The Duke of York sees renewable energy in action during a visit to Renewable Energy Systems Ltd in Kings Langley

His Royal Highness The Duke of York today visited the award-winning ‘zero emissions’ office of Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, and saw how renewable energy and energy efficiency can play a role in the drive to cut climate-changing emissions.  On a tour of Beaufort Court hosted by RES, His Royal Highness saw how the historic former Ovaltine Egg Farm buildings have been converted into a state-of-the art head office for one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. 

During his visit, His Royal Highness commented;

“There is a huge amount of work going on in the field of clean, green energy.  I am most impressed with what I have seen today and I would like to wish you every continued success, not only in the research you are doing into the efficient use of energy, but also in your work on wind farms and actually producing energy. “

On a tour of the site, His Royal Highness saw a range of renewable energy technologies, including a large solar power array that generates both heat and electricity, a biomass boiler that heats the office, a natural cooling system using water drawn from deep underground and the now famous wind turbine situated next to the M25.  He was also shown how the much-loved 1930s buildings have been sensitively converted into a groundbreaking zero-emissions head office using principles of solar design and sustainable architecture. 

The visit was hosted by RES Group CEO, Dr Ian Mays, who said:

“It has been a delight to show His Royal Highness around our headquarters, which have become an international case study in zero-carbon design.  Here at Beaufort Court we have demonstrated how renewable energy technologies can be integrated successfully into buildings and the landscape and can generate clean, green heat and power. The development – particularly the wind turbine –  is popular with the local community and has become a beacon of sustainable development for the area.  It is a fitting home for RES, which is a British success story in the fast-growing renewable energy sector.  We are using our expertise and experience to show that technologies such as wind power and biomass can play a major role in meeting the twin challenges of climate change and energy security around the world.”

Beaufort Court also houses a popular Visitor Centre, which runs tours and educational events for schools, community groups and professionals.  His Royal Highness met students and staff from John F Kennedy School in Hemel Hempstead, who are taking part in the Engineering Education Scheme run by the Royal Academy of Engineering. They presented their working model of Beaufort Court and explained about their valuable links with the company.  

Notes to Editors
Beaufort Court is the headquarters for Renewable Energy Systems Group (RES), one of the world’s leading wind energy companies, involved in the development, construction and operation of wind farms across the UK and around the world.   It is part of Sir Robert McAlpine, the British engineering and construction group.  RES has been at the forefront of the wind energy industry since the early 1980s and has to date completed around 45 wind farms.

RES moved into Beaufort Court in November 2003 and the office was officially opened by the then Minister for Energy Stephen Timms MP in May 2004.  The renovation of the derelict Ovaltine Egg Farm buildings into a sustainable, zero-emissions development was supported by the EU.  The architects were Studio E Architects and the building services engineers Max Fordham LLP.  Beaufort Court has won numerous awards from organizations including the Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, Building Magazine, the Business Commitment to the Environment, British Council of Offices and in April 2005 RES Group received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Sustainable Development category.

For more information about Beaufort Court, visit www.beaufortcourt.com

Photos of The Duke of York’s visit and of Beaufort Court are available.

CONTACT:
Anna Stanford, Media Officer, RES: +44 (0)1923 299203 or +44 (0)776 1103465
Email:  [email protected]  Web site:  www.res-group.com