Development of Demand Side Management Strategies to Reduce Peak Load in Educational Buildings through Electrical Load Trend Analysis from Real-Time Monitoring Data

Abstract

This study focuses on analyzing the peak load trends and developing Demand Side Management (DSM) strategies to enhance energy efficiency in the Industrial Technician Building at the College of Industrial Technology and Management, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, using real-time monitoring data from December 2024 to February 2025. The results show that the average daily peak load from December 1–10, 2024, was 151.3 kW with a Load Factor of 0.59, the lowest compared to the period from January 1–10, 2025, where the peak load increased to 162.4 kW and the Load Factor rose to 0.63, indicating a better energy balance early in the year. The highest peak load of 165.4 kW with a Load Factor of 0.63 occurred from January 21–31, 2025, showing increased energy use during the summer season. In February, the peak load decreased to 154.1 kW, possibly due to changes in energy usage behavior. The study suggests that redistributing the electrical load and using an automatic load control system can reduce peak load and improve energy efficiency. Furthermore, developing an intelligent energy system and implementing Demand Response can enhance long-term energy management. Economic analysis indicates that the DSM project can break even in 3.42 years and generate a net profit of approximately 200,000 baht within 5 years by utilizing appropriate DSM techniques, such as changing energy usage behavior, using renewable energy, load control, and energy-saving technologies, all of which will help reduce the load on the electrical system and improve energy efficiency in the building.