An historic Powys mansion is set to be heated using vegetable oil.

Bronllys Hall near Brecon is on a journey to become a sustainable events venue powered by vegetable oil, solar, wind and batteries – in what is believed to be a UK-first.

As part of the work to transform the Victorian mansion in Powys into a sustainable events venue, a new boiler system has been fitted that allows the building to be heated using vegetable oil – believed to be the first system of its kind fitted into a UK events venue.

HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) is made from waste-derived raw materials. The venue said it “has one of the lowest carbon emission levels for off-grid heating solutions”.

Work underway at Bronllys Hall, parts of which date back to the 18th and 16th centuries, will create 40 en-suite bedrooms and various entertainment areas.

Newtown-based Hughes Architects, the conservation architecture specialists managing the project, worked with hearing firm Baxi and with Suffolk-based Hounsfield Boilers to tackle the challenge.

Doug Hughes, principal architect and managing director of Mid Wales-based Hughes Architects said: “HVO is a highly effective way to solve the difficult issue of decarbonising heating, with options to scale for the future and deliver on our collective commitment to sustainability.

“This approach not only gives incredible projects like this a competitive edge through delinking from carbon-intensive fossil fuels and their price swings, but also adds further to its core eco credentials, aligning with the team’s sustainability targets."

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The building previously served as the headquarters of Powys Teaching Health Board and was opened as a sanatorium by King George V in 1920.

The team aims to complete the first stage of Bronllys Hall’s transformation into a carbon-neutral event venue by the end of 2024 and “setting a new precedent for event venues, hotels and businesses.”

Hughes added that as the work at Bronllys Hall progresses, it will continue to showcase the best of British sustainable and renewable systems and technologies.

 “Bronllys Hall is an older historic building that we, with the owners and skilled local tradesmen have sought to conserve and safeguard its history, while embracing the best of British technology to deliver sustainable outcomes and efficient operation,” he said.

“We also work closely with our partners to ensure the technologies we use integrate effectively; HVO for heating, sophisticated battery management systems for long life and British Solar panels, along with other innovative technologies and partnerships to be announced over the next few months that when fully integrated will deliver fully on our carbon neutral ambitions.”