Renewable Energy

Biomass heating

Winton’s natural resources offer many opportunities for renewable energy contributions. These began with the need for heat for Winton Castle and the adjoining six cottages which culminated in investing in a district heating system run on wood chipped from estate timber by estate staff.

At the time, the nearest example to follow was by Fort William; we are now on our second woodchip boiler; by using woodchips in place of fossil fuels we displace around 200 tonnes annually of Carbon Dioxide.

Electricity generation

The annual Winton Estate production of electricity from 90kw of solar panels and a 100kw wind turbine is adequate to power over 60 standard Scottish homes.

Solar energy trapped on shed roofs power a firewood log processor with any surplus electricity feeding the grid along with energy from a collection of solar panels on the roof of the common grain store.

Close-by is the Northern Power wind turbine connected to the national grid in 2015. As Broomrigg Farm is developed as a further tourism venue, renewable energy will be a key element in the design.