Management device

Abstract

To enhance energy efficiency.SOLUTION: A management device manages an energy supply section supplying energy, and an energy consumption section consuming energy. The management device creates an energy supply plan to be performed by the energy supply section on the basis of an electric power demand and supply adjustment command, demand and supply adjustability of the energy supply section and an energy residual amount at the energy consumption section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, hydrogen has been attracting attention as a clean energy source, and fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel are becoming more common. To further popularize fuel cell vehicles, it is necessary to develop hydrogen stations as a fuel supply infrastructure. At hydrogen stations, hydrogen is compressed and stored in a pressure vessel, and the high-pressure hydrogen is filled into fuel cell vehicles via a dispenser. Hydrogen, which is used as fuel, is produced by methods such as steam reforming of city gas or liquefied petroleum gas, or dehydrogenation of organic hydrides such as methylcyclohexane.

[0003] Generally, there are two types of hydrogen stations: on-site and off-site. On-site hydrogen stations produce hydrogen using their own hydrogen production equipment and supply it to fuel cell vehicles. On the other hand, off-site hydrogen stations procure hydrogen produced at other locations and supply it to fuel cell vehicles. Hydrogen is transported using hydrogen trailers and hydrogen carriers.

[0004] In recent years, the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power has been increasing. Because the amount of electricity generated by renewable energy sources fluctuates greatly over time, there is a need for adjustment capabilities to adjust the balance between electricity supply and demand. For example, a supply and demand adjustment system has been proposed that uses surplus electricity from renewable energy sources to produce and store hydrogen, and transports the stored hydrogen to hydrogen stations for use or for power generation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-111984 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2019-144897 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] To transport hydrogen efficiently, it is necessary to compress it to high pressure or to cool it to extremely low temperatures, and storing and transporting a large amount of hydrogen is costly. Furthermore, using hydrogen produced by water electrolysis for power generation is not preferable from the viewpoint of energy efficiency.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and one of the objects thereof is to provide a technique for improving energy efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A management device of one embodiment of the present invention is a management device that manages an energy supply unit that supplies energy and an energy consumption unit that consumes energy, and the management device creates an energy supply plan for the energy supply unit based on a power supply and demand adjustment command, the supply and demand adjustment capacity of the energy supply unit, and the remaining energy of the energy consumption unit.

[0009] Any combination of the above components and any conversion of the expression of the present disclosure between a method, an apparatus, a system, etc. are also valid as aspects of the present disclosure. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the present invention, energy efficiency can be improved. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hydrogen station according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 2(a) to (c) are graphs showing an example of a hydrogen supply and demand plan. [Diagram 3]3(a) and (b) are graphs showing an example of updating the hydrogen production plan. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a hydrogen supply system according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of a hydrogen supply and demand management method according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Before describing the invention in detail, an outline will be provided first. This embodiment relates to a hydrogen station for supplying hydrogen to fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel, and in particular to a hydrogen station equipped with a water electrolysis device for producing hydrogen. The water electrolysis device can produce hydrogen on-site by electrolyzing water using electricity supplied from a commercial power grid.

[0013] In commercial power grids, it is necessary to balance power supply and demand in order to provide a stable supply of power, and power companies that operate commercial power grids respond to fluctuations in power demand by combining a variety of power generation methods. In recent years, the amount of power generated by renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power has been increasing, but since the amount of power generated depends on weather conditions such as wind power and the amount of sunlight, it is difficult to artificially control the amount of power generated. Therefore, demand response mechanisms are being used to balance power supply and demand by adjusting the amount of power demand, rather than adjusting only the amount of power supply.

[0014] In demand response, consumers adjust their power consumption to meet the gap between power supply and demand. Consumers who adjust their power consumption are paid a reward according to the amount of adjustment. For example, when the amount of power supply from solar power generation increases during good weather and power demand is insufficient, power consumption is increased to adjust the power supply and demand. Conversely, when the amount of power supply from solar power generation decreases during bad weather and power demand exceeds the power supply, power consumption is decreased to adjust the power supply and demand. The adjustment of power supply and demand is sometimes managed through an intermediary called an aggregator. The aggregator divides the adjustment target amount requested by the power supplier into small amounts and distributes it to many consumers, so that many consumers can adjust their power consumption in cooperation. There is also a bidding system for demand response, where consumers can obtain the right to adjust their power consumption by bidding for the adjustment amount commanded by the power supplier or aggregator, and receive a reward according to the adjustment performance.

