Overview of Load Disaggregation Models, Methods and Hardware

In the dynamic landscape of energy efficiency, a domain garnering ever increasing attention and urgency, the cornerstone of informed decision-making resides in the acquisition of reliable data. This paper summarizes the main approaches, methods and hardware used to gather, process and disaggregate such data on an appliance-by-appliance basis. The paper explores a critical analysis of the various models and techniques that support the gathering of energy data at the appliance level. A range of approaches, including hardware-based solutions such as smart meters, submeters, and sensor arrays, placing a special focus on intrusive load monitoring (ILM) and non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) algorithms that employ advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques, are examined for their effectiveness, scalability, and suitability for both industrial and commercial contexts. Furthermore, the challenges of data acquisition capabilities, reconciling scalability, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness - prerequisites for widespread acceptance and uptake are also investigated.