Information processing device, information processing method, program and information processing system

Abstract

To allocate to creators, a creation method for creating demand for carbon credits.SOLUTION: A demand acquisition part 120 acquires demand for carbon credits. A method allocation part 121: refers to a method database 100 that stores a plurality of creation methods for creating carbon credits and carbon credit creation ability of each of the plurality of creation methods, with the creation methods and carbon credit creation ability associated with each other, and a creator database 101 that stores one or a plurality of carbon credit creators and a creation method that can be realized by each creator, with the one or the plurality of carbon credit creators and the creation method realized by each creator associated with each other; and allocates one or a plurality of creation methods necessary for creating carbon credits corresponding to the demand, within a range that can be realized by each of the one or the plurality of creators.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, a program, and an information processing system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in addition to making efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide and methane, that are emitted as a result of various human activities, the idea of ​​"carbon offsetting" has become widespread, which involves investing in activities to reduce greenhouse gases that are unavoidable, thereby compensating for the greenhouse gases that are emitted. As part of this, efforts are being made to offset greenhouse gas emissions that are difficult for companies and other organizations to reduce through their own activities by purchasing "carbon credits" that have been achieved by other organizations or locations to reduce or absorb greenhouse gases.

[0003] As a technology related to the above efforts, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology that calculates how much methane emissions can be reduced when materials are used based on the amount of methane emissions from rice paddies, and grants carbon credits according to the amount of reduction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-139703 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above technology makes it possible to quantify the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that can be reduced or absorbed by individual agricultural land such as rice paddies. On the other hand, in order to realize carbon offsets, it is necessary and desirable to establish a mechanism that can meet the demand for carbon credits from companies and other organizations by supplying one or more carbon credits, including agricultural land.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and has an object to provide a technique for allocating a carbon credit creation method for creating a demand for carbon credits to carbon credit creators. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention is an information processing device comprising: a demand amount acquisition unit that acquires a demand amount of carbon credits, a method database that stores a plurality of carbon credit creation methods and the carbon credit creation capacity of each of the plurality of carbon credit creation methods in association with each other, and a creator database that stores one or more carbon credit creators in association with the creation methods that each of the creators can realize, and a method allocation unit that allocates one or more carbon credit creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount to a degree that each of the one or more creators can realize.

[0008] The information processing device may further include a request creation unit that creates a request to one or more carbon credit creators to implement one or more of the creation methods, a confirmed method acquisition unit that acquires one or more of the creation methods and one or more confirmed methods within the scope of the creation methods that the one or more carbon credit creators have decided to implement, and a total supply amount calculation unit that calculates a total supply amount, which is the total amount of carbon credits that can be created by the confirmed method, based on the one or more confirmed methods.

[0009] The total supply amount calculation unit may calculate the total supply amount by subtracting the amount of greenhouse gas emission required to introduce one or more of the determination methods, converted into the emission of the reference gas, from the amount of greenhouse gas reduction resulting from the introduction of the one or more determination methods, when converted into the emission of the reference gas, which is a predetermined greenhouse gas.

[0010] The total supply amount calculation unit may calculate the total supply amount by subtracting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions required to introduce one or more of the determination methods, which has been converted into the emission of the standard gas, from the amount of greenhouse gas reduction resulting from the introduction of the one or more determination methods, when converted into the emission of the standard gas, and then further subtracting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions before the introduction of the one or more determination methods, which has been converted into the emission of the standard gas.

[0011] The information processing device may further include a demand satisfaction determination unit that determines the magnitude relationship between the total supply amount calculated by the total supply amount calculation unit and the demand amount acquired by the demand amount acquisition unit, and a demand adjustment unit that, when the total supply amount is less than the demand amount, acquires one or more carbon credit procurement sources so that the demand amount is greater than or equal to the difference between the demand amount and the total supply amount.

[0012] The multiple creation methods for creating the carbon credits may include a creation method that involves a product as an outcome, and the demand acquisition unit may further acquire a purchase designation for the product, and the method allocation unit may allocate the creation methods to include a creation method that involves production of the product for which the purchase designation has been made.

[0013] The multiple creation methods for creating the carbon credits may include creation methods that involve a product as an outcome, the creator database may include balance information for specifying the balance between the yield of the product based on the creation method that involves production of the product and the carbon credit creation capacity, and the method allocation unit may include an optimization unit that allocates to the creators one or more of the creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand by optimizing an objective function that includes the balance information as a constraint condition.

[0014] The information processing device may further include a combination database that stores creation method combination information indicating conditions to be imposed when using different creation methods in combination, and the method allocation unit may include an optimization unit that allocates to the creator one or more of the creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount by optimizing an objective function that includes the creation method combination information as a constraint condition.

[0015] The information processing device may further include a result selling section that sells at least a portion of the result of a creative technique that involves a product as a result to a person who wishes to purchase the result.

[0016] A second aspect of the present invention is an information processing method, in which a processor executes the steps of acquiring a demand for carbon credits, and allocating, to a feasible extent to each of one or more creators, one or more carbon credit generating methods required to generate carbon credits equivalent to the demand, by referring to a method database that stores a plurality of carbon credit generating methods and the carbon credit generating capabilities of each of the plurality of generating methods in association with each other, and a creator database that stores a plurality of carbon credit creators in association with each of the generating methods that each of the creators can realize.

[0017] A third aspect of the present invention is a program that causes a computer to realize a function of acquiring a demand for carbon credits, and a function of referencing a method database that stores a plurality of carbon credit creating methods and the carbon credit creating capacity of each of the plurality of creating methods in association with each other, and a creator database that stores one or more carbon credit creators in association with creating methods that each of the creators can realize, and allocating the one or more creating methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand to a range that each of the one or more creators can realize.

[0018] In order to provide this program or to update a part of the program, a computer-readable recording medium having this program recorded thereon may be provided, or this program may be transmitted over a communication line.

