Rural Energy helps historic estate go green

As part of an on-going relationship, Rural Energy has installed its third biomass boiler at the historic Welbeck estate in Nottinghamshire, helping to further reduce energy costs and cut carbon emissions.

The Welbeck estate in North Nottinghamshire occupies a vast 15,000 acres and includes ancient woodland, forestry and farmland. At its heart lies Welbeck Village, home to some of the UK’s most important rural listed buildings.

For many years coal and oil was the primary energy source used on-site and with an aging infrastructure, little insulation and a constant requirement for heating the estates energy costs were creeping upwards. However, recent biomass installations, fuelled from Welbeck’s own woodland and delivered by Rural Energy, have presented a far more cost-effective and sustainable option.

The latest and third installation to be successfully completed at Welbeck is a 100kW Herz Firematic installed at Colingthwaite Farm, the estates dairy farm and the home of the renowned Stitchleton cheese. The new biomass boiler is now heating a range of buildings on the farm including the farmhouse, farm offices and the cheese dairy. The project has further reduced Welbeck’s energy costs and carbon footprint whilst utilising home-grown timber in a renewable and sustainable manner.

Rural Energy’s first installation at the Welbeck estate was an 800kW Endress biomass boiler installed to serve the grade 1 listed Welbeck Abbey and its auxiliary buildings. The boiler was built in a bespoke plant room designed to fit in with the listed buildings surrounding it. The second installation saw Rural Energy install a 199kW Herz boiler at the Carriage Court to heat more than 9,000 square feet of office space and meeting rooms. As with all of its installations at the estate, Rural Energy has also provided client training post-commissioning and continues to provide service and maintenance support through a service contract.

Alan Sampson, Head of biomass at Welbeck Estates commented: “The new systems have considerably reduced our heating costs and carbon footprint. This was our third project with Rural Energy so we knew their capabilities in delivering the project. They offer complete support from design, installation and service, which we were very happy with. Their ability to deliver a project on time, combined with the boiler reliability and backup service is unparalleled. Everyone associated with the project is delighted with the results.”

Speaking on the project, Mark Gamble, Contracts Manager at Rural Energy, commented: “We’re very proud to install another biomass system in this historic location. Welbeck is a vast estate with multiple rural buildings that can benefit from biomass technology and we look forward to the next chapter in our relationship.”