Hydrogen production control system and method

Abstract

Provided is a hydrogen production control system for producing hydrogen with different environmental impacts. A hydrogen production control system 20 causes a hydrogen production apparatus 10 to produce hydrogen. The hydrogen production apparatus inputs, to a water electrolysis device 13, a power amount from a renewable energy generation device 12 or a power amount from a power grid 30, and causes the water electrolysis device to electrolyze water to thereby produce hydrogen with different environmental impacts. The hydrogen production apparatus comprises: a renewable energy variation amount prediction unit which predicts variation in the power amount from the renewable energy power generation device; and a type-specific hydrogen production planning unit which creates a type-specific hydrogen production plan for producing hydrogen with different environmental impacts by the hydrogen production apparatus, on the basis of a prediction result from the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit. The type-specific hydrogen production planning unit creates a production plan for producing a first type of hydrogen with a small environmental impact among hydrogen with different environmental impacts by using a power amount in a first case where the power amount from the renewable energy generation device is predicted to be supplied stably.

Description

The present invention relates to a hydrogen production control system and method. [Background Art]

[0002] Since hydrogen does not emit CO2 during the use thereof, the hydrogen attracts attention as a highly environmentally friendly fuel. There are various hydrogen production methods, one of which is a method for producing hydrogen by electrolysis of water. An apparatus for producing hydrogen by electrolysis is a water electrolysis device. In some cases, the hydrogen generated from the water electrolysis device is classified based on a type of electric power which becomes an input. Hydrogen generated from electric power with a low environmental impact such as renewable energy is called green hydrogen. On the other hand, electric power generated by a fossil fuel or the like has a high environmental impact, and the environmental impact of hydrogen generated by the electric power becomes high and, thus, such hydrogen is called gray hydrogen. Since green hydrogen has a lower environmental impact than gray hydrogen, the former has higher environmental values for business operators who implement carbon neutrality. [Citation List] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [PTL 1]Japanese Patent No. 7221376 [Summary of Invention] [Technical Problem]

[0004] PTL 1 has such description that "An apparatus for generating an operation plan of a hydrogen production control system including a hydrogen generation device, the apparatus including: a demand prediction model generation unit for generating a demand prediction model for generating a predicted demand amount for each of plural types of hydrogen by using demand prediction factors including at least one of a hydrogen demand amount of a demander who demand a plural types of hydrogen with different environmental impacts of generation, information of the above-described demander, the above-described plural types of hydrogen consumption amount, weather information, a predicted consumption amount of the above-described plural types of hydrogen, and the operation prediction of the above-described hydrogen production control system, in the above-described target period;; a demand prediction unit for generating a predicted demand amount for each of the above-described plural types of hydrogen in the target period of the above-described operation plan by using the above-described demand prediction model on the basis of the above-described demand prediction factor; and an operation planning unit for generating the above-described operation plan for generating the plural types of hydrogen with different environmental impacts of generation by the abovedescribed hydrogen generation device on the basis of the predicted hydrogen demand amount for each of the above described plural types of hydrogen.

[0005] The water electrolysis device needs to produce hydrogen by using renewable energy of which power generation amount (electric power amount to be generated) fluctuates. However, due to the variation of the electric power amount that is input into the water electrolysis device, there is a concern about deterioration of the water electrolysis device. Moreover, since the electric power amount from the renewable energy fluctuates due to weather or the like, it becomes difficult to produce hydrogen with different environmental impacts stably and systematically.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the abovedescribed problems and has such an object to provide a hydrogen production control system and method for producing hydrogen with different environmental impacts. [Solution to Problem]

