The 2008 Asian Power Awards pay homage to the power generation industry's best and brightest

The 2008 Asian Power Awards pay homage to the power generation industry's best and brightest

The eyes of the power generation industry were all on the luxurious JW Marriott in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last October 22, 2008 for the 2008 Asian Power Awards night. Hosted by Asian Power, the region's top power generation industry magazine, the AP Awards night featured Asia's best and brightest power mavens and honored their extraordinary achievements in their respective fields. The event featured speakers John Yeap, Partner, Pinsent Masons, John Goss, Director of Ceejay International and Daniel Liew, Co-Chairman of the China Committee, IPPF.

And speaking of satisfied guests, none were more satisfied than the award winners. Judged by an expert panel composed of Daniel Liew, Co-chairman of the China Committee, IPPF, Tim Charlton, Publisher of Asian Power, Rowena Everson, Editor of Asian Power, John Goss, Director of Ceejay International and Jose Oliveira Paulo, Secretary General of CEM Macau, the winners were duly recognized for their noteworthy, groundbreaking, and pioneering energy industry work over the past year.

The top honour of Asian Power Plant of the Year went to Siemens Energy Sector for their work on Huaneng's Yuhuan Power Plant. Siemens Energy Sector also captured the Best Co-Generation Project in Asia thanks to their involvement with the China Huadian Beijing Zheng- ChangZhuang Co-Gen Power Plant. The awards were accepted by Huaneng's Yao Zhen Guo and China Huadian's Chen Xiao Ping, respectively.

Environmental awareness plays a big part in power generation today, and several companies were honoured throughout the night for their invaluable contributions to the preservation of nature. Taiwan Power Company, represented by Chung-Tsai Lu, bagged the Best Environmental Performance Power Plant of the Year award, while the Yamagata Wood Gas Plant handled by GE Energy was named Best Renewable Energy Power Plant of the Year. The Environmental Company of the Year awards were taken by Singapore's Senoko Power (first position, accepted by Roy Adair) and the Philippines' TeaM Energy Corporation (second position, accepted by Jocelyn Guanlao and Larry Medrano). TeaM Energy Corporation took home the second position for the Independent Power Producer of the Year as well, trumped in this category only by ABB Industry Pte. Limited for the Kerawalapitiya Power project.

Siemens Energy Sector captured another award, this time for Best Power Plant Upgrade in Asia (first position) for their work on the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant. Second and third positions were snapped up by Meiya Power Company Limited and Emerson Process Management Asia Pacific (for the China Huaneng Dalian Power Plant) respectively.

India's North Delhi Power Corporation scored big as well, taking both the Power Utility of the Year award and the Most Inspirational CEO of the Year to boot. North Delhi Power's Sunil Wadhwa definitely had a night to remember!

The Most Innovative Power Technology of the Year awards were awarded to pioneers Emerson Process Management Asia Pacific for the Ratchaburi Combined Cycle Power Plant (first position), Honeywell Process Solutions for their contribution to the Sinopec Power Plant (second position), and Invensys Process Management and their involvement with the Datang Yungang Power Plant (third position).

While our trailblazers got their deserved recognition, excellent maintenance and operations were honoured as well. Korea Midland Power Co., GE Energy (for Tri Energy Co.) and Alstom Power Asia Pacific Sdn. Bhd.(for Kuala Langat Power Station) received first, second and third positions respectively in the Best Operation and Maintenance Project in Asia category. Other winners include ABB Industry Pte. Ltd. (Best Transmission and Distribution Project of the Year, for India's Bishnupur sub-station), Aggreko International (Best Fast Track Power Project in Asia, for their difficult yet successful build of the Khulna 40 MW project), and Envitec Biogas (India) Pvt. Ltd. (Best Decentralized Power Plant in Asia).

The 2008 Asian Power Awards Night was truly one for the power industry books, and has definitely upped the ante when it comes to energy generation excellence!

•1. Asian Power Plant of the Year