National Trust becomes green energy supplier

The National Trust is partnering with Good Energy to sell the electricity generated by its first large-scale renewable power scheme

The conservation charity has started generating electricity via a hydro-turbine at its Hafod y Llan Farm in Snowdonia and confirmed that it will be selling the power to the grid.

The trust has committed to generating half of all its energy from renewable energy sources by 2020, and the plant is expected to generate 1,900MWh of electricity each year – more than is needed to run all of the trust’s properties in Wales.

Last year, the trust invested £3.5 million in five pilot projects that include the installation of a 300kW marine source heat pump at Plas Newydd and a 300kW biomass boiler at its Ickworth estate, both of which provide 100% of the properties’ energy needs.

Combined with its drive to cut energy use by 20%, the trust estimates that its renewable energy projects will help it to save £4 million a year in energy costs.

“We’re lucky to be blessed with an abundance of natural resources that we look after for the benefit of the nation. Now with this new electricity trading company we can harness some of the power generated by nature to help fund our conservation work,” said Patrick Begg, rural enterprises director at the trust.

“The real prize for us as the UK’s largest conservation charity is that we are helping to protect special places forever by creating sustainable energy solutions that work in complete harmony with our natural and historic heritage.”