[0015] Supply and demand adjustment in a commercial power grid requires real-time performance, and it is necessary to provide the adjustment power commanded within a short time, for example, within 5 minutes or 30 minutes. In addition, when providing the adjustment power for power supply and demand, it is necessary to continuously adjust the amount of power consumption for a specified period of time, such as 30 minutes or 1 hour. In this embodiment, the adjustment power for mitigating the power supply and demand gap in the commercial power grid is provided by adjusting the amount of power consumption of a water electrolysis device installed in a hydrogen station. At this time, the adjustment power can be provided quickly within a range that does not affect the supply of hydrogen by calculating the adjustment margin for the power consumption of the water electrolysis device based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan at the hydrogen station. Furthermore, the minimum adjustment power required for bidding can be secured by controlling the amounts of power consumption of multiple water electrolysis devices installed in multiple hydrogen stations in a coordinated manner.

[0016] The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments. The embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the invention, and all features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in each drawing are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions are omitted as appropriate. The scale and shape of each part shown in each drawing are set for convenience to facilitate explanation, and are not to be interpreted as being limiting unless otherwise specified. In addition, when terms such as "first" and "second" are used in this specification or claims, these terms do not indicate any order or importance, but are intended to distinguish one configuration from another. In addition, some of the members that are not important in explaining the embodiment in each drawing are omitted.

[0017] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic functional configuration of a hydrogen station 10 according to an embodiment. The hydrogen station 10 includes a water electrolysis device 12, a compressor 14, an accumulator 16, a precooler 17, a dispenser 18, and a control device 20. The hydrogen station 10 is an on-site hydrogen station that is equipped with a hydrogen production function, and produces hydrogen by operating the water electrolysis device 12.

[0018] The water electrolysis device 12 produces hydrogen gas through an electrolysis reaction that consumes power supplied from a commercial power grid 90. Examples of the types of water electrolysis device 12 include a solid polymer type, an alkaline type, and a solid oxide type. From the viewpoint of installing and operating the water electrolysis device 12 at the hydrogen station 10, it is desirable for the water electrolysis device 12 to be a solid polymer type. The solid polymer type allows for space saving compared to other types, and does not require alkali treatment. Another advantage of the solid polymer type is that it is resistant to vibrations that occur when the water electrolysis device 12 is transported to and installed at the hydrogen station 10.

[0019] The water electrolysis device 12 has a rated output, and it is recommended to operate the device at the rated output. An example of the rated output of the water electrolysis device 12 is 1,600 kW, and the hydrogen production capacity at this time is 320 Nm 3 / h. The water electrolysis device 12 can be operated even at an output different from the rated output, and the output can be adjusted within a range from the minimum rating to the maximum rating. When the output of the water electrolysis device 12 is adjusted, the amount of power consumption changes according to the output, and the amount of hydrogen gas produced also changes according to the output. The minimum rating of the water electrolysis device 12 is 10% to 50% of the rated output, for example, 20% of the rated output (e.g., 320 kW). The maximum rating of the water electrolysis device 12 is 120% to 200% of the rated output, for example, 150% of the rated output (e.g., 2,400 kW).

[0020] The compressor 14 compresses the hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis device 12 to generate hydrogen gas (also called pressurized hydrogen gas) at a higher pressure than the hydrogen gas before compression. Examples of the compressor 14 include a reciprocating compressor (reciprocating type) using a general metal piston, an ionic type compressor that substitutes a piston with a non-volatile ionic liquid, and a diaphragm type compressor that pressurizes the pressure by pressing a stainless steel membrane against a metal head. The compressor 14 is preferably a reciprocating compressor with excellent followability and durability in order to respond to load fluctuations that may occur frequently due to adjustments to power supply and demand. The pressurized hydrogen gas generated by the compressor 14 is stored in the pressure accumulator 16. The compressor 14 may receive hydrogen gas produced at another base, and may generate pressurized hydrogen gas by compressing hydrogen gas transported to the hydrogen station 10 through a hydrogen trailer 94, for example.

[0021] The accumulator 16 includes a high-pressure accumulator 22 and an intermediate accumulator 24. The high-pressure accumulator 22 stores high-pressure hydrogen to be filled into the fuel cell vehicle 92 via the dispenser 18. The pressure of the hydrogen gas stored in the high-pressure accumulator 22 is, for example, 82 MPa. The intermediate accumulator 24 stores hydrogen gas to be secured as inventory by the hydrogen station 10. The pressure of the hydrogen gas stored in the intermediate accumulator 24 is, for example, 45 MPa. An example of the capacity of the intermediate accumulator 24 is 1,500 Nm 3 It is.

