Today, the Renewable Energy World Network of editors unveiled the winners of the 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards. These awards recognize the leading people, projects and technologies in the North American clean energy industries.

The awards were presented today at the Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo in Tampa, Florida.

After reviewing almost 600 submissions over a three-month period of time, the network of online and magazine editors from RenewableEnergyWorld.com, Renewable Energy World North America Magazine, Photovoltaics World and Hydro Review chose 11 award winners in their respective categories. In addition, readers also voted on their favorite project in the “Readers' Choice” category.

The winners in each category include:

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Bioenergy Project of the Year: The Wild Center's Hybrid Wood Gasification Boiler and Solar Thermal System

Geothermal Project of the Year: Ormat's 15-MW Jersey Valley Power Plant

Hydropower Project of the Year: Plutonic Power's 235-MW Toba Montrose Run-of-River Project

Solar Project of the Year: Sempra Generation's 48-MW Copper Mountain Facility

Wind Project of the Year: NativeEnergy and John Deere Renewables' 12.5 MW Greensburg Wind Farm

Readers' Choice: enXco's 3-MW Pocono Raceway Solar Farm

INNOVATION

Innovation in Finance: SolarCity's Affordable Solar Financing Options

Innovation in Technology: Logica's Wind Energy Management System

Innovation in Policy: GRID Alternatives Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes Program

LEADERSHIP

Leadership in Finance: Lynn Jurich and Edward Fenster, Co-founders of SunRun

Leadership in Technology: James Dehlsen, Founder of Zond Corporation, Clipper Wind and Ecomerit Technologies

Leadership in Policy: Karl Gawell, Executive Director of the Geothermal Energy Association

Throughout the week, we will have a series of articles and videos detailing the various projects, innovations and leaders.