DARTMOOR is being investigated for its potential to produce electricity by hydropower with Chagford being the favourite destination for a major scheme.

Water could be powering communities on the moor in the future if the idea being championed by the Devon Association for Renewable Energy (DARE) takes off.

The Dartmoor Hydropower Survey is being carried out with support from Dartmoor National Park Authority, South West Water, the Environment Agency and Devon County Council and landowners with streams are being asked to consider developing a scheme on their land.

Managing director of DARE Paul Baker from North Tawton said with Dartmoor being a national park, any energy scheme would have to have low visual impact.

?Certainly with hydropower there are not too many problems from an environmental point of view or with the perception of development schemes.

?It would depend on the scale as to the visual impact but we are looking at small and large schemes.

?A small hydropower turbine would be virtually invisible and not stand many metres into the air like a wind turbine.?

Hydropower is favoured by DARE as the way forward in helping to achieve national and regional renewable energy generation targets.

More windfarms are expected in Devon after the first windfarm in the county was approved on appeal earlier this year but they have been pretty much ruled out on Dartmoor because of its status as a national park, said Mr Baker.

?With hydropower we could still be making a contribution to renewable energy on a national scale but it may be more acceptable to local people.?

Research work, being done in collaboration with the Tavistock based West Devon Environmental Network, is being concentrated in Chagford, which is identified as the key area for a larger scheme.

The town used to have a small hydropower scheme on the reservoir and with a reasonably sized river close to the town it fits the bill.

Chagford is an active community in environmental terms with co-operatives such as ?Proper Job? with its recycling and community composting schemes and a renewable energy project would tie in with a community plan being developed through the Market and Coastal Towns Initiative.

?Hydropower has had a long history of traditional use on the moor and hydropower turbines at Mary Tavy produce in the region of 2.65 mega watts a year, enough to power over 2,500 homes,? added Paul.

?Nearby Morwellham uses water power and most of the dams on Dartmoor including Meldon produce some electricity from water.?

Anyone interested in having a scheme on their land or finding out more about hydropower, for which there is Government funding available, can go along to the Jubilee Hall in Chagford on December 2 from 1pm to 8pm.

The consultation event will include features on energy efficiency, renewable energy and hydropower. DARE can also be contacted on 01837 89200.