The Renewable Energy World network of publications, the World's #1 Renewable Energy Network, has announced the winners of the 2009 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards. The awards, which were presented yesterday at the Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo in Austin, Texas, recognize the most cutting-edge projects, people and technologies in the clean energy industry.

After narrowing down hundreds of submissions, Renewable Energy World Network editors and readers have chosen seven winners, recognizing them for their achievements in advancing the market for renewable energy in North America.

The winners in each category include:

Project of the Year – eSolar's 5-MW Sierra SunTower

Utility-scale Renewables – Enbridge and First Solar's 20-MW Sarnia Solar Project

Distributed and On-Site Renewables – Solyndra and Solar Power Inc's 602-kW Rooftop CIGS PV Project for Costco

Building Integrated Renewables – Conserval Engineering's 25-kW PV and 75-kW Thermal SolarWall Hybrid System at the John Molson School of Business at Concordia University

Innovation in Renewable Energy – Enphase Energy's Micro-inverter System

Leadership in Renewable Energy – For policy, Rhone Resch, President of the Solar Energy Industries Association; and for technology Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, Founder and CTO of Suniva

Reader's Choice Award – First Wind's 203-MW Milford Wind Corridor

"We are proud to present these awards to these leading companies and people who are doing so much to grow the market for renewables in North America and around the world," said Oliver Strube, publisher and co-founder of RenewableEnergyWorld.com. "This is a remarkable time for this industry, and these award winners represent the incredible progress that this industry is making."

“It is an honor to accept this award,” said Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Rhone Resch. “I do so on behalf of everyone at SEIA and everyone in the industry that has worked hard to advance solar energy. It validates the tremendous progress that SEIA and our industry has made to create jobs, grow markets and develop clean, reliable energy technologies, even in these tough economic times.”

The awards were presented at the 7th Annual Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America, a leading event in the renewable energy industry.

Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America 2010 is expected to attract more than 5000 renewable energy industry professionals and more than 300 exhibitors to Austin, Texas to take part in the largest all-renewable conference and exhibition in the world.

Video highlights of the winning projects as well as interviews with the winners are coming soon.