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National Trust switched on Britain’s largest marine source heat pump at its Plas Newydd mansion in North Wales on Thursday.
The 300-year-old country house, which overlooks the Menai Strait, will get all its heat from a 300kW marine source heat pump. It was previously reliant on an oil-fired boiler, which consumed 1,500 litres of oil a day in winter, the same as a typical house uses in 10 months.
The £600,000 investment is expected to save around £40,000 a year in running costs, paying for itself in 15 years.
Adam Ellis-Jones, assistant director for operations in Wales at the National Trust, said: “With the Irish Sea right on the doorstep of Plas Newydd, a marine source heat pump is the best option for us.
“However, being a pioneer is never easy. There are very few marine source heat pumps and none of this size in the UK, so it has been a challenging project but a very exciting one.”
The system pumps sea water from the Menai Straitto and from a heat exchanger on the shore and up a 30-metre cliff to the mansion’s boiler house. Experts from the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University advised on the technology and conservation matters.
It is one of five pilot renewable schemes the charity is looking to install at its properties in partnership with Good Energy. Two biomass boilers and two hydroelectric projects are also under development.
Juliet Davenport, founder and CEO of Good Energy, said: “This project shows that cutting-edge British renewable technology can transform the energy use of some our oldest buildings.
“It’s a pleasure to be part of this project with the National Trust and we look forward to seeing what the next step in their renewable energy journey will be.”
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