Model-Based Simulation Technology for Estimation of Residential Power Consumption

Toshiba has developed a new model-based simulation technology for estimation of the power consumption of residences in a given region. This technology incorporates typical usage models expressing the relationship between the behavior of the residents and power consumption, whose parameters can be set for each house depending on the lifestyle of the residents and specifications of appliances.

By means of these usage models, the behaviors of the residents during a one-day period are determined so as to estimate power consumption. These usage models have been developed based on statistical surveys on the regional characteristics of various lifestyles. The regional power consumption can be easily simulated by stochastically adjusting the parameters of the usage models to the regional characteristics of lifestyles. Based on the simulation results, we can provide predictions of regional power consumption to utilities in the case of changing the settings of appliances, and can also provide recommendations to residents regarding the replacement of appliances or changes in lifestyle to reduce energy consumption. This technology is available for regional energy-saving simulations and prior evaluations of smart communities.

This work was supported by NEDO.

Processing flow of residential power consumption simulator