[0007] The hydrogen production control system according to one aspect of the present invention is a hydrogen production control system for having a hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogen, the hydrogen production apparatus being configured to produce hydrogen with different environmental impacts by inputting a power amount from a renewable energy generation device for generating a power amount by renewable energy or a power amount from a power grid into a water electrolysis device so as to electrolyze water, the system including: a renewable energy variation amount prediction unit configured to predict variation of a energy amount from the renewable energy generation device; and a type-specific hydrogen production planning unit configured to create a type-specific hydrogen production plan for having the hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogen with different environmental impacts in accordance with a prediction result by the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit, wherein the type-specific hydrogen production planning unit creates a production plan for causing first hydrogen with a smaller environmental impact, among hydrogen with different environmental impacts, to be produced by using a power amount in the first case where the power amount is predicted to be stably supplied from the renewable energy generation device by the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit. [Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, by using the power amount of the first case, where it is predicted that the power amount is stably supplied from the renewable energy generation device, the first hydrogen with a smaller environmental impact from among the hydrogen with different environmental impacts can be produced. [Brief Description of Drawings]

[0009] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram of an entire system including a hydrogen production control system according to this Embodiment. [Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a hydrogen production control system. [Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of predicting a variation of renewable energy. [Fig 4] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating processing of creating a type-specific hydrogen production plan. [Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a typespecific hydrogen production plan. [Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a detailed example of a type-specific hydrogen production plan. [Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a type-specific hydrogen production processing according to Second Embodiment. [Description of Embodiments]

[0010] Hereinafter, on the basis of the drawings, the Embodiments of the present invention will be explained. In this Embodiment, a hydrogen production control system for planning production of hydrogen with different environmental impacts is disclosed. This hydrogen production control system estimates a variation amount of an electric power amount using renewable energy, and when the electric power amount from a renewable energy generation device is stable, hydrogen with a low environmental impact (first hydrogen, clean hydrogen) is produced, while when the electric power amount from the renewable energy generation device is unstable, a type-specific hydrogen production plan is created for producing hydrogen with a high environmental impact (second hydrogen, gray hydrogen) by using a power-grid electric power or the like.

[0011] Moreover, in this Embodiment, the type-specific hydrogen production plan is created so that the variation of the electric power amount input into the water electrolysis device can be suppressed. As a result, the hydrogen production control system of this Embodiment can switch a source of the electric power amount to be input into the water electrolysis device in accordance with a power-generation situation of the renewable energy, hydrogen with different environmental impacts can be produced stably and moreover, deterioration of the water electrolysis device can be prevented. [Embodiment 1]

[0012] A First Embodiment will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 6. Fig. 1 illustrates an entire system including an assumed hydrogen production control system 20.

[0013] The entire system includes a hydrogen production apparatus 10 for producing hydrogen and a hydrogen production control system 20 for controlling the hydrogen production apparatus 10. The hydrogen production apparatus 10 and the hydrogen production control system 20 are connected capable of two-way communication via a communication network CN. The hydrogen production apparatus 10 is connected to a power grid 30 and can use the electric power amount from the power grid 30. The power grid 30 is connected also to various types of power generation devices and various types of power consumers (none of them is shown) via power transmission and distribution facilities or the like.

[0014] The hydrogen production apparatus 10 includes, for example, a power-retention device 11, a renewable energy generation device 12, a water electrolysis device 13, and a hydrogen reserving device 14. The hydrogen production apparatus 10 is connected to the power grid 30. The power-retention device 11, the renewable energy generation device 12, the water electrolysis device 13, and the hydrogen reserving device 14 can use power from the power grid 30.

[0015] The power-retention device 11 performs charging of electric energy from the power grid 30 or electric energy from the renewable energy generation device 12 into a cell or discharging of the charged electric energy from the cell via a power converting device, not shown. The electric energy discharged from the power-retention device 11 is input into the water electrolysis device 13.

[0016] The renewable energy generation device 12 is a device for generating electric power by using renewable energy. As renewable energy, there are sunlight, wind power, geothermal heat, solar heat, wave power and the like.

