The community company behind a controversially stalled £4m Totnes windfarm is now looking at installing a tidal turbine 'power station' in the Dart.

The Totnes Renewable Energy Society is launching an investigation into harnessing the power of the river's tidal flow at the Anchor Stone – the narrowest part of the river between Duncannon near Totnes and Dartmouth.

A tidal turbine could produce up to 400KW of electricity – enough to power hundreds of local homes.

It could even be used to produce the power to charge up yachts visiting the river, revealed Tresoc managing director Ian Bright.

Tresoc, which is a industrial and provident society with 500 members, has already carried out talks with Prince Charles' Duchy of Cornwall, which owns the river bed, and Dart Harbour, which is responsible for the navigation of the river, to get the go ahead for the investigation.

That is being carried out in the next few months by the Plymouth University's Marine Science and Engineering School with the aid of a £1,000 donation from Tresoc.

Mr Bright said the research would involve bringing the university research vessel into the Dart to lower monitoring equipment onto the river bed in the deepest part of the channel near the Anchor Stone.

Once the research is complete, the company would look at what kind of tidal turbine equipment would be the most appropriate before seeking permission to install it.

He said that the Dart project would help keep the UK at the cutting edge of tidal turbine and offshore marine energy research.

'When you think about all the tidal water above Dartmouth that goes up and down each day, twice a day – that's a lot of water moving through a narrow channel,' said Mr Bright.

He said the channel at the Anchor Stone near Dittisham was some 20 metres deep – much deeper than the rest of the river bed. He added: 'As well as finding out the extent of the tidal energy, we would look at existing tidal devices to see which of those might be appropriate for the River Dart.'

Daniel Conley, course director at Plymouth University School of Marine Science and Engineering, said: 'We are delighted to be working with Tresoc and the Dart Harbour Board to assess the potential for renewable energy production at the Anchor Stone.'

He said that research will start in the spring to produce a detailed profile of the river bed and the flow rate at various heights in the water column to quantify the scale of the resource.

There will then be a review of existing tidal power devices to find the most appropriate practical means to generate power at this location.

He added: 'We are keen to involve the communities of Totnes and district, Dittisham and Dartmouth at an early stage in the research process.'

He said that Tresoc is planning a river trip for all those interested to discuss the project with representatives from Tresoc, Plymouth University and the Dart Harbour Board.

Tresoc was set up in 2007 with the launch of its flagship project – a £4m scheme to build a pair of the 100m high wind turbines at Luscombe Cross on the outskirts of Totnes to produce enough electricity to power 2,500 homes.

That project was dealt a major blow earlier this year when South Hams councillors rejected the planning application for the turbines. Mr Bright said that Tresoc was still deciding whether to appeal against the decision.

Meanwhile, Tresoc has teamed up with Totnes GPs and already installed power producing photovoltaic cells on the roof of their new Leatside surgery complex.

And it is teaming up with a Yorkshire company over plans to install a hydroelectric project involving an Archimedes screw at Totnes Weir.

The project – also involving South West Water – is likely to start this summer could be used to power the nearby Totnes sewage treatment complex, said Mr Bright.