DARE
is an independent, non-profit organisation
which offers the following low cost
services:
1.
Renewable Energy Site Assessment
The
aim of this service is to take you from an
initial interest to the stage where you
arrange quotes for a given technology if
it looks viable at your site. This can
save you (and installers) time undertaking
quotes on wholly inappropriate systems,
and gives you the benefit of neutral and
independent advice.
The
site assessment examines which renewable
energy technologies would be practical and
economic for your property.
We visit you to discuss your energy
requirements, how your electricity and
heating are currently supplied, then
gather information on the dimensions,
situation and layout of your site, and
your ideas for how it may develop in the
future. Using this data we can then assess
the suitability of the following options:
Electricity
- wind
turbines
- solar
photo-voltaic cells
- hydro
power
Heating
- wood-fuel/biomass
systems
- ground
source heat pumps
- solar
thermal water heating
We
send you this information in a report
including:
- recommendations
for which, if any, of these
technologies to pursue
- indications
of cost and payback on
a best effort basis – these can vary
widely according to the specifics of
your current heating/electricity set
up
- a
list of installers and suppliers for
any technology we recommend
- product
information for any technology we
recommend
- summary
of considerations relating to
planning, land-use, biodiversity
agreements
- availability
of funding
- signposting
for improving the cost + efficiency of
your non-renewable energy supply
DARE
is a totally independent not for profit company
and does not supply or install renewable energy
equipment or promote any individual technology or
supplier. If
we think that a renewable energy installation is
not the right option for your property we will
tell you, and point you in the right direction for
energy efficiency advice and how to receive
renewable energy from the grid.
The cost of this service is £315 plus travelling @ 40p/mile
DARE
also supplies a free advisory and support
service to renewable energy schemes of
a community nature under
the Renewable Energy 4 Devon Programme .
See below for more details.
The
Renewable Energy 4 Devon programme also offers free advisory and
support services to SMEs, public sector organisations and schools.
2.
Low Cost Pre-feasibility Micro Hydro Initial
Assessment
Landowners
with a river flowing across their land may want to
establish whether they have a practical and
economic energy source. Feasibility studies can
prove expensive and no one wants to waste money on
a report that may indicate there is no economic
return or there are other barriers preventing
development at the proposed site. DARE has
developed a low cost pre-feasibility assessment
process for potential micro-hydro sites. The
assessment offers a ‘first estimate’ of
potential power outputs to inform the decision
whether to proceed to a full feasibility study.
The
pre-feasibility assessment involves a two-stage process;
1.
A desktop study using information supplied by the site owner in
conjunction with Ordnance Survey maps and an established
computer-modeling
programme to predict the power output of the site.
The
following information is needed to carry out the desktop study part of
a pre-feasibility assessment.
·
The available
head at the site (in metres) (landowners own estimate).
·
The completion
of a short questionnaire.
If
at the conclusion of the desktop study stage it
appears there is insufficient potential to justify
a site visit – DARE undertakes to contact you
and discuss whether you wish to incur the expense
of the site visit.
If you decide to discontinue the
pre-feasibility assessment at this stage, the
desktop study alone will be charged at £50.00,
payment to be received in advance and a single
page summary will be supplied.
2.
For those sites where development appears viable, we offer and
recommend a site visit to check the preliminary assessment along with
a range of other local factors which could affect project economics
and practicality.
What
will you get for your money? A
report detailing;
·
The size and
disposition of the rainfall catchment together with rainfall and
evaporation data, the mean annual flow expected at the site, a
prediction of how much energy could be harnessed and the value of that
energy.
·
A list of
contact details for hydro-engineering companies you may wish to
consult to carry the development forward. If your scheme is not likely
to be economic, a list of points to consider and references if you
wish to adopt a DIY approach.
·
Suggested
‘next steps’ to establish if there are likely to be any regulatory
barriers to development, contact details for local regulatory bodies
and a list of questions to ask.
·
Details of
possible grants, information about Renewable Obligation Certificates
(ROC’s) and companies trading in ROC’s,
Pre-feasibility
desktop study, site visit and report - £150 plus travelling @
40p/mile.
DARE
can offer the desktop assessment service for any part of the UK.
Hydropower
development costs are incurred up front before any economic benefit is
experienced so the ‘payback’ period is important. A cost effective
scheme could be expected to pay back within 6 - 10 years but hydro
schemes may be expected to continue to generate power for many years
into the future.
For
more information or a Hydro Initial Assessment questionnaire, please
contact DARE at the above address.
DARE is a totally
independent not for profit company and does not supply or install
hydro equipment. Your contact details will not be passed on.
3.
Home Energy Audits
DARE
is now offering a Home Energy Audit service. The
purpose of the audit is to allow homeowners to
make informed choices about Carbon saving.