[0019] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an information processing system including a terminal used by a carbon credit demander and an information processing device connected to the terminal via a communication network. In this system, the information processing device includes a demand amount acquisition unit that acquires a demand amount of carbon credits from the terminal, and a method allocation unit that allocates one or more of the creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount to a range that can be realized by each of the one or more creators, by referring to a method database that stores a plurality of creation methods for creating carbon credits in association with each other and a creator database that stores one or more carbon credit creators in association with the creation methods that each of the creators can realize.

[0020] Any combination of the above components, and any transformation of the present invention into a method, device, system, computer program, data structure, recording medium, etc., are also effective as aspects of the present invention. Effect of the Invention

[0021] According to the present invention, a generating method for generating a demand amount of carbon credits can be assigned to a carbon credit generator. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of an information processing system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a method database according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a creator database according to the embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a data structure of a combined use database according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a graph for explaining creation technique combination information. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of information processing executed by an information processing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration of an information processing device according to a third modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a creator database 101 according to a fourth modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] <Outline of the embodiment> The information processing device according to the embodiment selects a carbon credit creation method for creating carbon credits equal to or greater than the demand amount obtained from carbon credit demanders (e.g., companies), and executes a process of allocating the carbon credits to a carbon credit creator (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as a "creator") who executes the creation method. Here, a "creation method" is a method for creating carbon credits, and examples of such methods include a method for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a method for fixing carbon, and a method for acquiring carbon credits created by others. A "creator" is a person who executes the creation method and is responsible for creating carbon credits, and examples of such methods include farmers.

[0024] In many cases, the demand for carbon credits by large organizations such as companies exceeds the supply of carbon credits that a single creator such as a farmer can create. Therefore, the information processing device according to the embodiment selects one or more carbon credit creation methods and distributes them to one or more creators so as to meet the demand for carbon credits.

[0025] Here, each creator has a different scale and a different direction, and the maximum amount of carbon credits that can be created, feasible methods, preferred methods, etc. may differ for each creator. The information processing device optimizes the creation methods to be assigned to each creator, taking into consideration the creation capabilities and requests of each creator to whom the creation methods are to be distributed. In this way, the information processing device according to the embodiment can optimize the allocation of creation methods to creators for creating the demand amount of carbon credits.

[0026] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic overview of an information processing system S according to an embodiment. The information processing system S includes an information processing device 1, a consumer terminal 2, and a storage device 3. Below, with reference to Fig. 1, an overview of the flow of information processing executed in the information processing system S will be explained in the order of (1) to (8), and the numbers correspond to (1) to (8) in Fig. 1.

[0027] (1) The information processing device 1 acquires the demand for carbon credits from a carbon credit consumer. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device 1 acquires the demand for carbon credits from a consumer terminal 2 used by the carbon credit consumer. Alternatively, or in addition, the information processing device 1 may acquire the demand by estimating the future demand based on the history of the past demand. In this case, the information processing device 1 may predict the demand by applying a known estimation algorithm, such as a known seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average or Bayesian modeling, to the history of the past demand. The information processing device 1 may also acquire a total demand by adding up the demands of multiple consumers, or may use the amount obtained by subtracting the secured carbon credits as the demand.

[0028] (2) The information processing device 1 allocates one or more generation methods required to generate carbon credits equivalent to the acquired demand amount to the extent that each of the one or more creators can realize it. Here, it is preferable that the generation methods include the following two types of methods, broadly divided. The first type is a type of method that switches an existing method that emits greenhouse gases to another method that reduces emissions. For example, in a greenhouse farm, by switching an old, fuel-intensive heater to a new, fuel-efficient heater, the amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, emitted when the heater is operating is reduced, and carbon credits are generated.

[0029] The second type is a method of preventing greenhouse gases that would have been emitted in the first place. For example, wood, bamboo, rice husks, excrement, etc., will be decomposed by microbial activity and released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide if left as is. Therefore, by burying these materials in farmland as charcoal, bamboo charcoal, human waste, excrement, rice husks, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "biochar"), the carbon that would have been released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide is stored in the soil, fixing the carbon and creating carbon credits.

[0030] While the first type of method is a method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that have already been emitted, that is, a method to reduce emissions that are already positive, the second type is a method to suppress future greenhouse gas emissions, in other words, a method to make the zero-base of greenhouse gas emissions negative. In this sense, another example of the second type of method is photovoltaic power generation using solar panels. This is because carbon credits can be created by suppressing the combustion of fossil fuels that would have been generated to generate the electricity generated by solar power generation.

[0031] Specifically, there are multiple methods for each of the two methods mentioned above. For example, biochar is provided by multiple companies, each with a different amount of carbon fixation and upper limit for application. Also, when replacing equipment such as heaters, the same type of equipment is provided by multiple companies, and the greenhouse gas reduction effect varies. Furthermore, the various seedlings (for example, tomato seedlings and pepper seedlings) used together with fertilizer also have different amounts of carbon fixation and compatibility with fertilizer depending on the type, and each creator has their own seedlings that they are good at growing, their favorite seedlings, and equipment.

[0032] For this purpose, the information processing device 1 accesses the method database and creator database stored in the storage device 3, and assigns each creator a creation method and its scope (e.g., the amount of bio-edges to be buried, the number of seedlings to be planted, etc.) according to the creator's needs by solving a combinatorial optimization problem.

[0033] (3) The information processing device 1 creates a request for one or more carbon credit creators to implement one or more generation methods. The information processing device 1 notifies each creator of the created implementation request by electronic means such as email, a dedicated application, or a web application, or by physical means such as mail, and requests them to implement the generation method.

