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Whether you have a house or apartment, you’re almost certainly connected to the electricity grid. From local power lines either overhead or underground that connect to your home, electricity travels from distribution lines, substations, and the source at main power stations. Whilst these grids work for many, they aren’t the solution for all. For some communities and buildings - particularly remote ones or large complexes - it is either not feasible or not a sustainable solution to connect to the grid conventionally.
Embedded energy networks revolutionise the way utilities are consumed, offering a private network embedded into a building that can not only provide electricity but also water and gas, too. We’ll be exploring the inner workings of embedded energy networks, their benefits, and why communities should choose to be powered by a private embedded network.
From how they work, to their benefits, and why your community should connect to utilities through a private embedded network, here’s everything you need to know.
An embedded energy network acts as a mini-grid that supplies electricity to a community, circumventing the need for individual users to directly connect to the main grid. Rather than connecting directly to the main grid, the network operates within the property’s boundaries, with its own internal wiring and metering infrastructure, allowing developments and communities to leverage the volume of electricity they use to improve efficiencies and costs for individual occupants.
The owner or operator of the private embedded network purchases electricity wholesale from a licensed retailer, which is then channelled through a central meter. This energy is then redistributed to individual consumers within the network using internal infrastructure such as transformers, cables, and meters, to individual users, with sub-meters in each unit to measure usage. Individual users are then billed based on their actual energy consumption measured by individual meters, similar to the traditional grid system, but costs are often lower thanks to wholesale purchases.
Embedded Energy Networks have several benefits, with a major benefit being reduced energy costs. Whereas an individual has to negotiate a contract with energy retailers, using an embedded network, the entire community’s purchasing power is combined to obtain discounts for their electricity. Because the embedded network helps to improve efficiency, individuals won’t have to pay more. Additionally, as the Australian Energy Regulator mandates that residents within an embedded network can source their electricity from a retailer of their choice, individuals are also entitled to seek quotations for the supply of electricity directly from any retailer.
Energy security is another benefit of an embedded network, as it can help to ensure the building or community is more resilient to power outages or other disruptions to the energy supply. This is thanks to the independent infrastructure within the embedded network that can offer increased protection.
As embedded energy networks can generate renewable energy, such as solar and wind power, they can also help to reduce the building’s overall carbon footprint, which is particularly important in green and sustainable communities.
Embedded energy networks offer a glimpse of a more sustainable energy future with more conscious energy usage. By providing localised energy solutions, these networks can empower small communities, improve energy efficiency, and promote renewable energy integration.
At Altogether, we deliver reliable, localised essential services to over 400 communities across Australia. From world-leading recycled water systems to efficient embedded energy networks in high-rise communities, and smart grids in small communities, we're determined to do the right thing by our customers, and by the planet. As a multi-utility service provider, it’s our mission to make the world a brighter place, and we do that by offering sustainable power, water and data services.
If you would like to learn more about embedded energy networks and how your community can connect to an embedded network, get in touch with us today.
