Huippukuorma
Huippukuorma, or peak load, refers to the highest electrical power demand observed in a power system or by a consumer over a specified period, typically measured for a chosen interval such as one hour. At the grid level, it is expressed in megawatts (MW) or gigawatts (GW); for individual facilities, kilowatts (kW) or MW are used. The concept is central to capacity planning and reliability, because the peak determines the size of generation capacity, transmission and distribution assets, and the level of reserve capacity required to maintain service without outages.
Peak load arises from the combined effect of weather, occupancy, industrial activity and events. In many climates,
Managing peak load involves demand-side and supply-side strategies. Demand-side measures include time-of-use pricing, demand response programs,
In practice, huippukuorma is a key metric for utilities, grid operators and policymakers, guiding investments, market