[0034] (4) The information processing device 1 acquires from each creator who has requested the implementation the creation method that each creator has decided to implement. The creation method that the creator has decided to implement and its scope are hereinafter referred to as the "confirmed method" in this specification. The information processing device 1 may acquire the confirmed method by electronic means from the electronic device used by each creator, or may acquire the confirmed method by having the operator of the information processing device 1 input the confirmed method communicated by each creator by mail.

[0035] (5) Based on the determination method acquired from each creator, the information processing device 1 calculates the total supply amount, which is the total amount of carbon credits that can be created by the determination method. (6) If the total supply amount is equal to or greater than the demand amount, the information processing device 1 causes the material manufacturer 4 to send the materials to be used in the determination method to the creator within the range used in the determination method. This allows the creator to create carbon credits.

[0036] (7) If the total supply amount is less than the demand amount, the information processing device 1 acquires one or more carbon credit procurement sources so that the difference between the demand amount and the total supply amount is equal to or greater than the difference between the demand amount and the total supply amount. Here, the "procurement" of carbon credits preferably includes the following three types of methods, which are broadly divided.

[0037] The first type is a method of procuring carbon credits by allocating a generation method to a producer who has already decided on a fixed generation method or a new producer, as described above. In this case, the procurement recipient is the producer such as the farmer mentioned above.

[0038] The second type is a method of procuring items that have already been reduced in greenhouse gas emissions but that have not been notified to the information processing device 1 as carbon credits. For example, if the creator has already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by changing equipment or installing solar panels, the information processing device 1 can procure carbon credits corresponding to the amount of reduction. In the case of a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by changing equipment, the carbon credits belong to the creator, such as a farmer, so the information processing device 1 procures them by purchasing them from the farmer. In this case, the source of procurement is the creator, such as the farmer mentioned above.

[0039] In the case of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by installing solar panels, carbon credits are assigned to the solar panels. In this case, the attribution of carbon credits changes depending on the sales contract between the panel manufacturer and the creator. In the case where the carbon credits belong to the creator, the information processing device 1 can procure them by purchasing them from farmers, etc. In the case where the carbon credits belong to the panel manufacturer, the information processing device 1 procures them by purchasing them from the panel manufacturer. In the case where greenhouse gas emissions are reduced by installing solar panels, the supplier is the manufacturer of the equipment that contributed to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

[0040] The third type is similar to the first type, but is a method of procuring carbon credits from a partner who is a party other than the creator requested by the information processing device 1 to perform the creation method and who is a partner in the procurement of carbon credits by the information processing device 1. For example, seaweed that grows in colonies near the continental shelf is known to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. The information processing device 1 can procure carbon credits by purchasing carbon credits corresponding to blue carbon from a party that is working to increase "blue carbon," which is carbon dioxide absorbed by this seaweed and phytoplankton, or to stop its decrease.

[0041] (8) In cases where the determination method involves the output of products (hereinafter simply referred to as "products") produced in primary industries, including agricultural products such as crops such as grains and fruit cultivation, livestock products such as cattle and pigs, and marine products such as fish and shellfish and seaweed, the consumer of carbon credits may wish to purchase these products. In this case, the information processing device 1 obtains a purchase designation for the product from the consumer. The information processing device 1 manages the work of collecting the purchased product from the creator and the work of transporting the collected product to the consumer. This allows the consumer of carbon credits to purchase the product at the same time as purchasing the carbon credit. In cases where the consumer of carbon credits is a company, etc., the purchased product can be consumed in the company cafeteria or by selling or distributing it to employees as employee benefits.

[0042] In this manner, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can assign a creation method for creating the demand amount of carbon credits to the creator.

[0043] <Functional configuration of information processing device 1 according to the embodiment> FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of an information processing device 1 according to an embodiment. The information processing device 1 includes a storage unit 10, a communication unit 11, and a control unit 12. In FIG. 2, arrows indicate main data flows, and there may be data flows not shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2, each functional block indicates a functional unit configuration, not a hardware (device) unit configuration. Therefore, the functional blocks shown in FIG. 2 may be implemented in a single device, or may be implemented separately in multiple devices. Data may be exchanged between functional blocks via any means, such as a data bus, a network, or a portable storage medium.

[0044] The storage unit 10 is a large-capacity storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) of a computer that realizes the information processing device 1, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a working area for the information processing device 1, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) that stores an OS (Operating System), application programs, and various information referenced when the application programs are executed. As shown in Fig. 2, the storage unit 10 stores a method database 100, a creator database 101, and a combination database 102.

[0045] The communication unit 11 is a communication interface for the information processing device 1 to exchange data with an external device, and can be realized using a known communication module such as a known Wi-Fi (registered trademark) module or a LAN (Local Area Network). Hereinafter, when each unit constituting the information processing device 1 exchanges data with an external device, the description of the communication unit 11 may be omitted on the assumption that the data is exchanged via the communication unit 11.

[0046] The control unit 12 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) of the information processing device 1, and functions as a demand acquisition unit 120, a method allocation unit 121, a request creation unit 122, a confirmation method acquisition unit 123, a total supply calculation unit 124, a demand satisfaction determination unit 125, a demand adjustment unit 126, and a result sales unit 127 by executing programs stored in the memory unit 10.

[0047] 2 shows an example in which the information processing device 1 is configured as a single device. However, the information processing device 1 may be realized by a plurality of processors, memories, and other computing resources, such as a cloud computing system. In this case, each unit constituting the control unit 12 is realized by at least one of a plurality of different processors executing a program.

[0048] The demand amount acquisition unit 120 acquires the demand amount of carbon credits by carbon credit demanders. The method allocation unit 121 allocates one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount acquired by the demand amount acquisition unit 120 to the extent that each of the one or more creators can realize.