[0017] The water electrolysis device 13 is a device for producing hydrogen by electrolyzing water by using the input electric power. In the water electrolysis device 13, an electric power amount discharged from the power-retention device, an electric power amount generated by the renewable energy generation device, and an electric power amount procured from the power grid 30.

[0018] The hydrogen reserving device 14 reserves hydrogen produced by the water electrolysis 13. The hydrogen reserving device 14 can also supply the reserved hydrogen to the outside.

[0019] The hydrogen production control system 20 can be configured by using a computer. The hydrogen production control system 20 includes, for example, a processor 21, a memory 22, an auxiliary storage device 23, a communication unit 24, and a UI unit 25.

[0020] The processor 21 realizes a function as the hydrogen production control system 20, which will be described later in fig.2, by having a predetermined control program 200 stored in the auxiliary storage device 23 to be read in the memory 22 and executed. The processor 21 is not limited to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) but may include a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or the like.

[0021] The hydrogen production control system 20 is capable of communication with each of the devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in the hydrogen production apparatus 10 via a communication network CN from the communication unit 24.

[0022] The user interface unit (abbreviated as UI in the drawings) 25 is a device for exchanging information between a user such as a system administrator, for example, and the hydrogen production control system 20.

[0023] The UI unit 25 includes an information input device such as a keyboard, a touch panel, a voice input device and the like and an information output device such as a monitor display, a printer, a sound synthesizing device and the like, for example.

[0024] To the hydrogen production control system 20, a memory medium MM can be connected. The memory medium MM is constituted such as a memory device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a magneto-optic disk device, a magnetic tape device or the like, for example, and non-temporarily stores a computer program and data. The memory medium MM can transfer a computer program and data to the auxiliary storage device 23 of the hydrogen production control system 20 and have them stored. On the contrary, the computer program and data can be also transferred from the auxiliary storage device 23 to the memory medium MM and stored. By storing the computer program for realizing the function of the hydrogen production control system 20 in the memory medium MM, by connecting the memory medium MM to another computer, and by installing the computer program stored in the memory medium MM in another computer, another computer can be made to function as the hydrogen production control system 20.

[0025] By using Fig. 2, a functional configuration of the hydrogen production control system 20 will be explained. The hydrogen production control system 20 includes an acquisition unit 201, a renewable energy variation amount prediction unit 202, a type-specific hydrogen production planning unit 203, a typespecific hydrogen control unit 204, and an output unit 205, for example.

[0026] The acquisition unit 201 acquires information needed by the hydrogen production control system 20. The acquisition unit 201 acquires a predicted value and an achieved value of the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12, demand for each hydrogen type, a predicted value of a power market price, specifications such as a rate, efficiency and the like of the power-retention device and operational restrictions such as upper and lower limits in the operation of the power-retention device 11, specifications such as a rate, efficiency and the like of the water electrolysis device 13, operational restrictions such as upper and lower limits in the operation, specification of a capacity of the hydrogen reserving device 14 and the like.

[0027] The renewable energy variation amount prediction unit 202 classifies electric energy into stable electric energy and unstable electric energy by using a predicted value and an actual value of the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12. For example, it is only necessary that a confidence interval is acquired by using a probabilistic prediction method, and an electric power amount generated by the renewable energy generation device 12 is classified into an amount with high probability and an amount other than that.

[0028] Fig. 3 is a graph illustrating an example for predicting variation of renewable energy. A section (period) from a time point t0 to time point tm is a time section in which a power generation amount is stable such that an unstable amount (indicated by a hatched part in the drawing) is small as compared with a stable amount (indicated by an outlined part in the drawing). A period from the time point tm to the time point tm is such a section that an unstable amount increases. A period from time point tn to time point ts is such a section that an unstable amount decreases again.

[0029] Fig. 4 is a processing flow of the type-specific hydrogen production planning unit 203. At Step S10, plan input information is acquired by the acquisition unit 201. The plan input information includes information acquired by the acquisition unit 201 and information calculated by the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit 202.

