AES Solar Manging Director, George Goudsmit has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Solar & Storage Awards 2021.
The major industry led award recognises his thirty years plus of dedication to the UK solar sector. The awards were held at the NEC, Birmingham as part of Solar & Storage Live 2021. A small group of AES Solar staff travelled down to Birmingham to watch George accept the award in person.
The judging panel selected George due to his commitment to the solar industry for over 30 years. Described as an early pioneer, he has shown a personal and professional commitment to solar. His passionate advocacy on behalf of the industry and infectious enthusiasm for the technology was also noted. If this was not enough, he personally convinced the Queen to install solar energy in Balmoral!
Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, said “George is a true pioneer who has devoted much of his life to the promotion of solar energy. In many ways he, and his company AES Solar, embody the journey of the technology itself from niche product in 1990 to a cutting edge and fast growing industry in 2021. Who knows whether George will ever really retire, but it’s fitting for him to have this award on his shelf.”
George took over AES Solar from founder Lyle Schnadt in 1989. At the time it was primarily based in the Findhorn Foundation – an Ecovillage in Moray. He immediately predicted the huge growth opportunities for solar power. This was at a time when solar thermal was the only readily available technology on the market. George moved the company into the neighbouring town of Forres where it operates to this day.
Founding Father of Solar
Over the past thirty years, George has held several pivotal roles in the UK solar industry. Appointed board member in 1991 of the formerly known Solar Trade Association (now Solar Energy UK), he remained on the board for twenty years.
George also played a key role as a founding member of the Scottish Solar Energy Group (SSEG). He took up the position of director for three years to engage the public and educate on solar energy.
He also played key roles in the founding of Scottish Renewables, Solar Cities Scotland, and SEDA Solar – the solar branch of the Scottish Ecological Design Association.
George has always championed the solar industry and its customers. In 2019, George and team took part in a meeting with then Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, Claire Perry at Westminster. They used the opportunity to encourage an early introduction of the Smart Export Guarantee scheme. This was to ensure the industry did not suffer as a result of the removal of the Feed-In Tariff.
Another project of George’s efforts include the first grid-connected solar PV system in the UK in 1995. He was also responsible for a solar thermal system on Her Majesty the Queen’s Scottish holiday home – Balmoral Estate.
Solar Success
Today George continues to lead AES Solar in creating opportunities to further the effectiveness and use of solar energy in the UK and beyond. In 2019 the company celebrated their 40th year. This makes the company one of the oldest solar panel companies in Western Europe. AES Solar picked up first place for Solar PV Installer and Contractor at the 2019 Scottish Energy Efficiency Awards and came third in the national awards. In recent years the company has more than doubled, employing twelve people during the covid-19 pandemic alone.
On receiving the award George said: “I am so honoured to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award at the Solar & Storage Awards 2021. It is humbling to have my commitment to the industry recognised in such a prestigious way. I would like to extend my gratitude to my fantastic team at AES Solar as well as our wonderful clients and partners. Without their help and support, none of this would be possible.
I always predicted great things for this industry. When I reflect on the past thirty plus years, there is so much to be proud of. These awards tell us a lot about our industry and the future of the UK solar and storage sector looks very bright to me! I look forward to everything else we accomplish in the years ahead and I will continue in my efforts to make sure the energy revolution is a solar one.”
Read George’s acceptance speech here!