[0022] The hydrogen gas stored in the intermediate accumulator 24 can be stored in the high-pressure accumulator 22 by compressing it with the compressor 14. The hydrogen gas stored in the intermediate accumulator 24 can also be compressed by the compressor 14 and then filled into the fuel cell vehicle 92 without passing through the high-pressure accumulator 22. For example, when a demand for hydrogen exceeds the production capacity of the water electrolysis device 12, the demand for hydrogen can be met by using the hydrogen gas stored in the intermediate accumulator 24. The intermediate accumulator 24 can also store hydrogen gas to be supplied to other hydrogen stations. For example, the hydrogen gas stored in the intermediate accumulator 24 may be filled into a hydrogen trailer 96 or the like to supply hydrogen gas to other hydrogen stations. The intermediate accumulator 24 is not an essential component, and the intermediate accumulator 24 does not have to be provided in the hydrogen station 10.

[0023] The pre-cooler 17 cools the high-pressure hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell vehicle 92 via the dispenser 18 to a predetermined temperature (e.g., -40°C). The pre-cooler 17 has, for example, a refrigerator (not shown) for cooling the high-pressure hydrogen. By filling the hydrogen tank of the fuel cell vehicle 92 with the cooled high-pressure hydrogen, it is possible to reduce the temperature rise in the hydrogen tank of the fuel cell vehicle 92 when filling it with high-pressure hydrogen.

[0024] The dispenser 18 supplies high-pressure hydrogen to the fuel cell vehicle 92 that has come to the hydrogen station 10. The pressure of the hydrogen gas filled into the fuel cell vehicle 92 is determined by the regulations and laws of each country, and in Japan it is, for example, 70 MPa. The amount of hydrogen gas supplied to the fuel cell vehicle 92 in one filling is, for example, 30 Nm 3 It is.

[0025] The control device 20 controls the operation of various devices installed in the hydrogen station 10. The control device 20 is realized as a hardware configuration by elements and circuits including a computer CPU and memory, and as a software configuration by a computer program, etc. It will be naturally understood by those skilled in the art that the various functions of the control device 20 can be realized in various ways by combining hardware and software.

[0026] The control device 20 operates based on a hydrogen supply and demand plan for the hydrogen station 10. The hydrogen supply and demand plan defines a time-based plan for the demand, supply, and inventory of hydrogen gas at the hydrogen station 10.

[0027] The demand for hydrogen gas corresponds to a predicted value of the amount of hydrogen gas to be filled from the dispenser 18 into the fuel cell vehicle 92. The predicted value of the filling amount by time is, for example, the predicted number of fuel cell vehicles 92 that will come to the hydrogen station 10 per unit time multiplied by the filling amount per one time (for example, 30 Nm 3 ) The demand for hydrogen gas may be predicted on a daily basis, or the demand for hydrogen gas by hour may be calculated from the demand for hydrogen gas per day. The demand for hydrogen gas may include the shipping amount of hydrogen gas to be supplied to other bases via hydrogen trailers 96, etc.

[0028] The supply amount of hydrogen gas corresponds to the production amount of hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis device 12. The production amount of hydrogen gas can be calculated based on the hourly operation output of the water electrolysis device 12. The supply amount of hydrogen gas may include the imported amount of hydrogen gas supplied from other bases via a hydrogen trailer 94 or the like.

[0029] The inventory amount of hydrogen gas is the remaining pressure-accumulated amount of hydrogen gas stored in the accumulator 16. The inventory amount of hydrogen gas may include only the remaining pressure-accumulated amount in the high-pressure accumulator 22, or may be the total value of the pressure-accumulated amounts in the high-pressure accumulator 22 and the intermediate accumulator 24. The inventory amount of hydrogen gas may also include the pressure-accumulated amount in a hydrogen tank other than the high-pressure accumulator 22 and the intermediate accumulator 24. For example, it may include the pressure-accumulated amount in a hydrogen tank permanently installed in the hydrogen station 10 other than the high-pressure accumulator 22 and the intermediate accumulator 24, or it may include the pressure-accumulated amount in a hydrogen cartridge or hydrogen cylinder temporarily stored in the hydrogen station 10.

