Company reveals how biomass system installed at Scotney Castle has helped cut energy bills by an estimated £20,000 a year.

A biomass boiler installed at the historic Scotney Castle in Kent has cut energy bills for the National Trust by more than £20,000 a year, while also slashing carbon emissions, according to new figures.

Rural Energy, the company that fitted the system to provide hot water and heating to the Victorian mansion in 2010, this week released data showing the project has helped cut carbon emissions by 404 tons since it was installed, generating 1,258,600kWh of renewable energy in the process.

The 250kW Herz BioMatic wood chip boiler system, which provides hot water and heating to the castle, visitor reception, shop, tearoom and offices, is fuelled using wood harvested from managed woodlands on the 770-acre estate.

The figures were released as Rural Energy, which is a subsidiary of onsite renewables specialist Myriad CEG, announced it is to showcase the project through a 'talk and tour' session at the castle on 17 September, designed to highlight the wider benefits of biomass energy for properties served by off-grid oil or gas boilers.

"The potential for the UK really is enormous," said Paul Clark, managing director of Rural Energy, in a statement. "The reduction of the carbon footprint and the economicsavingsthat biomass brings are tremendous."

The Scotney Castle project is part of a major push from National Trust to install renewable energy technologies at some of its most popular properties.

Earlier this year the organization announced awide-ranging partnership with Good Energythat will see it deploy renewable energy systems at 43 of its properties in a move designed to demonstrate how even historic buildings can benefit from clean technologies.