Load duration curve: A tool for technico-economic analysis of energy solutions

Accuracy and relevance of energy solution analysis for a customer could be greatly improved when considering the relationship between the electric power demand and time, information which is usually not readily available. In an attempt to fill this gap, the concept of customer load duration curve (LDC) has been investigated. A six parameters relationship has proven to be able to accurately represent measured annual and monthly LDC of 332 commercial, institutional and industrial customers. Plotted against the load factor, the values of each of the six parameters are shown to be constrained within specific ranges. This characteristic has lead to the development of an algorithm for the generation of realistic synthetic LDC. This kind of algorithm can be implemented in a technico-economic model for population studies or risk management through Monte Carlo simulations. Here we present some results for the assessment of a peak shaving application in commercial and industrial markets using Monte Carlo simulations. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.