This study identifies whether the building’s electrical infrastructure can support the addition of charging stations for all parking spaces. To do this, it draws up an inventory of each electrical component (e.g., main electrical service, transformers, distribution panels, individual apartment service entries).
For each of these components, the study assesses:
- Total available capacity: The maximum electrical load that the component can safely handle.
- Current consumption: The energy actually used by this component.
- Residual available capacity: The remaining capacity, i.e., the difference between the total capacity and the current consumption.
With this information, the study determines how many charging devices can be added using the existing residual capacity. If this capacity is not sufficient for the anticipated needs, the study also assesses the number of stations that could be installed in addition to the integration of an Electric Vehicle Energy Management System (EVEMS). It should be noted that the energy capacity study is mandatory under the Quebec Electrical Code.
Theoretical data vs. actual consumption data
The energy capacity study can be carried out using two types of data:
- Theoretical data: Based on standard estimates or sizing calculations.
- Actual consumption data: Collected directly from meters and the building’s consumption history.
It is strongly recommended to use actual consumption data. This data provides a much more accurate picture of the building’s energy consumption, often revealing a real available capacity greater than that suggested by theoretical analyses. Using actual data helps avoid unnecessarily oversizing electrical infrastructure, installing a more complex EVEMS than necessary, and, ultimately, can significantly reduce project costs.
Hydro-Québec and Murbly offers services to access this data, which can avoid the installation of metering devices and a 12-month waiting period (the time required to measure consumption data), provided that the building has been occupied for at least one year. It is also important to note that some of the measuring devices installed for this study can subsequently be used as an EVEMS, which can make the initial investment profitable if an energy management system proves necessary.