> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.solarvis.co/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.solarvis.co/project-design/create-a-project/consumption/energy-consumption.md).
# Energy Consumption
## Purpose of This Page
This page allows users to model electricity consumption behavior using daily usage patterns and monthly or annual energy values.
Consumption is defined in two dimensions:
* **Daily distribution** – *when* electricity is used during a 24-hour day
* **Monthly volume** – *how much* electricity is used throughout the year
Together, these inputs determine how well the solar system matches the facility’s demand and directly affect self-consumption, the electricity export levels, and financial returns.
## **What You Can Do Here**
Here, you can:
* Select a predefined daily consumption profile or create a custom 24-hour consumption distribution
* Define electricity consumption on a monthly or annual basis
* Upload detailed hourly consumption data using an Excel file
* View consumption charts in real time
{% hint style="info" %}
The chart on the right visualizes the consumption pattern in real time, helping users validate their inputs.
{% endhint %}
* Apply the same consumption settings to all design versions in the project
{% embed url="" %}
## Daily Consumption
Daily consumption defines how electricity usage is distributed across 24 hours.
This distribution plays a critical role in:
* Calculating self-consumption
* Matching solar production with demand
* Estimating electricity export to the grid
### Consumption Profile
Users can choose a preset daily consumption profile or create a custom profile.
**Available preset profiles include:**
* Family Day Consumption
* 1–2 Person Family Consumption
* Retiree or Home Office Consumption
* Night Time Home Consumption
> Each preset represents a typical hourly load curve.
> Selecting a profile automatically updates the daily consumption chart.
**Custom Daily Distribution**
When **Custom** is selected, users can manually define how consumption is distributed across the day.
* Values are entered as percentages per time range
* The total must equal **100%**
This option is useful for modeling:
* Industrial or commercial operations
* Seasonal or vacation homes
* Facilities with night shifts
* EV charging behavior
* Industrial night shift patterns
## Monthly Consumption
Monthly consumption defines the total energy used by the facility per month. This value is required for feasibility and financial calculations.
### Consumption Profile
The monthly Consumption Profile determines how total consumption is distributed across the year.
Two options are available:
* Constant Consumption
{% hint style="info" %}
When Constant is selected, the same consumption value is applied to every month.
Best suited for:
* Residential users
* Facilities with stable year-round energy usage
{% endhint %}
* Custom Consumption
{% hint style="info" %}
When Custom is selected, users can enter individual kWh values for each month from January to December.
Recommended for:
* Facilities with seasonal usage
* Agricultural or tourism-related projects
* Heating or cooling–driven consumption patterns
{% endhint %}
### Period Selection
The period dropdown allows users to choose:
* Monthly
{% hint style="info" %}
When the Monthly option is selected, the entered value represents consumption per month.
{% endhint %}
* Annual
{% hint style="info" %}
When the Annual choice is selected, the entered value represents total annual consumption. SolarVis distributes this value across months based on the selected monthly profile.
{% endhint %}
## Upload Consumption Profile
Instead of manually defining consumption, a detailed hourly consumption file can be uploaded to model real usage behavior.
By using this action, you can import an Excel file that contains hourly consumption data.
This method allows solarVis to use real measured data rather than estimated distributions and significantly improves the accuracy of feasibility and financial calculations.
When a file is uploaded:
* The system reads hourly consumption values from the file
* Daily distribution is automatically derived from the hourly data
* Monthly consumption values are calculated based on the uploaded dataset
* All simulations use this profile directly instead of manual inputs
{% hint style="info" %}
This approach is especially useful for:
* Projects with smart meter or SCADA data
* Commercial and industrial facilities
* Projects where accurate load matching is critical
* Validating proposals with real consumption history
{% endhint %}
To upload a file:
* Click the Upload Consumption Profile button
* Download the template file if needed
* Prepare your data in the required hourly format
* Upload a single .xlsx file
Once uploaded, the system overrides manual daily and monthly inputs and uses the uploaded data as the primary consumption source.
***
## Related Pages
* [Consumption Page](/project-design/create-a-project/consumption.md)
* [Electricity Prices and Regulation (On-Grid / Zero Injection Projects) Page](/project-design/create-a-project/consumption/electricity-prices-and-regulation-on-grid-zero-injection-projects.md)
For more assistance, don’t hesitate to [get in touch.](https://www.solarvis.co/en/company/contact)
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