Biomass is helping to cut heating bills on the estate of some historic water gardens in the UK. Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire has harnessed wood chip burning technology to cut bills dramatically.

The 500kW biomass boiler heats a number of glasshouses, teaching rooms and a visitor centre, a set of offices, shops and the main house heralding from the Jacobean era.

The estate recently hosted a tour for organisations interested in the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), where Ofgem experts were on hand with advice on how to get applications for RHI “right first time”.

Melton Mowbray-based Rural Energy installed the boiler on the estate near Wheatley in 2010. The firm predicts biomass technology will grow massively over the next five years as large numbers of businesses and organisations tap into its potential.

Paul Clark, Managing Director of Rural Energy said: “The potential for the UK really is enormous. The reduction of the carbon footprint and the economic savings that biomass brings are tremendous. Biomass today is a modern, cutting-edge technology. It is also environmentally very sound and is actually increasing the amount of woodland under proper management in the UK.”