[0049] Specifically, the method allocation unit 121 refers to a method database that stores multiple creation methods for creating carbon credits and the carbon credit creation capacity of each of the multiple creation methods in association with each other, and acquires candidates for creation methods to be allocated to each creator. Next, the method allocation unit 121 refers to a creator database that stores one or more creators in association with creation methods that each creator can realize, and allocates one or more creation methods to one or more creators by solving an optimization problem in which the creation methods that each creator can realize are constraints. This allows the information processing device 1 to allocate creation methods for creating the demand amount of carbon credits to the creators.

[0050] Here, each creator does not necessarily accept the implementation of the creation method assigned to each creator by the information processing device 1. Therefore, the request creation unit 122 creates an implementation request for one or more creation methods for one or more creators. The creator who receives the implementation request decides whether to implement the requested creation method, and if so, whether to implement all of the requested creation methods, implement only a part of them, or implement them with some changes.

[0051] The confirmed method acquisition unit 123 acquires one or more creation methods that one or more creators have decided to implement and one or more confirmed methods that are the scope of the creation methods. As described above, the confirmed method that the creator has decided to implement may differ from the creation method and its scope in the implementation request created by the request creation unit 122. Therefore, the total supply amount calculation unit 124 calculates the total supply amount, which is the total amount of carbon credits that can be created by the confirmed method, based on one or more confirmed methods.

[0052] Specifically, the total supply calculation unit 124 first calculates the reduction amount of greenhouse gases by introducing one or more determination methods when the greenhouse gases are converted into a reference gas, which is a type of greenhouse gas such as carbon dioxide. In the following, the description is given on the assumption that the reference gas is carbon dioxide, but the reference gas does not have to be carbon dioxide. For example, the reference gas may be other greenhouse gases such as methane gas, chlorofluorocarbon gas, or carbon monoxide, and which one is used may be determined in advance. Here, it is assumed that the determination method is a method of burying a predetermined amount of biochar in farmland. In this case, the amount of fixed carbon can be calculated by multiplying the amount of carbon stored per unit weight of biochar by a predetermined amount, and the reduction amount of greenhouse gases when this carbon is converted into carbon dioxide is calculated.

[0053] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic example of a data structure of the technique database 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the technique database 100 manages the creation techniques by assigning an identifier to each creation technique. In the example of the technique database 100 shown in Fig. 3, the creation technique with the identifier ID0001 is biochar provided by company A, and the amount of fixed carbon dioxide is X kilograms per liter. Carbon credits created by biochar belong to the creator who purchased the biochar, so the type of the creation technique is "normal."

[0054] In the method database 100 shown in FIG. 3, the creation method with the identifier ID0ccc is a creation method that uses solar panels. Carbon credits created by solar panels belong to the solar panel manufacturer, so the creation method type is the "program" type. Also, the creation method with the identifier IDXXXX is a method that creates carbon credits by purchasing carbon credits from X Company, an associate, so the creation method type is the "purchase" type. The total supply calculation unit 124 can calculate the reduction in greenhouse gases converted to carbon dioxide by introducing one or more determination methods by referring to the method database 100.

[0055] Although not shown in the method database 100 shown in Fig. 3, as another example of a creation method, there is a method that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by switching from conventional farming methods that use chemical fertilizers to organic fertilizers, and as a result, contribute to the creation of carbon credits. For example, by changing the greenhouse gases generated in the synthesis process of chemical fertilizers (e.g., greenhouse gases associated with the mining and transportation of phosphate rock) to domestically produced organic fertilizers, it is possible to reduce greenhouse gases caused by the use of chemical fertilizers associated with mining and transportation from overseas, and to create carbon credits.

[0056] Next, the total supply calculation unit 124 calculates the amount of greenhouse gas emissions required to introduce the determination method, and calculates the amount of emissions converted into carbon dioxide emissions. When the determination method involves burying a specified amount of biochar in farmland, the biochar needs to be transported from the manufacturer's factory to the farmland. When a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine is used for the transportation, greenhouse gases are emitted as exhaust gas from the internal combustion engine during transportation. When an electrically powered vehicle is used for transportation, greenhouse gases are generated when generating electricity. The total supply calculation unit 124 calculates the amount of greenhouse gas emissions according to the power of the vehicle used for transportation, thereby making it possible to more accurately calculate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions when the determination method is introduced.

[0057] When the greenhouse gas reduction amount by introducing one or more determination methods exceeds the greenhouse gas emission amount required to introduce the determination methods, the difference is the net greenhouse gas reduction amount by introducing the determination methods. Therefore, the total supply amount calculation unit 124 calculates the above-mentioned total supply amount by subtracting the greenhouse gas emission amount required to introduce the determination methods, which is converted into carbon dioxide emission, from the greenhouse gas reduction amount by introducing one or more determination methods when converted into carbon dioxide.

[0058] This allows the information processing device 1 to estimate the total amount of carbon credits that can be created by the determination method.

[0059] Since the method allocation unit 121 allocates the creation method for creating the demand amount of carbon credits to the creators, if all the creators implement the creation method requested by the request making unit 122, the total supply amount of carbon credits will satisfy the demand amount. However, it may happen that the determined method is different from the creation method included in the implementation request, or the range of the method is narrower. Therefore, the demand satisfaction determination unit 125 determines the magnitude relationship between the total supply amount calculated by the total supply amount calculation unit 124 and the demand amount acquired by the demand amount acquisition unit 120.

[0060] When the total supply amount is less than the demand amount, the demand adjustment unit 126 acquires one or more carbon credit suppliers so that the total supply amount is equal to or greater than the difference between the demand amount and the total supply amount. The carbon credit suppliers are the above-mentioned producers such as farmers, equipment manufacturers, or partners. The information processing device 1 can ensure the creation of carbon credits that meet the demand amount by repeating the calculation of the total supply amount, the comparison of the total supply amount with the demand amount, and the acquisition of suppliers until the total supply amount exceeds the demand amount.

[0061] (Allocation of Creation Methods) The allocation of creation techniques by the technique allocation unit 121 will be described in more detail below.