The
audit process includes;
-
An
introductory section to explain why carbon
saving is important.
-
Reference
to a Carbon Calculator to allow you to work
out how much carbon your lifestyle produces.
-
Information
about energy reduction actions
-
Information
about suitable Renewable energy technologies
-
A
report following a survey of your home
-
An
assessment of appropriate energy reduction
actions for your home
-
An
assessment of suitable renewable energy
technologies for your home
-
A
list of local renewable energy
supplier/installers
What
you get – a 14 page report based on the outline
above
Cost
£95 plus travelling @ 50p/mile from North Tawton
4.
Devon
Energy Efficiency Advice Centre
The
Energy Saving Trust’s Home Energy Check can help
you to assess all energy efficiency measures you
can consider. This questionnaire helps to identify
areas in your home that may be wasting energy.
Uneconomical appliances, inefficient boilers and
poorly insulated homes cost homeowners an average
of £200 per year extra on their fuel bills!
By completing and returning the Home Energy Check
a free personalised home energy report can be
created advising you on which measures to
undertake in your property to help save money and
energy. The report also gives your home an energy
rating similar to that used in Energy Performance
Certificates so can be used as a guide as to the
rating your home may receive if you are thinking
of selling it.
Please
visit: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/proxy/view/full/165/homeenergycheck/propertyDetailsPublic.do?action=view&urlId=2
RE4D
DARE is a project partner in
the new RE4D project. RE4D
is a partnership providing FREE independent advice and support from
enquiry to installation. Our expert advisors can help you:
Identify your renewable energy options
Assess technologies and installers
Develop a watertight financial case
Access grants and loans
Address planning issues
RE4D
supports businesses, communities, schools,
households and the public sector.
RE4D
offers funded feasibility studies and grants for
small businesses (SMEs) snd communities
(restrictions apply)
RE4D
covers West Devon, South Hams, Torridge, North
Devon & part of Mid Devon.
Contact
the RE4D advice and information helpline on: 0800
512 012 or email: energy@re4d.org
or visit the website www.re4d.org
Wood
Fuel South West
Wood
Fuel South West is
a
new initiative to provide free advice,
support and grant aid for potential medium
sized wood heating
installations in
the South West.
The service is managed by the Centre for
Sustainable Energy with financial support
from Woodland Renaissance, the South West
Protected Landscapes Forum and the
Forestry Commission. DARE is one of
the delivery partners.
The regional programme will provide free
technical support to households,
communities, schools, business and the
public sector who may be considering a
modern wood heating boiler system as an
alternative to fossil fuels. A dedicated
phone line has been set up, and suitable
cases may be eligible for an on-site
consultation visit from one of several
renewable-energy experts involved in the
scheme.
You can contact the advice service on 08450 74 06 74. Calls will be charged at local rates.
WestDen Climate Challenge Fund
The
Great West Climate Challenge is a project being
run by Westden (West Devon Environmental Network)
with DARE (Devon Association for Renewable Energy)
to raise awareness among the public about climate
change, supported by Defra’s climate challenge
fund.
WestDen and DARE are working in
partnership holding a variety events from radio
debates, climate change competitions and public
events with high level speakers such as Tony
Juniper from Friends of the Earth.
For more information please visit www.westden.co.uk
East
Devon AONB
DARE
successfully obtained funding from
both the East Devon AONB Sustainable
Development Funds to replicate the work
done on Dartmoor in 2003 to survey the
hydropower potential in East Devon area.
Ten sites were identified for
assessment and the results were launched at a public consultation event in
2006.
EREG
DARE
was contracted by Exmoor National Park
Authority, with the support of the initial
EREG membership, to carry forward a
programme of actions for EREG over a
period of 6 months. ‘Exmoor Renewable
Energy Group’ (EREG for short) - which
was initially a loose gathering of
individuals with a common interest in
renewable energy technology, particularly
hydro-electricity - has now been given a
boost of resources to develop into a
recognised and significant local
organisation, with group aims and
objectives, a simple constitution, funding
support to help progress group members’
projects, and the ability to draw down
further funding for future work.
Dartmoor
National Park
DARE
was successful in a proposal to the
DSDF for funding to hold an initial
meeting to assess whether there is
sufficient interest to set up a Dartmoor
Mill Owners Network.
Across
Devon there are 488 old water mill sites
(96 within the National Park). Many of
these sites have been lost to
re-development but there are a large
number of sites that retain their water
supply and some could be re-furbished and
brought back into production as
micro-hydro generation sites.
South Somerset has had a mill
owners group for just over a year and 12
sites in the county are in the process of
being put back into production. It
would be good to replicate this initiative
here in Devon. This initial meeting has
led to the formation of the Dartmoor Water
Power Group.
