NRG Energy, Duke Energy CEO Get Awards for Company, Exec of the Year
NEW YORK, Dec. 1 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
As part of the prestigious Global Energy Awards presented last night, Platts announced winners in newly-created award categories: OpenLink Financial for "Risk Management Innovator of the Year;" Applied Materials Inc. for "Green Energy Innovator of the Year;" and Toronto Hydro and its Peaksaver program as "Energy Efficiency Initiative of the Year."
The 2007 Platts Global Energy Awards were co-sponsored for the fifth year by Capgemini and for the second year by Bracewell & Giuliani and also included sponsors: Standard & Poor's, Panasonic Computer Solutions Company and Spectra Energy Corporation.
"This year's award winners in these newly-created categories underscore the growing trend toward and significance of sustainability, as well as an international diversity of leadership," said Victoria Chu Pao, Platts president.
OpenLink Financial, winner of the Risk Management Innovator of the Year Award, won the award for its creativity in developing energy risk software products based on unique service-oriented risk architecture. Its software, said the judges, has the in-depth capability to handle the complexities of the energy markets.
The panel bestowed the "Green Energy Innovator of the Year "award to Applied Materials, Inc. because of its breaking of a technological barrier to the full application of solar energy. The company developed a commercially-viable thin-film technology as a viable alternative to the global shortage of "feedstock" silicon for solar wafers.
Canada-based Toronto Hydro, winner of the Energy Efficiency Initiative of the Year award, showed conservation savvy with its application of wireless thermostat control to help curb energy use in hot weather. This was in direct response to the Ontario government's challenge to its citizens to cut peak electricity demand by five percent.
In addition to these new awards, other important accolades were announced at the awards ceremony last night. NRG Energy, a leading international diversified company headquartered in Houston, won the "company of the year" award yesterday at the Awards ceremony. At the same ceremony, Jim Rogers, known for advocacy of energy efficiency, garnered the acclaimed "CEO of the Year" award. Platts "Lifetime Achievement Award" was bestowed on Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool, former Shell Transport and Trading Chair, an executive, academic and scientist also known for his role in and advocacy of industry innovation and climate change issues.
The Global Energy Awards are judged by an international panel of energy industry experts and veterans -- including former and current top corporate executives, regulators, leading, academics, government advisors and seasoned editors.
The winners last night, in each category, were:
Commercial Technology of the Year:
Shell Global Solutions B.V./Criterion Catalysts & Technologies
Community Development Program of the Year:
Attock Refinery Limited
Downstream Business of the Year:
Valero Energy Corporation
Energy Company of the Year:
NRG Energy
Energy Efficiency Initiative of the Year:
Toronto Hydro-Electric System Limited-Peaksaver Program
Energy Transporter of the Year:
Sovcomflot
Energy Engineering Project of the Year:
Nexen Inc.
ENR Energy Construction Project of the Year:
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
Green Energy Innovator of the Year:
Applied Materials, Inc.
Hydrocarbon Producer of the Year:
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
Industry Leadership Award:
NRG Energy
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Lord Ernest Ronald Oxburgh
Marketing Campaign of the Year:
E Wie Einfach/E.ON
Power Company of the Year:
MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company
Rising Star Award:
AED Oil Limited
Risk Management Innovator of the Year:
OpenLink Financial
CEO of the Year:
James Rogers, Duke Energy
The finalists and winners in 17 categories exemplify the spirit of innovation and an enduring commitment to employees, customers, shareholders, the environment, and the energy industry as a whole. Platts received more than 200 nominations this year from energy companies around the world.
Next year's Platts Global Energy Awards Gala and events will be held on December 3, 2008.
About Platts:
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About The McGraw-Hill Companies:
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2006 were $6.3 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com.