[0062] The multiple creation methods include a creation method that uses seedlings of a product as a material, such as a tomato seedling. These creation methods are creation methods that involve a product as an outcome. When the demand amount acquisition unit 120 further acquires a purchase designation for a product in addition to the demand amount for carbon credits, the method allocation unit 121 preferentially allocates these creation methods so as to include a creation method that involves the production of the product for which a purchase designation has been made.

[0063] The result selling unit 127 sells the carbon credits created by the creator to the demander. The result selling unit 127 also accepts a purchase request for at least a part of the result from a creation method that involves a product as the result from a person who wishes to purchase the result, and sells the product to the demander after the product is harvested. In this way, the demander becomes a demander, and can purchase the product at the same time as purchasing the carbon credits. In addition, the producer of the product, who is the creator, can easily make a production plan because the buyer of the product is already decided at the time of starting production of the product.

[0064] As mentioned above, each producer of a product (creator) has a different specialty. In addition, each producer of a product (creator) has a different stance on the creation of carbon credits that accompany the production of the product. For example, while some producers prioritize increasing the yield of their products over the creation of carbon credits, there are also producers who prioritize securing a certain amount of carbon credits and aim to maximize the yield of their products within that amount.

[0065] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the creator database 101 according to the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 4, the creator database 101 manages creators by assigning an identifier to each creator, and stores balance information for specifying the balance between the yield of a product based on a creation technique involving the production of a product and the ability to create carbon credits for each creator.

[0066] In the example of creator database 101 shown in FIG. 4, a creator with an identifier UID0001 can at least implement the creation methods indicated by identifiers ID0001 and ID00YY, and the balance information is "Type 1." Type 1 balance information indicates that maximizing the amount of carbon fixation (i.e., the amount of carbon credits created) is prioritized, and the yield of the product is left to chance. Similarly, a creator with an identifier UID0002 can at least implement the creation methods indicated by identifiers ID0XXX and IDZZZZ, and the balance information is Type 2 (the amount of carbon fixation is set to an arbitrary value or more, while maximizing the yield of the product).

[0067] These pieces of balance information can be considered as conditions that the method allocation unit 121 should take into consideration when allocating creation methods to each creator. For this reason, the method allocation unit 121 includes an optimization unit 1210 that optimizes an objective function that includes the balance information as a constraint condition, thereby allocating one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount to each creator.

[0068] Here, j is an index representing the creator, k is an index representing the creation method that uses farmland, and l is an index representing the creation method that does not use farmland and is not dependent on farmland. The jth creator will be referred to as creator j, the kth creation method that uses farmland as creation method k, and the lth creation method that does not use farmland as creation method l. In addition, the amount of application per unit area when creator j implements creation method k is a j k , the area of ​​farmland used by creator j for creation method k is h j k Let us assume that.

[0069] The creation method that does not use agricultural land is, for example, a method in which creator j replaces the heating device he uses with a more fuel-efficient device or electrifies agricultural machinery that is powered by an internal combustion engine, and the carbon fixation amount of these creation methods is calculated as b j k Let us assume that.

[0070] When the creation method k is vegetable seedlings, the amount of carbon fixation per unit area r can be increased by changing the amount of application per unit area (the density of seedlings planted in farmland). j k In addition, when the creation method k is biocharcoal, the amount of carbon fixation r changes depending on the amount of application per unit area (the amount of biochar per unit area buried in farmland). j k In this way, even if the creation method k is the same, the amount of application a per unit area varies depending on the creator j. j k may vary, which may affect the amount of carbon fixation per unit area r j k may also differ. j k is a j k It is expressed as a function of f k Then, r j k is a j k This can be expressed as the following equation (1).

[0071]

number

[0072] In general, the application rate per unit area of ​​the creation method k is a j k When the amount of carbon fixation per unit area is increased, r j k Since f also increases, k is a monotonically increasing function.

[0073] The area of ​​farmland h used by creator j for creation method k j k is determined in advance by the creator j, and is registered in the creator database 101 in advance, although this is not shown in FIG. 4. In this sense, h j kcan be regarded as a constant, not subject to optimization by the optimization unit 1210. In this case, the total amount C of carbon credits created by all creators is expressed by the following formula (2).

[0074]

number

[0075] Let q be the yield per unit area of ​​the creation method k implemented by creator j. j k The yield per unit area of ​​the creation method k is q j k is the amount of application per unit area of ​​creation method k implemented by creator j. j k For example, increasing the density of seedlings planted in farmland increases yield, but increasing the density too much can have a negative effect on seedling growth and may result in a decrease in yield. j k and application rate a j k The function that expresses the relationship between k Then, q j k is a j k Using this, it can be expressed as the following equation (3). k The specific form of each creation method is the amount of application per unit area a j k The yield q j k can be determined by experiment.

[0076]

number

[0077] In this case, the yield P of the product obtained by creator j implementing creation method k is j k is expressed by the following equation (4).

[0078]

number

[0079] The balance information is the yield of the product P j k For example, if creator j is the product of innovation method k, the yield P j k If the balance information indicates that the yield P j k Conversely, the creator j is required to maximize the yield P j k If it is acceptable to leave it as it is, the optimization unit 1210 calculates the yield P j k Without any constraints on a j k It is sufficient to determine the following.

[0080] Here, creator j may have a minimum yield (for example, average yield per item or unit area) that he or she wants to achieve for creation method k. In such a case, the end goal of creation method k by creator j is P cons Then, the following equation (5) is a j k This is a constraint.

[0081]

number

[0082] In the formula (2), Σ l b j l The term is determined once the creator j and creation method l are determined. Also, h j k is determined in advance by the creator j. The carbon credits corresponding to the demand acquired by the demand acquisition unit 120 are demand At this time, the optimization unit 1210 uses a predetermined h j kUnder various constraints based on balance information such as equation (5), C in equation (2) is C ≧ C demand To achieve this, a known optimization method such as linear programming is used to j k (Application amount per unit area of ​​creation method k implemented by creator j) is determined.

