Load Profile Analysis is the process of examining how a building or facility consumes electricity throughout the day, week, month, and year. For solar designers, installers, EPCs, and energy consultants, it is one of the most important steps in determining system size, inverter pairing, battery sizing, TOU optimization, and overall project feasibility.

A detailed load profile shows when, how much, and what type of electrical loads are operating at any given time. This allows solar professionals to design systems that reduce utility bills more effectively, align solar output with demand, and unlock additional benefits such as storage optimization, peak-shaving, and improved ROI.

Load Profile Analysis is used across residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects and deeply integrates with tools such as Solar Designing and financial modeling tools like Solar ROI Calculator.

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• Load Profile Analysis reveals how a building uses electricity over time.
• It is essential for accurate solar and battery system sizing.
• Helps reduce bills through demand shaving and TOU optimization.
• Enables better financial modeling and proposal accuracy.
• Critical for designing systems with high self-consumption and minimal export losses.

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What Is Load Profile Analysis?

Load Profile Analysis is the study of a site’s historical and real-time electricity consumption patterns. It reveals:

• Peak demand periods
• Base load requirements
• Seasonal variations
• Time-of-use (TOU) sensitivity
• High-consumption equipment or processes
• Opportunities for solar + storage savings

It is essential for designing solar systems that offer the highest financial value, especially in regions with TOU rates, demand charges, and export limitations.

Load Profile Analysis is closely related to:

• Load Analysis
• Solar Savings Calculator
• Inverter Sizing

How Load Profile Analysis Works

The analysis typically follows a structured workflow:

1. Collect Load Data

From one or more of the following:

• Smart meters
• Utility bills
• Interval data (15-min or 1-hour)
• Submetering systems
• Energy management systems

2. Normalize and Clean the Data

Remove anomalies, outages, and incorrect readings.

3. Analyze Consumption Patterns

Determine:

• Daily consumption curve
• Weekday vs. weekend behavior
• Seasonal variations
• Demand peaks and troughs

4. Compare Load vs. Solar Production

Overlaying the load curve with modeled solar output helps determine:

• Ideal system size
• Storage needs
• Export vs. self-consumption ratio

See: POA Irradiance for accurate solar production modeling.

5. Evaluate Financial Impact

Load profile analysis is the backbone of:

• TOU optimization
• Demand charge reduction
• Solar + battery savings modeling
• Payback period calculations

See: Solar ROI Calculator.

Types / Variants of Load Profile Analysis

1. Residential Load Profiles

Typically dominated by:

• Evening peaks (lighting, appliances, EV charging)
• Moderate daytime loads

Useful for determining whether battery storage improves ROI.

2. Commercial Load Profiles

Include:

• Consistent base load
• High daytime consumption
• Demand charge exposure

Important for rooftop solar and tariff optimization.

3. Industrial Load Profiles

Characterized by:

• High peak demands
• Machinery-driven consumption
• Shift-based energy variations

Helps inform hybrid solar + storage + generator strategies.

4. Time-of-Use (TOU) Load Profiles

Used in regions with dynamic electricity pricing.

Critical for sizing solar + battery systems to maximize peak shaving.

5. Seasonal Load Profiles

Useful for buildings with:

• HVAC-driven summer peaks
• Winter heating loads

How Load Profiles Are Measured

Measurement is typically done through:

Interval Data (15-min or 60-min increments)

Standard for utilities and smart meters.

Monthly Utility Billing Data

Useful for high-level system sizing.

Peak Demand (kW)

The highest energy draw in a billing period.

Energy Consumption (kWh)

Total energy used over a period.

Load Factor (%)

Load Factor = (Average Load / Peak Load) × 100



Indicates efficiency of energy usage.

TOU Breakdown

Consumption during:

• Off-peak
• Mid-peak
• On-peak

Practical Guidance for Solar Designers & Installers

1. Always request interval data when possible

It gives the most accurate solar sizing results.

2. Overlay solar production models

Use tools like Solar Designing and Shadow Analysis.

3. Identify opportunities for battery storage

Look for:

• High peak demand
• Expensive TOU periods
• Evening-heavy consumption

See the Battery Size Calculator.

4. Evaluate export limitations

Load profile analysis helps predict:

• Self-consumption rate
• Exported energy
• Impact of zero-export rules

5. Build the financial case

Use insights to drive proposals with Solar Proposal Tools.

6. Account for EV charging growth

Load profiles are shifting; EV loads can significantly increase design complexity.

7. Design systems for future expansion

Many customers increase usage after going solar.

Real-World Examples

1. Residential Home with Evening Peak

The homeowner’s 6–9 PM peak suggests:

• A 7 kW system
• • 10 kWh battery
• TOU savings of ~25%

2. Commercial Office Building

Daytime load aligns perfectly with solar production.

Result:

• 120 kW rooftop system
• 15-year NPV increase

3. Manufacturing Facility

High morning and afternoon peaks:

• Requires battery + demand management strategy
• Solar covers daytime base load

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• Load Analysis
• Inverter Sizing
• Solar Layout Optimization
• POA Irradiance
• Solar Savings Calculator

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