AN organisation promoting renewable energy is inviting residents of Okehampton to its annual meeting at Okehampton College today (Thursday).

DARE — the Devon Assocation for Renewable Energy, will hold the meeting in the college's Octagon Theatre from 5pm. The meeting is open to all and is an opportunity to find out what the local not-for-profit energy agency has been doing over the last year. The meeting will be followed by a drinks reception from 6pm to 6.30pm.

Following this, there will be a presentation from students and staff of Okehampton College on their aspiration to achieve zero energy bills. The college have reduced their CO2 emissions by 50%, helped over 200 other schools with energy efficiency, won the Ashden Award in 2010 and now they have just won a major international award — The Zayed Future Energy Prize, which comes with $100,000.

The prize money is to be put towards the construction of two new wind turbines on Ball Hill.

The students will share their story and celebrate their achievements as an example of best practice which can be applied to other schools, public buildings, organisations and businesses.

This will be followed by a talk from Keith Gillanders of regional energy agency RegenSW about their research into grid reinforcement requirements due to opportunities for renewable energy in Devon and the wider South West.

Mr Gillanders will also be providing a response to the issue of renewable energy intermittency, and how this can be overcome in order to ensure a constant power supply in the future.

John Baker will be giving a presentation about living off grid at Metherall Cottage near Chagford on Dartmoor.

The house is off-grid due to its remote location, three kilometres away from the nearest grid connection.

John began to investigate alternative power sources in 2000, due to the increase in fuel prices, climate change and the emerging threats to future supplies of fossil fuels.

The talks will be concluded with a question, answer and discussion session where Okehampton College and RegenSW will be joined by representatives of the DARE board and technical officers to help answer questions about energy and its future supply to homes and places of work.

This event is free of charge however as numbers are restricted those who are interested in attending are asked to email [email protected]">[email protected] or call 01837 89200 to reserve a place.