The provision of renewable energy is an important aspect of the thinking behind Totarabank. The development has been set up to allow an internal electricity grid (called an embedded network) such that the owners as a group can generate electricity for use on site or for sale back into the national grid. Individuals can also generate and export to the local or national grid.

With only one connection to the grid, lines charges and grid isolation costs are 1/8th that of an individual attempting the same.

As part of the development there will be a wind turbine installed on site that will connect to the local grid. Combined with solar photovoltaic panels, this (6kW) turbine will be sufficient to provide emergency power for lighting, etc. for the whole development; it will provide the baseline electrical energy under normal circumstances. The capital cost of the turbine purchase and installation is included in the purchase price of the sections.

The electricity provided by on site generation will feed into the local grid, usage being recorded on individual house meters. It can also be set up to export to the national grid. The residents’ association will set a charge rate for this power to allow for maintenance costs on the turbine etc. The electrical arrangement envisaged is shown below. Click on the image to enlarge.