[0083] This allows the information processing device 1 to reflect the stance of each creator regarding the creation of carbon credits in the allocation of creation methods to be requested to each creator.

[0084] The above explanation is based on the premise that each creation method can be implemented independently. For example, a creator can simultaneously implement a creation method for growing tomatoes and a creation method for replacing a heater without interfering with each other. On the other hand, when two different creation methods are used in combination, there are combinations of creation methods in which they affect each other.

[0085] 5 is a diagram showing an example of a data structure of the combination database 102 according to the embodiment. The combination database 102 stores creation technique combination information indicating conditions that should be imposed when different creation techniques are used in combination.

[0086] As shown in Fig. 5, the combined use database 102 stores, for each of a plurality of creation techniques, the upper limit of the usage amount when the creation technique is used alone, and the upper limit of the usage amount when the creation technique is used in combination with another creation technique that has an effect when used in combination. Fig. 5 shows an example of creation technique combined use information for a creation technique with an identifier ID0001 (biochar made by Company A).

[0087] Biochar has the property of making soil alkaline when buried underground. On the other hand, chemical fertilizer A has the property of making soil acidic when used. Therefore, by using biochar in combination with chemical fertilizer A, the effects of the biochar are neutralized by chemical fertilizer A, and as a result, a greater amount of biochar can be used than when biochar is used alone. In other words, in Figure 5, the upper limit T [kg] / m2 of the usage fee when biochar is used in combination with chemical fertilizer A is greater than the upper limit S [kg] / m2 of the usage fee when biochar is used alone.

[0088] In contrast, organic fertilizer U, which contains lime made from oyster shells, for example, has the property of making the soil more alkaline when used. For this reason, when using biochar and organic fertilizer U in combination, the upper limit of the amount used is set lower than when biochar is used alone in order to prevent the soil from becoming too alkaline. That is, in Figure 5, V [kg] / m2 is smaller than S [kg] / m2.

[0089] Although not shown in FIG. 5, the combined use database 102 also stores the product as the creation method and the pesticide usable for that product as the creation method combined use information. When the cultivation of a product for which usable pesticides are limited is assigned as the creation method, it is preferable that the information processing device 1 can also show the creator the pesticide suitable for that product. In addition, since the tolerance range of the acidic soil of the soil varies depending on the product cultivated in the farmland, biochar and fertilizer to be used in combination may be assigned so that the soil has a pH within the range permitted by the type of product assigned as the creation method. In addition, the purpose of "pesticides" is mainly to remove weeds and protect products from pests. For this reason, for example, by having birds such as ducks remove weeds and exterminate insects instead of pesticides used on rice, it is possible to suppress the generation of greenhouse gases associated with the production of pesticides and contribute to the creation of carbon credits.

[0090] Therefore, the optimization unit 1210 optimizes an objective function that includes the combined use of creation methods information as a constraint condition, thereby allocating one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits equivalent to the demand amount to the creator.

[0091] 6(a)-(c) are diagrams showing examples of graphs for explaining the combined use information of creation techniques. The graphs shown in Fig. 6(a)-(c) are examples, and although not shown, the combined use database 102 stores data on the effects of various combinations of creation techniques when used together.

[0092] Figure 6(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of biochar applied and the amount of carbon fixed, and the amount of biochar applied and the yield of the product when a certain creation method k that produces a product as an outcome is used in combination with biochar made by Company A. In Figure 6(a), the horizontal axis shows the amount of biochar applied per unit area, the vertical axis shown by the solid line and the graph with the solid line show the amount of carbon fixed, and the vertical axis shown by the dashed line and the graph with the dashed line show the yield. Figure 6(a) shows that the amount of carbon fixed is proportional to the amount applied per unit area. On the other hand, it shows that the yield increases as the amount applied per unit area increases, but eventually reaches a plateau and finally starts to decrease.

[0093] Figure 6(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of biochar applied and the amount of carbon fixed by Company B, and between the amount of biochar applied and the yield of a product. Similarly, Figure 6(c) is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of biochar applied and the amount of carbon fixed by Company X, and between the amount of biochar applied and the yield of a product.

[0094] Comparing Figure 6(a) and Figure 6(b), the change in crop yield relative to the amount of biochar applied is almost the same. On the other hand, it can be seen that biochar made by Company B fixes more carbon than biochar made by Company A, even with the same amount applied. Also, comparing Figure 6(a) and Figure 6(c), it can be seen that biochar made by Company X fixes a little more carbon than biochar made by Company A, and furthermore, the maximum yield when biochar was applied is larger.

[0095] For example, for a creator j, the balance information for a creation method k is "yield is a given amount P cons In this case, the optimization unit 1210 searches for a condition that maximizes the amount of carbon fixation under the constraint condition shown in formula (4). In the example shown in Fig. 6(a)-(c), when the application amount per unit area of ​​biochar made by company B is α, the yield is a predetermined amount P cons It can be seen that the amount of fixed carbon is maximized while satisfying the above. Therefore, the optimization unit 1210 derives a solution in which the application amount per unit area of ​​biochar made by company B for creation method k is set to α.

[0096] As another example, for a creator j, the balance information for a creation method k is "maximize yield, let the amount of carbon fixation go with the flow." In this case, the optimization unit 1210 searches for a condition that maximizes the yield without considering the amount of carbon fixation as a constraint. In the example shown in FIG. 6(a)-(c), it can be seen that the yield is maximized when the amount of biochar made by Company X applied per unit area is β. Therefore, the optimization unit 1210 derives a solution in which the amount of biochar made by Company X applied per unit area is β for the creation method k.

[0097] In this way, the information processing device 1 can reflect the influence of using creation techniques in combination in the allocation of creation techniques.