[0030] At Step S20, an objective function in optimization is configured. The objective function can be configured such that a production cost of hydrogen is minimized, for example. By using the linear sum, it is possible to provide a term for multiplying the variation in the electric energy input into the water electrolysis device 13 and a deterioration cost of the water electrolysis device 13 caused by the variation.

[0031] At Step S30, a constraint condition in the optimization is configured. At Step S30, a constraint condition related to deterioration of the water electrolysis device 13 is configured, for example.  Since the term related to the variation of the input electric power is provided at Step S20, the constraint condition related thereto is configured. Z_hprd, t, i in an Equation (1), which will be described later, is an auxiliary parameter for expressing an absolute value of the variation of a hydrogen production amount at time point t. Hprd, t is the hydrogen production amount at the time point t. In the Equation (1), a difference between the hydrogen production amounts at the time point t and at the time point t - 1 is calculated. An absolute value can be expressed by the Equation (1) and an Equation (2), and the variation of the input electric energy is expressed by using Z_hprd, t at Step S20.

[0032] - Z_hprd, t <= Hprd, t - Hprd, t-1 ... Equation (1) Z_hprd, t => Hprd, t - Hprd, t-1 ... Equation (2) Subsequently, the upper and lower limits of the production amount related to the hydrogen production amount with a low environmental impact are configured. Such a constraint is set that a stable amount divided in the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit 202 is made an upper limit. The lower limit value may be "0".

[0033] In an Equation (3), P_stable, t is a stable quantity. P_eff_hprd indicates efficiency of the hydrogen production amount and is electric energy required per unit amount of hydrogen production. An Equation (4) is an equation for acquiring an electric energy amount P_hprdlow, t required for producing the hydrogen production Hprd_low, t with a low environmental impact. Hprd_low, t is a hydrogen production amount with a low environmental impact at the time point t. P_hprdlow, t is an electric power amount required for producing hydrogen with a low environmental impact.

[0034] 0 <= Hprd low, t x p eff hprd <= P stable, t . Equation (3) P hprdlow, t=Hprd low, t x p eff hprd . Equation (4) The type-specific hydrogen production planning unit 203 configures upper and lower limits of the production amount related to the hydrogen production amount with a high environmental impact. An Equation (5) indicates the upper and lower limits constraints of the production amount related to the hydrogen production amount with a higher environmental impact. The lower limit shall be "0". The upper limit is the total sum of the unstable power generation amount P_unstable, t of the renewable energy generation device 12, the power procurement amount P_grid, t from the power grid 30, and a discharge amount P_bat, t from the power-retention device 11.

[0035] An Equation (6) is an equation for acquiring the electric energy P_hprdhigh, t required for producing the hydrogen production amount Hprd_high, t with a high environmental impact. An Equation (7) is an equation configured such that the total value of the electric energy used from each of electric power sources 11, 12, 30 becomes the P_hprdhigh, t. The P_unstable_used, t is an amount used from an unstable power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 at the time point t. The P_grid_used, t is an amount used from the amount of electric power procured from the power grid 30. The P_bat_used, t is an amount used from the amount of electric power discharged from the power-retention device 11.

[0036] In the Equation (5), P_unstable, t, P_grid, t, P_bat, t are upper limits of the electric power amounts from each of the electric power sources 11, 12, 30, and the Equation (7) defines only the amount used therefrom.

[0037] 0 <= Hprd_high, t x P_eff_hprd <= P_unstable, t + P_grid, t + P_bat, t ... Equation (5) P_hprdhigh, t = Hprd_high, t x P_eff_hprd . Equation (6) P_hprdhigh, t = P_unstable_used, t + P_grid_used, t + P_bat_used, t . Equation (7) In the Equation (3) and Equation (5), the hydrogen production amount is converted into the amount of electric power by multiplying the efficiency of the hydrogen production amount P_eff_hprd, but in the case of a non-linear efficiency function, it can be expressed by a piecewise linear model.

