Renewable Energy
In 2015 electricity started to be generated on a 16.4 MW ground mounted solar farm to the north of the Estate on part of the former Membury airfield, alongside the M4 motorway. This will generate green electricity for a 20 year period on land formerly considered to be very poor quality and only marginally viable for arable production. The land will be still be farmed, by way of sheep grazing between and underneath the solar panels.
A district biomass heating system was installed in 2013, which provides heat and hot water for a number of Estate buildings, including the Estate office, cottages, and the main house. Although the boiler currently runs on wood pellets, the intention is to convert it to burn wood chips produced from thinning operations in Eastridge’s own woodland.
A district biomass heating system was installed in 2013, which provides heat and hot water for a number of Estate buildings, including the Estate office, cottages, and the main house. Although the boiler currently runs on wood pellets, the intention is to convert it to burn wood chips produced from thinning operations in Eastridge’s own woodland.