[0098] <Processing flow of the information processing method executed by the information processing device 1> 7 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of information processing executed by the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment. The processing in this flowchart starts, for example, when the information processing device 1 is started.

[0099] The demand acquisition unit 120 acquires the demand for carbon credits from carbon credit demanders (S2). The method allocation unit 121 allocates one or more generation methods required to generate carbon credits equivalent to the demand to one or more creators within a feasible range (S4).

[0100] The request creation unit 122 creates a request for one or more carbon credit creators to implement one or more generating methods (S6). The confirmed method acquisition unit 123 acquires one or more generating methods that one or more carbon credit creators have decided to implement and one or more confirmed methods within the scope of the one or more generating methods (S8).

[0101] The total supply calculation unit 124 calculates the total supply amount, which is the total amount of carbon credits that can be created by one or more determination methods, based on the one or more determination methods (S10). If the total supply amount is insufficient for the demand amount of carbon credits (No in S12), the demand adjustment unit 126 acquires one or more carbon credit procurement sources so that the total supply amount is equal to or greater than the difference between the demand amount and the total supply amount (S14). After that, the information processing device 1 returns to the process of step S8 and repeats the process of step S8 and the process of step S10.

[0102] If the total supply amount meets the demand amount of carbon credits (Yes in S12), the process in this flowchart ends.

[0103] <Advantages of the Information Processing Device 1 According to the Embodiment> As described above, the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment can assign a carbon credit creation method for creating the demand amount of carbon credits to a creator.

[0104] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination also has the effect of the original embodiment.

[0105] <First Modification> In the above, the result selling unit 127 of the information processing device 1 has been described as accepting a purchase request from a potential purchaser of a product produced by a creator. In addition, the result selling unit 127 may also accept a purchase request from a potential purchaser of a product produced by a partner.

[0106] For example, among the partners who are working to increase blue carbon or stop its decline, some capture sea urchins and other creatures that eat seaweed that grows in colonies near the continental shelf to protect the seaweed, and also cultivate the captured creatures and sell them for food. The fruit sales unit 127 can provide the provider with a distribution channel for the products produced by the partners by accepting purchase requests from those who wish to purchase the creatures cultivated by the partners for food.

[0107] <Second Modification> In the above, the method allocation unit 121 refers to the creator database 101 and allocates a creation method to each creator while taking into account the balance information of each creator. In addition, the method allocation unit 121 may allocate a creation method under the constraint that the risk of each creator applying the creation method is not reduced. Also, the method allocation unit 121 may allocate a creation method under the constraint that the product produced by each creator approaches the sales target amount, taking into account the sales target amount of the product held by each creator. This can be achieved by storing the risk of applying the creation method and the sales target of the product in association with each creator in the creator database 101.

[0108] <Third modified example> In the above, the total supply amount calculation unit 124 calculates the total supply amount based on one or more determination methods. However, not all creators necessarily implement all of the determined determination methods, and the method itself or the range of the determination method may differ due to some circumstances.

[0109] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of an information processing device 1 according to a third modified example. The information processing device 1 according to the third modified example is different from the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 in that it includes a performance acquisition unit 128, but is otherwise similar. In the following description, parts common to the information processing device 1 according to the third modified example and the information processing device 1 according to the embodiment will be omitted or simplified as appropriate.

[0110] The track record acquisition unit 128 acquires the actually implemented method as a track record method from each creator who has acquired the confirmed method. Specifically, the track record acquisition unit 128 acquires the track record method from the creator by electronic means such as email, a dedicated application, or a web application, or by means such as mailing a dedicated application form filled out by the creator.

[0111] The total supply calculation unit 124 calculates the total supply amount by subtracting the greenhouse gas emission amount required to introduce the proven method, which is converted into carbon dioxide emission amount, from the greenhouse gas reduction amount converted into carbon dioxide amount by introducing each proven method acquired by the result acquisition unit 128. This allows the total supply calculation unit 124 to more accurately calculate the total supply amount based on the proven method, which is the method actually implemented by each creator.

[0112] <Fourth modified example> In the above, a case has been described in which each creator is associated with a creation method that the creator can implement and stored in the creator database 101. Alternatively, the creator database 101 may store each creator and the farmland area, current planted crops, and current materials used that the creator can use.

[0113] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a schematic data structure of the creator database 101 according to the fourth modified example. As shown in Fig. 9, the creator database 101 according to the fourth modified example stores an identifier assigned to each creator, the location of the creator, the farmland area available to the creator, the currently planted crop, and the currently used materials in association with each other. For example, from the example of the creator database 101 shown in Fig. 8, it can be seen that the location of the creator with the identifier UID0001 is BB town, AA prefecture, the farmland area is EE [ha], the planted crop is tomatoes, no soil conditioner is used, the fertilizer is chemical fertilizer A, and seedlings made by company α are used.

[0114] The technique allocation unit 121 according to the fourth modified example refers to the creator database 101, determines the crops that can be planted in the area from the location of each creator, and calculates the range (e.g., the number of seedlings) that each of the determined crops can be planted from the farmland area available to each creator. This allows the technique allocation unit 121 to determine the creation technique that each creator can realize and its range, even if the creation technique that each creator can realize is not recorded in the creator database 101. Furthermore, the optimization unit 1210 can reflect the creation technique (e.g., soil conditioner, various fertilizers, etc.) that each creator has already implemented in the allocation of the creation technique, referring to the creator database 101. This allows the optimization unit 1210 to improve the accuracy of the allocation of the creation technique.