[0038] In this Embodiment, it is also assumed that a threshold value of an emission amount of carbon dioxide contained in the produced hydrogen is provided for hydrogen with a high environmental impact. In an Equation (8), a total carbon dioxide emission amount C_co2_hprdhigh_total and planned time when the hydrogen with a high environmental impact is produced is denoted by T. The total carbon dioxide emission amount C_co2_hprdhigh_total is defined to be equal to or smaller than the value obtained by multiplying the sum of the amounts of environmentally unfriendly hydrogen Hprd_high, t from t = 0 to t = T and the coefficient of carbon dioxide emission amount per unit hydrogen C_co2_hprdhigh, which is the standard for hydrogen with a high environmental impact.

[0039] An Equation (9) is an equation for acquiring the total carbon dioxide emission amount C_co2_hprdhigh_total when hydrogen with a high environmental impact is produced. A usage amount P_grid_used, t from the power grid 30 and the total of the carbon dioxide emission amounts from t = 0 to t = T are calculated. Here, a case where only the amount of electric power from the power grid 30 includes the amount of carbon dioxide emission is defined, but when power from the power grid 30 is stored in the power-retention device 11, carbon dioxide is included also in the amount of stored power (charged amount) of the power-retention device 11. In this case, an amount obtained by multiplying the amount P_bat_used, t used from the power-retention device 11 by the carbon dioxide emission coefficient may be added to the Equation (9). In this way, when hydrogen having a high environmental impact is produced, the standard of the carbon dioxide emission amount can be satisfied.

[0040] C co2 hprdhigh total <= SHprd high, t x C co2 threshold ...Equation (8) C co2 hprdhigh total = SP grid used, t x C co2 grid .Equation (9) Since the power-retention device 11 is a controllable device, it is necessary to ensure a charge amount for a case in which the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 is smaller than a predicted value. Thus, a restriction is set such that the amount of electric power in which the power generation of the renewable energy generation device 12 is unstable becomes equal to or smaller than the charge amount of the power-retention device 11.

[0041] In the Equation (10), the total amount used from the electric power amount in a case where the power generation of the renewable energy generation device 12 from t = 0 to t = T is unstable is made to be smaller than the difference between the charged amount (remaining charged amount) SoC_bat, tpre at the time point tpre before planning and the amount P_bat_used, t used from the discharged amount of the power-retention device 11 from t = 0 to t = T.

[0042] 0 <= SP_unstable_used, t <= SoC_bat, tpre - SP_bat_used, t ... Equation (10) When there is a demand for the first hydrogen and the second hydrogen, each hydrogen needs to be produced in an amount equal to or larger than the demand amount. An Equation (11) is a constraint condition for making the total of the Hprd_low, t of the production amount of hydrogen with a low environmental impact in the planning period equal to or larger than the Hcontracted_low of the demand for hydrogen with a low environmental impact in the planning period. An Equation (12) is a constraint condition that the total of the hydrogen production amount Hprd_high, t with a high environmental impact in the planning period is equal to or larger than the hydrogen demand Hcontracted_high with a low environmental impact in the planning period.

[0043] Hcontracted_low <= ZHprd_low, t ... Equation (11) Hcontracted_high <= ZHprd_high, t . Equation (12) Other than the above-described constraint conditions, constraint conditions related to the specification or operation of the equipment such as upper and lower limits of the capacity of the hydrogen reserving device 14, a start / stop constraint of the water electrolysis device 13, a start / stop curve constraint, and a capacity upper and lower constraint of the power-retention device can be added, for example.

[0044] Returning to Fig. 4, Step S40 is optimization processing. By using Step S20, the configured objective function, and the constraint condition configured at Step S30, the optimization processing is executed. The optimization processing may be executed by using an algorithm such as a branch and cut method, a branch and bound method, a branch cut price method or the like, for example.

