4.

2 Load Characteristics
Let us start from a low power appliance such as a refrigerator, turning on and off,
irregularly. At the same time, there are other appliances at a home, which,
somehow, and to some extent, smooth out the load fluctuation of that home. Now,
what happens to the load fluctuation of a distribution substation feeding several
H. Seifi and M. S. Sepasian, Electric Power System Planning, Power Systems,
DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-17989-1_4, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011
45
homes. Still, the smoothing becomes more apparent. The daily load of a distribution substation may look like the
one shown in Fig. 4.1.
On the other hand, the distribution substations are supplied, through subtransmission and transmission networks;
from transmission substations. The daily
load curve of a transmission substation has a general shape similar to Fig. 4.1. The
same is true for the whole network consisting of several transmission substations.
Instead of focusing on the actual level,1 let us now focus on the load shape of
Fig. 4.1. Suppose we are going to know the load shape of the last week. Obviously
we should gather the minute-by-minute data required. To simplify the task, let us
assume that the load does not vary in each hour. In that case, the load shape may be
drawn as shown in Fig. 4.2. It is evident that the load shape of a working day is
significantly different from that of a weekend day. Moreover, even the load shape
of working days may be different due to, say, the weather conditions. Let us now,
go further towards the load shape of the past year. If the time step used is still
1-hour, 365 9 24 = 8760 data are required. It is evident that the task may be
accomplished for a year or even for the last 10 years or more. These load shapes
may be used for the detailed calculation of energy demands. However, they are of
less use in planning studies, as we will see in this book.
Let us, now, focus on the future, without any available data. We are going to
forecast the hour-by-hour daily (or weekly) load of our test case. This load curve is
used by the system operator to decide the necessary actions. On the other hand, if for
evaluating the generation deficiency, the load shape of the coming summer is to be
forecasted, is it really possible to do so? In other words, it is possible to predict, the
hour-by-hour load for several months from now? Basically if we have to forecast the
hour-by-hour load,2 we should accept the uncertainties involved.3 However, we will
see in this book that we often require less detailed, but as accurately as possible, the
86420
10
12
14
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
Time (h)
Load (MW)
Fig. 4.1 The daily load of a distribution substation
1 Here we are not involved with the level. In Sect. 4.4, we will come back to the point.
2 For some types of studies such as fuel and water managements.
3 See Chap. 11 for the uncertainties involved in power system planning problem.
46 4 Load Forecasting
load shape. For instance, we may want to know the variation of daily peak loads of the
coming summer. In other words, only 90 data are required. Such a seasonal load
curve is shown in Fig. 4.3. We have not assumed that the load is flat in each day.
Instead, we have only focused on the peak values.
If for planning purposes, we are going to predict the load variations for the next
several years (say 10 years or more), we do not bother the daily variations. 4
Instead we may have to predict, say, the summer and the winter peaks, of the
coming years. It means that for a 10-year prediction, only 20 data are required.
4.3 Load Driving Parameters
Once we have talked about the various load shapes in Sect. 4.2, in this section we
focus on the parameters affecting the forecasted load of future. These driving
parameters are quite a few. Some typical ones are as follows
86420
10
12
14
0 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24
Time (h)
Load (MW)
Fig. 4.2 The discretized load of the distribution substation
8 6 4 20
10
12
14
16
18
20
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Days
Load (103 MW)
Fig. 4.3 A typical seasonal peak load curve
4 Even if we bother, who can predict the daily variations of say, 5 years from now?