[0030] 2(a)-(c) are graphs showing an example of a hydrogen supply and demand plan. FIG. 2(a) shows the hydrogen demand by time, and shows the amount of hydrogen filled from the dispenser 18 to the fuel cell vehicle 92 by time. The hydrogen demand varies greatly depending on the time of day. The hydrogen demand is low from midnight to 5:00, but increases from about 5:00 to 6:00 in the morning, with the first peak of demand being seen from 10:00 to 11:00. After that, the demand decreases from about 12:00 to 15:00, and then increases from about 15:00, with the second peak of demand being seen from 17:00 to 19:00 in the evening. After that, the demand gradually decreases from 19:00 to 24:00. Note that the hydrogen demand shown in FIG. 2(a) is just an example, and may vary depending on factors such as the location of the hydrogen station 10, the weather, the season, and the day of the week.

[0031] FIG. 2(b) shows the amount of hydrogen supply by hour, and the amount of hydrogen produced by the water electrolysis device 12 by hour. In contrast to the amount of demand, the amount of hydrogen supply is almost constant regardless of the time of day. The water electrolysis device 12 is characterized by its quicker load fluctuations and start-up / stops compared to hydrogen production devices that use steam reforming. However, from the viewpoint of durability, such as preventing deterioration of the electrodes, it is preferable to operate the water electrolysis device 12 while maintaining the output as constant as possible. In the graph of FIG. 2(b), the amount of hydrogen produced when the water electrolysis device 12 is operated at the rated output (for example, 1,600 kW) is 320 Nm 3 / h is indicated by a dashed line. In the illustrated example, the water electrolysis apparatus 12 operates at 80% to 100% of the rated output, and the operation output is set in stages according to the time period. Specifically, the operation output is set to 80%, 90%, or 100% of the rated output. The operation output of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 may be set in smaller increments, for example, in 1% increments or in 1 kW increments.

[0032] FIG. 2(c) shows the amount of hydrogen inventory by time, and indicates the remaining amount of hydrogen gas stored in the accumulator 16. The remaining amount of stored pressure in the accumulator 16 decreases in accordance with the hydrogen demand in FIG. 2(a) and increases in accordance with the hydrogen supply in FIG. 2(b). The amount of change in the remaining amount of stored pressure in the accumulator 16 corresponds to the difference between the amount of hydrogen produced by the water electrolysis device 12 and the amount of hydrogen demand by the dispenser 18. Therefore, during times when the amount of hydrogen produced is greater than the hydrogen demand (e.g., 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.), the remaining amount of stored pressure increases, and during times when the amount of hydrogen produced is less than the hydrogen demand (e.g., 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.), the remaining amount of stored pressure decreases.

[0033] The operation plan of the water electrolysis system 12 is determined based on the demand and inventory of hydrogen. In a situation where the inventory of hydrogen fluctuates over time depending on the supply and demand of hydrogen, the operation plan of the water electrolysis system 12 is determined based on the demand and inventory of hydrogen. 3 ) to the upper limit (for example, 1,500 Nm 3 For example, by determining the operation plan of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 so that the daily hydrogen demand and hydrogen supply correspond to each other, the hydrogen inventory amount can be kept within a predetermined range. 3 ) divided by 24 hours to obtain the amount of hydrogen produced per hour (e.g., 263 Nm 3 / h) can be determined, and an operating output (e.g., 82% of the rated output) corresponding to the amount of hydrogen produced can be determined. At this time, the amount of hydrogen produced by hour is adjusted so that the remaining amount of stored pressure in the accumulator 16 does not fall below a lower limit or exceed an upper limit. In the example of FIG. 2(c), an operation plan for the water electrolysis device 12 is created so that the inventory amount does not reach the upper limit between about 7:00 and 8:00, when the inventory is at its maximum, and so that the inventory does not reach the lower limit between about 21:00 and 22:00, when the inventory is at its minimum. The operation plan for the water electrolysis device 12 may be adjusted based on the hourly electricity rates in the commercial power grid 90. For example, the operating output may be relatively high during times when the electricity rate is low (e.g., late at night) and relatively low during times when the electricity rate is high (e.g., daytime).

[0034] When it is necessary to provide the commercial power grid 90 with power supply and demand adjustment capability, the control device 20 calculates the adjustment capability of the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12. Here, the adjustment capability of the water electrolysis device 12 refers to the range of increase or decrease in the amount of power consumption by the water electrolysis device 12 that does not impede the operation of the hydrogen station 10. The control device 20 calculates the adjustment capability of the water electrolysis device 12 based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan, the current value of the operating output of the water electrolysis device 12, the current value of the remaining pressure in the accumulator 16, etc.

