring outcomes for all stakeholders including landowners, workers and indigenous/First Nations people. We believe in the reindustrialisation of industrial communities with low-carbon solutions.

About the New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards

The New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards were created by Freeman, publishers of digital news and information service Energy News, in 2010. The industry's premier black-tie gala event is attended at an influencer and decision-maker level, providing an ideal vehicle for networking and branding your organisation as one that recognises and pursues excellence.