Facts, figures, help and funding advice from local specialists.
Menu
Home
News Desk
Membership Benefits
Aims & Objectives
Services & Projects
Events/Activities
Energy Gallery
The Green Directory
Downloads
Energy Links
Biomass Opportunity Helpline
Contact DARE
Further Information
Renewable Energy
Facts & FAQ's
General Funding
Wind Turbine
Hydro Electric
Energy from Biomass
Solar Power/Heating
Geothermal Energy
Wave Power
Anaerobic Digestion
Services

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

Current Projects

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.

Past Projects

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.

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.

 

CONTACT DARE ON 01837 89200 OR EMAIL - mail@devondare.org