The charity’s first large-scale renewables project, a hydro scheme on the side of Mount Snowdon, will sell electricity through National Trust (Renewable Energy) Ltd.
It is expected the scheme will generate 1,900 MWhr per year, with the money raised to be invested back into conservation projects, such as footpath repairs and habitat management.
The power produced will be sold via the grid to green electricity supplier, Good Energy.
Patrick Begg, rural enterprises director at the National Trust, said: “We’re lucky to be blessed with an abundance of natural resources that we look after for the benefit of the nation. Now with this new trading company we can harness some of the power generated by nature to help fund our conservation work.”
There are more than 250 small and medium-scale renewable energy schemes at National Trust sites across England and Wales, including biomass, solar and hydro technology.
A plan was also launched last year by the National Trust, in conjunction with Good Energy, to provide clean energy to 43 of its historic properties.
The charity has a target to generate half of its energy from renewable sources by 2020 and halve fossil fuel use in the same period. This will enable it to reduce its energy costs by more than £4 million each year.