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.

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.

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.

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.

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 traveling @ 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 

High Bickington Community
DARE is currently working with the High Bickington Community who have put in a planning proposal for a new development of both houses and a public building. DARE has offered help and support in how they could attain the “Code for Sustainable Homes” and incorporate sustainability at the design stage of this new improvement.

Biomass Opportunity Helpline
The Devon Biomass Opportunity Statement was written to report on an extensive mapping process, which took place to assess the scale in which certain crops can be grown in Devon without having a detrimental impact on the rural environment.
To help and advise people when they are assessing their land for biomass crop production DARE operates a Helpline, for more information please see our web page Biomass Opportunity Helpline.

West Devon Borough Council
DARE has just completed a major piece of research for West Devon Borough Council assessing the opportunities for large scale renewables within the district. This has led to the production of an extensive report which we hope will soon be available to be viewed by the public.

Low Carbon Exeter
As part of the city of Exeter’s Climate Change Levy fund (created from car-park charges within the city), Low Carbon Exeter applied for funds to carry out research. Low Carbon Exeter has commissioned DARE to investigate the hydro-power potential on the river Exe at a number of sites.  DARE is also examining the potential for wind power, solar and energy from waste within Exeter.

South West Water
DARE is currently researching a number of sewage treatment plants to investigate the potential for hydropower production from their outlets and helping South West Water to reduce their carbon footprint by producing electricity to help power their works. This piece of research is being carried out across the county of Devon.

Anaerobic Digestion Test Sites
DARE in partnership with Devon Renaissance and North Wyke Research are currently investigating the possibility of small to medium scale anaerobic digestion units. DARE are bringing together a range of interested parties including farmers, a national park, engineers, an educational establishment and a community to prove the capacity of anaerobic digestion not only as a waste management tool but also as an energy generating technology.

Dartmoor Woodfuel Cooperative
The Dartmoor woodfuel cooperative began as a research project carried out by the Devon Association for Renewable Energy (DARE) on behalf of the Renewable Energy 4 Devon Programme (RE4D).
It began as many of these such initiatives do, with one dedicated enthusiast, who, following on from DARE’s technology growth plan, wanted to develop wood-chip production on his own farm, in this case Andy Bradford of Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet.
Through the support from the RE4D project and grant aid through the Forestry Commission, a chipper has been purchased for the production of woodchip.
If you would be interested in being part of the cooperative, or would like to be a customer for the locally produced wood chip please either complete the attached form or contact: Andrew Knox, DARE, 12A/B The Square, North Tawton, Devon EX20 2EP, Telephone 01837 89200 or email mail@devondare.org

Parish Plans
DARE is working with two pilot communities, South Brent and Moretonhampstead, to help them incorporate sustainability, renewable energy and climate change mitigation and adaptation into their parish plans. This work has been commissioned by the Community Council for Devon and will hopefully form a framework for other communities to use for their own parish plans.

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.

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.

SACBAR
DARE was also successful in getting funding to look at five community buildings in East Devon. 

North Devon AONB
DARE also successfully obtained funding from North Devon AONB to undertake similar work to that in East Devon (above) for hydropower assessment work, again to look at ten sites.

EBASE 
Also in North Devon, DARE was successful in obtaining funding to support four communities in Exmoor NP and the North Devon Bio-sphere Reserve to reduce their carbon emissions. The funding was for the first phase only at this time, which  created the base line information and led to identifying the communities for the second phase.

South Devon AONB
DARE was approached by the Totnes and District Community Strategy – Sustainability Group, and asked to bid for undertaking a district wide assessment of Renewable Energy - Resource and Opportunities in the South Hams. The final Renewable Energy - Resource and Opportunities report was presented in the spring of 2006 at a launch event at Dartington Hall.  The results and recommendations are being taken forward by the Sustainability Group and informed Transition Totnes.

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.