Renewables sector honours Co-op’s Matthews

GREEN energy funding expert, Chris Matthews from The Co-operative Bank has received an honour for his commitment to the sector.

Mr Matthews received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Renewable Energy Association in recognition of his commitment and contribution to the  sector over the past 16 years.

He wasd jointly awarded the first-ever Judges’ Award at the seventh
annual awards dinner in London last week.

The event was organised by the Renewable Energy Association which
represents 900 renewable energy producers and promotes the use of all forms of renewable energy.

Mr Matthews has led the Co-op Bank’s specialist renewable energy team  for six years.  It intends to lend £1bn to the renewable energy sector by the end of next year and specialises in funding renewable energy   projects with a capital value of up to £25m.

The bank recently funded the UK’s largest  community renewable energy scheme lending £8m to residents in the Western Isles of Scotland to develop a 7 MW, three wind turbine project on the island of South Uist.

 Keith Alderson, managing director – corporate and business banking, said: “The Co-operative Bank has made a significant investment into the renewable energy sector and has carved out a real niche in providing  expert advice to businesses and communities who want to invest in this type of energy.

“Chris Matthews plays an integral role in the Bank’s renewable energy    team and has a depth of sector knowledge that I daresay is unrivalled in
the industry and is a truly deserving winner of this prestigious award.”