Generate estimated daily electricity load profiles using the accessible approach described in the working paper Practical Modelling of Full Profile eCooking Loads. The Excel tool accompanies the paper to allow users to apply the methodology to a proposed project distributing devices with known power ratings.
This tool is designed for electricity planners, utilities, mini-grid operators and researchers who want to reasonably estimate cooking demand impacts on the grid with the minimum initial research investment. Either the default parameters can be applied or a baseline survey can record just the following fields for cooking events:
- meal or cooking purpose, such as breakfast, lunch or dinner;
- cooking start time and cooking duration;
- device type, linked to its rated power.
The model also needs the number and rated power of devices in the proposed rollout. Average timings and their variation are calculated from the survey; meal-specific peak load factors are additional assumptions drawn from suitable reference data, as explained in the paper.
The key outputs include:
- estimated breakfast, lunch and dinner load profiles;
- a combined daily electricity load profile;
- time-series values for use in further analysis.
Download the tool
The generator is available for download as an Excel workbook.
Download technical methodology support
The working paper explains the methodology, the minimum inputs, the use of reference peak load factors and the limitations of the resulting estimates.
Feedback or queries can be directed to tim@gamos.org