A RENEWABLE firm “at the forefront of the community energy revolution” has been recognised with a prestigious environmental award.

The Ouse Valley Energy Services Co (Ovesco), based in Lewes, won the 2014 Armstrong Ashden Award for Community Energy.

Ovesco was awarded £10,000 prize money which will go towards new projects in the Lewes district.

The company was formed by members of progressive environmental group Transition Town Lewes in 2007 and gives residents a stake in locally-generated renewable power.

Ovesco director Chris Rowland was inspired by a quote from radical philosopher and sometime Lewes resident Thomas Paine, whose words are engraved on the Lewes Pound: “We have it in our power to build the world anew.”

The company has installed solar panels on the roofs of two schools, a farm, a nursery and Harveys Brewery, with more than 250 shareholders benefitting.

It was also praised for its plans to pass its know-how on to other community energy groups across southern England.

The Ashden judges commented: “Ovesco is at the forefront of the community energy revolution. We were particularly impressed with its commitment to passing on its technical and practical know-how to other community energy organisations, which will really help the sector develop.”

Mr Rowland said: “This is fantastic news for Ovesco and the groups we are supporting through Community Energy South.

“The Ashden Award network brings new opportunities to help Ovesco scale up and make the transition to supplying locally owned, decentralised renewable energy.

“We want to see communities generate their own energy as part of a low-carbon future in the UK, and the Ashden Awards already prove that this is starting to benefit communities all over the world.

“It’s simply amazing to be part of a global movement that could totally change the way we think about where our energy comes from, and about the need to use it wisely.”

Liz Mandeville, also an Ovesco director, added: “Even more important than the grant was learning from the other finalists about some of the marvellous inventions and successes in the UK and other parts of the world.

“It really does seem that, slowly, the world is changing direction. Indirectly, everyone involved with Ovesco is a contributor to that change.”