The National Trust has announced it is to invest £30 million in renewable heating and power for more of its historic sites.

The announcement on 6 July follows the successful completion of five renewable energy projects at National Trust properties, part of a £3.5 million pilot launched with Good Energy in 2013.

The investment marks a milestone by the conservation charity towards reaching its targets to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut energy usage by 20% and source 50% from renewable sources on its land by 2020.

The Trust’s renewable energy programme could also help save up to £4 million on its energy costs each year.

Electricity generated from some of the projects can be sold back to the national grid.

The National Trust is investing in over 40 further projects, including:

• A 200kW lake source heating project at Blickling Estate in Norfolk which will remove two oil tanks and 25,572 litres per annum of oil consumption with an estimated saving of 68 tonnes of CO2 per year.

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• 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 National Trust land.

These new projects follow the completion of the five pilot schemes which include a biomass boiler at Ickworth in Suffolk.

The new boiler has replaced a 5,000 litre oil tank, removing the risk of contamination from oil leaks. Wood fuel is sourced directly from the estate.

The new woodland being planted to secure future fuel is also reinstating lost design features from the Grade II listed park and gardens.

The more actively managed woodlands will also create better, bigger habitats and markedly improve nature conservation.

Patrick Begg, Rural Enterprises Director at the National Trust said: "Many of the properties in our care are energy intensive and in remote areas without access to mains gas. Installing renewable technology in these places is a huge challenge.

"The success we have 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."

(LM)