About Us

Our aim as a group of local residents is to produce clean, locally produced energy and help combat climate change. Our first project is to erect a community-owned wind turbine in the heart of Mid Devon is still at the next stage of planning.

One area was chosen as it is the nearest site to a connecting substation (to take the power generated) and Mid Devon District Council has, in its previous local plan, identified the area as a place suitable for wind power to be generated.

Our aim as a group

Our aim is to provide an opportunity for the people of Mid Devon to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and to make a significant contribution to tackling climate change for the sake of future generations.

We aim to provide funds for community projects over a 20 year period, from the sale of electricity.

We aim to provide funds for community projects over a 20 year period, from the sale of electricity.

We aim to provide cheaper electricity to households and businesses.*

We aim to provide a safe, green, ethical, investment opportunity for local people with a good projected return.

*This will depend very much on legislation such as the Local Electricity Bill, currently in discussion by Parliament, whereby small generating companies would be able to sell to local people at a lower rate than the major providers.

If you have any suggestions for schemes / projects please inform the committee.

Community Projects

This is a not for profit project and when all the expense of site hire, maintenance costs, investor share return, money kept back for decommissioning are paid, then the remainder will to put into community projects. This community fund is projected to run for a period of 20 years or more but will start when the turbine is generating electricity.

  • Local community e-bus


    An Electric Community Transport scheme would aim to improve access & to employment, education, health facilities and social activities for school children, community groups and Individual residents of the area without access to a car or suitable public transport, through the deployment and provision of low-cost, fully accessible, zero-emission sustainable community transport. This would

  • Local community electric charge points


    If necessary the fund could be used for charge points around the area and there is the potential to set up a community shared car scheme, similar to the one in Exeter. This could save money: for instance 96% of the time cars are parked doing nothing and the average cost of running a car in the south west is nearly £500 a month.

  • Building insulation and energy saving


    Many houses in our area are very expensive to keep warm and the community fund could be used to help insulate some houses. For example 70% savings could be made with the right insulation and energy saving measures.

    https://www.wmca.org.uk

  • Other projects – school and young people


    There are many others the fund may be able to assist. Ideas for those came out in our community assembly day held in May 2022, many of which only need small amounts of money to make a difference. Once set up we envisage working with others to continuously assist residents in ways identified by them.

Proposed Locations

Our aim is to provide an opportunity for the people of Mid Devon to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and to make a significant contribution to tackling climate change for the sake of future generations.

Our first project is to erect a community-owned wind turbine in Mid Devon.

The area was chosen as it is the nearest site to a connecting substation (to take the power generated) and Mid Devon District Council has, in its previous local plan, identified the area as a place suitable for wind power to be generated.

We surveyed residents in 2021 and obtained positive feedback and results. This encouraged us to apply for funding to develop the wind turbine.

  • John Chater - Chairman

    John trained as an engineer and worked for Atomic Energy of Canada before going into teaching. He spent the last 16 years of his career as the head teacher of a Nottingham inner city comprehensive. In retirement, he led a wind turbine project in Notts. working with a small group of volunteers to carry out a feasibility study and apply for planning permission whilst consulting widely with technical experts.

  • Steve Batt

    Former senior regeneration officer within the Economy and European Office at Devon County Council. Steve has been involved in citizen partnerships across the region and further afield, obtaining funding from many sources (including Europe). He was instigator of a community renewable energy project across Devon and Austria. A recent partner in two pan EU Horizon energy submissions with multiple universities and municipalities.

  • Dave Harris

    FCCA qualified finance professional, Dave has over 30 years experience in the world of finance in various business sectors. He is currently head of finance for a company that lends money to small and start-up businesses. Dave is heavily involved in activities to help enable the transformative change urgently required to mitigate the impact of the climate and nature

  • David Parker

    David has spent 40 years working in the management of barristers. He brings experience of management, financial administration and an understanding of legal issues. David is a Parish Clerk in his community and is actively involved in the Climate Change group for that parish.


Let’s work together.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM – HEART OF DEVON COMMUNITY ENERGY LTD

Name

The name of the society shall be the Heart of Devon Community Energy Limited.

Objects

The objects of the Society shall be to carry on any business for the benefit of the community by:
(a) the development, installation, management, operation, generation, transmission and supply of energy from renewable and low carbon energy sources;
(b) the conservation of energy through advice on energy efficiency including energy efficient products and the supply of energy efficient products;
(c) to provide support to community organisations in the locality of any energy project supported by the Society;
(d) the promotion of awareness of environmental and related issues and support for educational initiatives related to renewable energy; and
(e) enabling the local and wider community to share in the ownership of, and contribute to, renewable and low carbon energy generation and energy efficiency initiatives.

Heart of Devon Community Energy Limited Registered Office: Pepperlake Cottage, Morchard Bishop, Crediton, Devon EX17 6SD. Registered in England with the Financial Conduct Authority – Registration Number 8817.