[0115] <Fifth modified example> In the above, a case has been described in which the total supply calculation unit 124 calculates the net reduction amount R (=PQ) obtained by subtracting the carbon dioxide equivalent emission amount Q of greenhouse gas required to introduce the determination method from the reduction amount P of greenhouse gas converted to carbon dioxide by introducing the determination method as the total supply amount. Alternatively, the total supply calculation unit 124 may use the greenhouse gas emission amount B before the introduction of the determination method as a baseline, and may use the carbon dioxide equivalent amount T (=RB=PQB) obtained by subtracting the baseline emission amount B from the net reduction amount R as the total supply amount. In this case, carbon credits are created only when the greenhouse gas reduction effect by introducing the determination method exceeds the amount of greenhouse gas that was previously emitted. This can promote the introduction of a determination method that subtracts greenhouse gas emissions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 1. Information processing device 10...Storage section 100···Method Database 101···Creator Database 102...Combined Database 11. Communications Department 12. Control section 120...Demand quantity acquisition section 121 Method allocation section 1210 Optimization Unit 122... Request Creation Department 123... Deterministic method acquisition part 124... Total supply calculation section 125... Demand Sufficiency Judgment Department 126...Demand Adjustment Department 127... Results Sales Department 128.... Performance Acquisition Department 2. Consumer terminal 3...Storage device 4. Material Manufacturer 5. Slide S...Information Processing System

Claims

1. A demand acquisition unit that acquires the demand for carbon credits; A method allocation unit that allocates one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand to one or more carbon credit creators; A request creation unit that creates a request to implement one or more of the creation methods for one or more carbon credit creators; A notification unit that notifies the carbon credit creator of the implementation request; An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The carbon credits created by the creation method allocated by the method allocation unit are associated with the location where the carbon credits are created. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1.

3. The carbon credits created by the creation method allocated by the method allocation unit are further associated with at least one of the planted crops for creating the carbon credits, the yield of the crops, and the materials used. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2.

4. A confirmed method acquisition unit that acquires one or more of the creation methods and the scope of the one or more confirmed methods determined by one or more carbon credit creators to implement; Based on one or more of the confirmed methods, a supply total amount calculation unit that calculates the total supply amount of carbon credits that can be created by the confirmed methods. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, further comprising the above.

5. The supply total amount calculation unit calculates the total supply amount by subtracting the emission amount of greenhouse gases required to introduce the confirmed method, which is converted to the emission amount of a reference gas that is one of the predetermined greenhouse gases, from the reduction amount when the greenhouse gases introduced by one or more of the confirmed methods are converted to the reference gas. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 4.

6. The supply total amount calculation unit subtracts the emission amount of greenhouse gases required to introduce the confirmed method, which is converted to the emission amount of a reference gas that is one of the predetermined greenhouse gases, from the reduction amount when the greenhouse gases introduced by one or more of the confirmed methods are converted to the reference gas, and then further subtracts the emission amount of greenhouse gases before introducing one or more of the confirmed methods, which is converted to the emission amount of the reference gas, to calculate the total supply amount. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 4.

7.

8. The supply total amount calculation unit calculates the total supply amount by subtracting the emission amount of greenhouse gases required to introduce the confirmed method, which is converted to the emission amount of a reference gas that is one of the predetermined greenhouse gases, from the reduction amount when the greenhouse gases introduced by one or more of the confirmed methods are converted to the reference gas, and then further subtracting the emission amount of greenhouse gases before introducing one or more of the confirmed methods, which is converted to the emission amount of the reference gas. The information processing apparatus according to Claim 4.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13. A demand satisfaction determination unit that determines the magnitude relationship between the total supply quantity calculated by the total supply quantity calculation unit and the demand quantity acquired by the demand quantity acquisition unit; When the total supply quantity is less than the demand quantity, a demand adjustment unit that acquires one or more sources of carbon credit procurement so as to be equal to or greater than the difference between the demand quantity and the total supply quantity; The information processing apparatus according to claim 4.

8. The plurality of creation methods for creating the carbon credit include a creation method accompanied by a product as a result; The demand quantity acquisition unit further acquires a purchase designation of the product; The method allocation unit allocates the creation methods so as to include a creation method involving the production of the product for which the purchase designation has been made; The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The plurality of creation methods for creating the carbon credit include a creation method accompanied by a product as a result; The information processing apparatus further includes a database including balance information for designating a balance between the yield of a product based on a creation method involving the production of the product and the creation ability of carbon credit; The method allocation unit An optimization unit that allocates one or more of the creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand quantity to the carbon credit creators by optimizing an objective function including the balance information as a constraint condition; The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

10. The database further stores creation method combination information indicating conditions to be imposed when using a combination of different creation methods; The method allocation unit An optimization unit that allocates one or more of the creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand quantity to the carbon credit creators by optimizing an objective function including the creation method combination information as a constraint condition; The information processing apparatus according to claim 9.

11. The information processing apparatus further includes a result selling unit that sells at least a part of the result to a person who wishes to purchase the result by a creation method accompanied by a product as a result; The information processing apparatus according to claim 8.

12. The processor Steps of acquiring the demand quantity of carbon credit; Steps of allocating one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand quantity to one or more carbon credit creators; step of creating a request for implementing one or more of the creation methods to one or more carbon credit creators; step of notifying the carbon credit creator of the implementation request; An information processing method for performing.

13. On a computer, a function of obtaining the demand for carbon credits; a function of allocating one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand to one or more carbon credit creators; a function of creating a request for implementing one or more of the creation methods to one or more carbon credit creators; a function of notifying the carbon credit creator of the implementation request; A program for realizing.

14. An information processing system comprising a terminal used by a carbon credit requester and an information processing device connected to the terminal via a communication network, wherein the information processing device a demand acquisition unit that acquires the demand for carbon credits from the terminal; a method allocation unit that allocates one or more creation methods required to create carbon credits corresponding to the demand to one or more carbon credit creators; a request creation unit that creates a request for implementing one or more of the creation methods to one or more carbon credit creators; a notification unit that notifies the carbon credit creator of the implementation request, and An information processing system.

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