Business Editor

Communities and individuals are being urged to attend a high-profile renewable event in Cornwall which will give information about green energy opportunities.

Taking place at Delabole in North Cornwall – the site of the UK's first commercial wind farm – the Cornwall Renewable Energy Show is taking place on July 28 and 29.

The first day will focus on business opportunities, with the second highlighting issues for individuals and communities.

Speakers will include Andrew Honey, from Anient Ltd, who will focus on micro energy generation for householders; Stephen Frankel, founder of the Wadebridge Renewable energy Network, who will talk about how communities can come together to exploit the opportunities of renewable energy; and Claire Hottinger from Kensa Heat Pumps, who will talk about ground source heating. Biomass, wind, hydro and solar power will also be discussed at the event.

Each day will also include a debate about the Feed In Tariff, which initially offered lucrative incentives for the installation of solar panels that has subsequently been slashed by the Government, with Rachel Solomon Williams, head of Feed-in Tariff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

The event has been organised by Cornwall Council after strong levels of demand for a smaller, renewables-focused event held last year at the Eden Project. It is already planning a similar event for next year.

Tim German, the council's renewable energy and partnerships manager, said those attending would get useful information that would help them make decisions about renewable energy.

"People are being approached by companies about renewable energy and they may feel that they need more information," he said.

"This is also something for people who may be against renewable energy developments to come and have their say. It's also about what the strategic vision for Devon and Cornwall should be."

Cornwall Council has secured a small sum of European Union funding as part of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme which will allow it to work with a limited number of communities and businesses who want to become energy-efficient.

Community groups and businesses attending the event will be able to submit an expression of interest for this funding.

For more information about the Cornwall Renewable Energy Show, log on to the council's website at www.cornwall.gov.uk