[0045] At Step S50, the optimization result acquired by Step S40 is obtained. Fig. 5 is an example of the result. Fig. 5 illustrates an example of the type-specific hydrogen production plan.

[0046] As illustrated in Fig. 5, a type-specific hydrogen production plan in which hydrogen is classified into hydrogen with a low environmental impact and hydrogen with a high environmental impact at the time point t is created. Here, AH1, AH2, AH3, AH4 are variation amounts at hydrogen production. And accordingly, in the detailed type-specific hydrogen production plan illustrated in Fig. 6, electric power amounts AP1, AP2, AP3, AP4 input into the water electrolysis device 13 are determined. By means of the objective function, the typespecific hydrogen production plan is created so that the variation of electric power to be input into the water electrolysis device 13 is suppressed.

[0047] At Step S60, as will be described later, predetermined information including information of Fig. 6 and the like is output to a monitor display or the like.

[0048] Returning to Fig. 2, the type-specific hydrogen control unit 204 controls each of the devices 11, 12, 13, 14 of the hydrogen production apparatus 10 in accordance with the typespecific hydrogen production plan created by the type-specific hydrogen production planning unit 203. It is only necessary that the type-specific hydrogen control unit 204 executes control by using a model prediction control or the like considering responsiveness of each of the devices 11, 12, 13, 14. When the weather condition is favorable and a power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 such as solar power generation is larger than a predicted value, the type-specific hydrogen control unit 204 executes such control that that the power-retention device 11 is charged. As a result, a charged amount for the next typespecific hydrogen production plan can be ensured.

[0049] The output unit 205 outputs control contents of the typespecific hydrogen control unit 204 and results of the typespecific hydrogen production planning unit 203. The output unit 205 compares and outputs how the type-specific hydrogen production plan plans the production of hydrogen and to what degree the hydrogen was produced by means of actual control. The output unit 205 creates a screen such that a carbon dioxide emission amount contained in hydrogen at the time point when the type-specific hydrogen production plan was created and an actual carbon dioxide emission amount are compared and outputs it. Moreover, the output unit 205 can also display the type-specific hydrogen production plan as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 and a control result accompanying that.

[0050] According to this Embodiment configured as above, the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 is classified into the first case in which the power generation amount is stable and the second case in which the power generation amount is not stable in accordance with the stability of the power generation amount, the first hydrogen with a low environmental impact is produced in the first case, which is stable, the second hydrogen with a high environmental impact is produced in the second case, which is not stable, and moreover, the type-specific hydrogen production plan is created such that the variation of the electric power amount input into the water electrolysis device 13 is suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately produce hydrogen having different environmental impacts while the emission amount of carbon dioxide is suppressed.

[0051] Moreover, in this Embodiment, since the electric power amount charged in the power-retention device 11 can be discharged and input into the water electrolysis device 13, when the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 is unstable, even when the power generation amount of the renewable energy generation device 12 is unstable, hydrogen with a smaller environmental impact can be produced. [Embodiment 2]

[0052] By using Fig. 7, an Embodiment 2 will be explained. In this Embodiment, a difference from the Embodiment 1 will be mainly described. In this Embodiment, the type-specific hydrogen control unit 204 sends a control signal to the hydrogen production apparatus 10 in accordance with the type-specific hydrogen production plan created in the Embodiment 1 (S70).

[0053] This Embodiment configured as above also exerts action effects similar to those of the Embodiment 1.

