A PIONEERING renewable energy scheme was unveiled at a Scottish castle yesterday.

Roxburghe Estates will be able to significantly reduce the carbon emissions from Floors Castle - one of the leading tourist attractions in the Borders - with the installation of a specialised woodfuel heating system.

The heating system will provide enough energy to heat the castle, which attracts over 35,000 visitors a year, the estate nursery and garden centre and when the next phase is completed 15 houses and other commercial buildings. The heating system is powered by woodchips from trees felled on the estate and processed at the estate's sawmill business in Kelso.

The project will generate the equivalent of two extra jobs and secure existing employment at the sawmill.

The system, which cost £580,000 to instal, will save about 500,000 kg of CO2 per year, the equivalent of heating 10,000 houses for a day.

The Duke of Roxburghe said: "The estate has chosen to invest in this scheme as it will reduce significantly the carbon emissions, contribute greatly to sustainable forestry and provide sustainable energy use."