UK National Trust Makes £30 Million Investment Into Renewable Energy
The UK’s National Trust announced earlier this week that it intends to make its biggest investment into renewable energy yet, a £30 million investment set to heat and power numerous historic landmarks under the National Trust’s control.
The UK conservation charity was developed to protect historic locations and green spaces around the United Kingdom. In 2013, in partnership with Good Energy, the National Trust launched a £3.5 million pilot into renewable energy investment — five separate renewable energy projects at properties underneath the control and care of the National Trust.
This latest investment follows on from where that successful pilot left off.
The £30 million investment into renewable energy projects is aimed at contributing towards the National Trust’s desire to reduce their reliance upon fossil fuels, and cut energy usage by 20% and source 50% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.
“In setting out our 10 year plan we recognised we’ll have to play our part in helping to mitigate climate change,” said Patrick Begg our rural enterprises director. “A key part of that is to reduce our reliance on oil and look for greener energy solutions. We have a responsibility to look after the special places in our care, requiring us to make long-term decisions that will protect them for future generations.”
Furthermore, the National Trust expects this new investment into renewable energy to help save up to £4 million on their annual electricity costs.
The National Trust is set to invest in more than 40 renewable energy projects, including:
Image Credit: Neck Meers, via National Trust
- A 200kW lake source heating project on the Blickling Estate in Norfolk, which will remove two oil tanks and 25,572 litres a year of oil consumption with an estimated saving of 68 tonnes of CO2 per year
- Two biomass boilers at Upton House in Warwickshire to heat the mansion and other areas, saving an estimated 55 tonnes of CO2 per year
- A 250kW hydro scheme at Hayeswater in Cumbria where there is a legacy of hydropower from historic corn mills and water wheels – this project will provide an income stream to support conservation work on land we care for
“Many of the properties in our care are energy intensive and in remote areas without access to mains gas,” Begg continued. “Installing renewable technology in these places is a huge challenge, but we’ve learnt a great deal and will continue to do so.
“The success we’ve seen in decommissioning oil tanks, lowering our energy costs and reducing carbon emissions has shown us that renewables play a vital part in us reaching our 2020 energy targets and in delivering more for our core conservation mission.”
You can find out more about what the National Trust intends to do and is already doing at these links.
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