[0054] It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described Embodiments but includes various variations. For example, the above-described Embodiments were explained in detail in order to explain the present invention easily to be understood and is not necessarily limited to those including all the configurations explained. In addition, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one of the Embodiments with the configuration of another Embodiment, and it is also possible to add the configuration of another Embodiment to the configuration of one of the Embodiments. In addition, it is possible to add / delete / replace a part of the configuration of each of the Embodiments to / from / with another configuration. Furthermore, each of the Embodiments can be combined as appropriate unless it is clearly contradictory. [Reference Signs List]

[0055] 10    Hydrogen production apparatus 11    Power-retention device 12    Renewable energy generation device 13    Water electrolysis device 14    Hydrogen reserving device 20    Hydrogen production control system 201   Acquisition unit 202   Renewable energy variation amount prediction unit 203   Type-specific hydrogen production planning unit 204   Type-specific hydrogen control unit 205   Output unit

Claims

[CLAIMS]

1. A hydrogen production control system for having a hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogen, the hydrogen production apparatus being configured to produce hydrogen with different environmental impacts byinputting a power amount from a renewable energy powergeneration device for generating electric power by renewableenergy or a power amount from a power grid into a waterelectrolysis device so as to electrolyze water, the system comprising: a renewable energy variation amount prediction unit configured to predict variation of the power amount from the renewable energy generation device; anda type-specific hydrogen production planning unit configured to create a type-specific hydrogen production plan for having the hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogenwith the different environmental impacts in accordance with a prediction result by the renewable energy variation amountprediction unit, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning unitcreates a production plan for causing first hydrogen with asmaller environmental impact, among hydrogen with the different environmental impacts, to be produced by using apower amount in a first case where the power amount is predicted to be stably supplied from the renewable energygeneration device by the renewable energy variation amount prediction unit.

2. The hydrogen production control system according to claim1, further comprisinga type-specific hydrogen control unit configured tooutput a control signal to the hydrogen production apparatus in accordance with the type-specific hydrogen production plan.

3. The hydrogen production control system according to claim2, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning unit isconfigured to cause:the first hydrogen to be produced by using a power amount predicted to be supplied in the first case from the renewableenergy generation device; andthe second hydrogen with an environmental impact largerthan that of the first hydrogen to be produced by using apower amount predicted to be supplied from the renewableenergy generation device in a second case other than the first case.

4. The hydrogen production control system according to claim3, whereinthe hydrogen production apparatus further comprises apower-retention device for storing a power amount from therenewable energy generation device or a power amount from the power grid and causes the power amount, which has been stored as necessary, to be input into the water electrolysis device.

5. The hydrogen production control system according to claim4, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning unit isconfigured to create the type-specific hydrogen production plan such that a power amount is procured from at least anyone of the renewable energy power generation device, the powergrid or the power-retention device such that a value of anenvironmental impact of the second hydrogen is equal to orsmaller than a predetermined threshold value.

6. The hydrogen production control system according to claim5, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning unit isconfigured to create the type-specific hydrogen production plan such that a change in a power amount input into the waterelectrolysis device is suppressed.

7. The hydrogen production control system according to claim6, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning unit isconfigured to create the type-specific hydrogen production plan such that a change in a power amount input into the waterelectrolysis device is suppressed by adding at least one of apower amount from the power grid and a power amount from thepower-retention device to a power amount from the renewableenergy power generation device in the second case.

8. A hydrogen production method for having a hydrogen production apparatus produce hydrogen,the hydrogen production apparatus producing hydrogen with different environmental impacts by inputting a power amountfrom a renewable energy generation device for generatingelectric power by renewable energy or a power amount from apower grid into a water electrolysis device such that water iselectrolyzed,the method comprising:a renewable-energy variation-amount predicting step of predicting variation of an electric power amount from the renewable energy generation device; anda type-specific hydrogen production planning step ofcreating a type-specific hydrogen production plan such thathydrogen with the different environmental impacts is producedby the hydrogen production apparatus in accordance with aprediction result by the renewable-energy variation-amountpredicting step, whereinthe type-specific hydrogen production planning stepcreates a production plan for causing first hydrogen with asmaller environmental impact, among hydrogen with thedifferent environmental impacts, to be produced by using a power amount of a first case in which a power amount ispredicted to be supplied stably from the renewable energygeneration device by the renewable-energy variation-amount predicting step.

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