Renewable energy company turns up the heat at Glastonbury

Instead, Mr Boroughs is the man behind the low carbon hot showers enjoyed by thousands of revellers who camp out at the major music event.

The green energy pioneer, who runs Welshpool-based Organic Energy, has a two decade long association with the festival’s 60-acre Green Fields, the Greenpeace supported area of the Somerset site which celebrates environmentally-friendly ideas.

During the five day event, which starts next week, the Green Fields attracts thousands of people who queue for its hot showers which use water heating by an ultra low-carbon wood pellet boiler, provided by Mr Boroughs company.

Bob Wilson, event manager with Greenpeace, said the showers, which have a different design concept for each festival, would be given a ‘Save the Arctic’ theme to support Greenpeace’s latest campaign.

Greenpeace says as climate change melts the Arctic ice, oil companies are moving in to extract more of the fossil fuels that caused the melt in the first place. The charity says above the Arctic circle, freezing temperatures, a narrow drilling window and a remote location mean that an oil spill would be almost impossible to deal with.

Mr Wilson said the design concept of the showers was supporting the Save the Arctic campaig, and would include life-size models of polar bears and hot springs.

“We are turning the field into the Arctic. This year people will be greeted by a big polar bear when they use the showers. It will be a winter wonderland.

“The showers are always appreciated by everybody. Although we never count exact numbers, we expect there to be 7,000 to 7,500 people using the them over the five day festival. ”

The hot water on site is provided by an ÖkoFEN automatice wood pellet boilers from Organic Energy, with the Welshpool-based company the sole UK distributor for the leading Austrian manufacturer.

Mr Boroughs added: “Some years revellers have needed the showers more than others. Glastonbury can been known for its muddy fields rather than Green Fields if bad weather kicks in, but we’re hoping for some sunshine this year.

“We take a 56kW boiler to the site, and this year instead of being on our trailer, Greenpeace will be building a special structure to contain it, made from sustainable wood. The boiler will heat the
water for the showers throughout the festival. This is the seventh year we’ve taken one of our boilers to Glastonbury, and we’re delighted to be able lend a hand, or a hot shower at least, in 2013 as well!”