Building load management using cluster and statistical analyses

Building energy management systems has become very significant to monitor and control loads, mainly due to the tariff and demand side management programs. This technology allows the performance of key energy management functions such as organizing energy use data, identifying energy consumption anomalies, managing energy costs, and automating demand response strategies. Load management techniques allow the energy manager to reshape the building load curve and reduce the peak demand. The synthesis of load shapes is one of the most critical steps in evaluating load management programs. The energy manager should be able to recognize the typical shape of the daily load curve in order to manage the energy use. This paper presents a methodology to perform the synthesis of load shapes. On that purpose, it is essential to identify typical daily load curves as well as the best way to find their representative model. By getting to know the typical load curves of a building, an energy manager may predict load and peak demands. Results have shown the efficiency of clustering technology in the analysis of time series data such as load curves. Using historical data, the total accumulated energy in the end of the day as well as the maximum peak demand of the day may be predicted. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.