Work is underway to install a new eco-friendly biomass boiler system at Belton House to provide heat to 16 historic buildings.

Specialist company NerG started work at the popular National Trust visitor attraction in early April and says the project is scheduled for completion by the end of September.

"The National Trust is investing £30 million in renewable energy nationally," Dan Thompson, Renewables Project Manager for the National Trust, told Grantham Nub News.

"As a conservation charity we're committed to cutting energy usage by 20 per cent and sourcing 50 per cent of our energy from renewables by 2020.

"The scheme at Belton House will contribute towards this target and is currently the National Trust's largest biomass project to date".

In line with the National Trust's 'Grow your Own' energy strategy, Belton House has set out a clear ambition to improve energy performance and drive down reliance on fossil fuel energy sources.

The heating system at Belton House is essential to operations. A conservation heating system is used in the mansion to manage humidity levels, while comfort heating is supplied elsewhere for visitors, volunteers and staff.

A new plantroom is being built, housing two wood chip boilers to supply heating and hot water to the Grade I listed mansion and surrounding buildings, plus a fuel store.

The properties currently use a mixture of fossil fuels, including oil, LPG and mains gas, for their heating and hot water.

The systems are being upgraded at an opportunistic time, not only going green but also updating the historic heating systems currently in use.

A National Trust report to South Kesteven District Council, submitted when it was seeking planning approval for the biomass scheme, said: "The main aim is to replace 920 Mega Watt hours of energy demand, per year, provided by fossil fuel at present with a more efficient renewable biomass energy system."

Energy conservation measures have already been carried out to reduce the fuel use of buildings at Belton and make them more energy efficient. These have included, where possible, secondary glazing, pipe lagging, insulation and improved heating controls.

Underground insulated pipeline will connect the 16 historic buildings to the biomass system and initial work is centring around the stables which is being currently being restored - the stables building, which will house the restaurant, will reopen this summer.

NerG Director Stuart Robertson said "It has been a challenge finding ways to implement the biomass heating into the Belton House properties but a challenge we have enjoyed.

"Each property is connected using fibre optic cables so the biomass boilers work as efficiently as they can.

"All pumps are various speeds to use less electricity to move the water around. The roof of the plant room also slides back to store a larger amount of locally-sourced woodchip fuel.

"These are examples of the ways the biomass system has been designed to make it as efficient as possible."

Photo 1 courtesy of NerG