[0035] First, a case where the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 is increased will be described. The operating output of the water electrolysis device 12 can be increased up to the maximum rated value of the water electrolysis device 12. Therefore, the upward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is restricted by the difference between the current value and the maximum rated value of the operating output of the water electrolysis device 12. For example, if the water electrolysis device 12 is operating at the rated output and the maximum rated value is 150% of the rated output, the upward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is 50% of the rated output. The difference between the current value and the maximum rated value of the operating output of the water electrolysis device 12 is also referred to as the "operating margin."

[0036] If the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 is increased, the amount of hydrogen produced will increase compared to the initial supply and demand plan, which may cause the remaining pressure in the accumulator 16 to reach its upper limit. Since hydrogen cannot be stored in excess of the maximum pressure in the accumulator 16, the adjustment capacity of the water electrolysis device 12 is also restricted by the remaining pressure in the accumulator 16. The remaining pressure in the accumulator 16 is the difference between the current value of the remaining pressure in the accumulator 16 and the maximum pressure. For example, if the current value of the remaining pressure is 1,300 Nm 3 The maximum pressure is 1,500Nm 3 In this case, the reserve pressure is 200Nm 3 It is.

[0037] In order to adjust the power supply and demand, it is necessary to maintain a high power consumption state for a specified period of time (e.g., 30 minutes or 1 hour), and the amount of hydrogen produced during this period must be kept within the storage reserve (e.g., 200 Nm 3 ) must not be exceeded. Therefore, the reserve pressure (for example, 200 Nm 3) divided by the power supply and demand adjustment time (e.g., 0.5 hours) (e.g., 400 Nm 3 / h) is the upper limit of the production amount per hour. In this case, the upper limit of the output of the water electrolysis device 12 is set to the upper limit of the production amount (for example, 400 Nm 3 / h) (e.g., 125% of the rated output). At this time, the upward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is the difference between the current value of the operating output and the output upper limit. For example, if the water electrolysis device 12 is operating at the rated output and the output upper limit value is 125% of the rated output, then the upward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is 25% of the rated output.

[0038] The pressure storage reserve of the accumulator 16 may be calculated taking into account the demand for hydrogen. For example, if hydrogen is filled into the fuel cell vehicle 92 from the dispenser 18 during a power supply and demand adjustment period, the pressure storage reserve of the accumulator 16 will increase by that amount. Therefore, the hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period may be added as the pressure storage reserve of the accumulator 16. For example, if the current remaining pressure is 1,300 Nm 3 The maximum pressure is 1,500Nm 3 The hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period is 300 Nm 3 In this case, the reserve pressure is 1,500-1,300+300=500Nm 3 In addition, the hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period may be multiplied by a predetermined safety factor (e.g., 0.5) (e.g., 150 Nm 3 By setting a safety factor, it is possible to reduce the possibility of running out of reserve pressure when actual hydrogen demand is lower than predicted.

[0039] The control device 20 calculates the regulating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 based on both the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 and the pressure storage margin of the accumulator 16. Specifically, the relatively smaller value of the regulating margin based on the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 and the regulating margin based on the pressure storage margin of the accumulator 16 is set as the regulating margin of the water electrolysis device 12. For example, if the regulating margin based on the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is 50% of the rated output and the regulating margin based on the pressure storage margin of the accumulator 16 is 25% of the rated output, the regulating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is set to 25%. The control device 20 may determine the regulating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 based on either the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 or the pressure storage margin of the accumulator 16.

[0040] Next, a case where the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 is reduced will be described. The operating output of the water electrolysis device 12 can be reduced to the minimum rated value of the water electrolysis device 12. Therefore, the adjustment margin in the downward direction of the water electrolysis device 12 is restricted by the difference between the current value of the operating output of the water electrolysis device 12 and the minimum rated value. For example, when the water electrolysis device 12 is operating at the rated output and the minimum rated value is 20% of the rated output, the adjustment margin in the downward direction of the water electrolysis device 12 is 80% of the rated output. The difference between the current value of the operating output of the water electrolysis device 12 and the minimum rated value is also referred to as the "operating margin."

[0041] If the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 is reduced, the amount of hydrogen produced will decrease compared to the initial supply and demand plan, which may cause the remaining pressure in the accumulator 16 to reach its lower limit. For example, if the accumulator 16 becomes empty, hydrogen will no longer be able to be supplied to fuel cell vehicles 92 that visit the hydrogen station 10, causing problems in the operation of the hydrogen station 10. Therefore, the adjustment capacity of the water electrolysis device 12 is also limited by the amount of hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period. In order to meet the demand for hydrogen, the hydrogen shortage amount, calculated by subtracting the current value of the remaining pressure from the amount of hydrogen demand, must be produced during the power supply and demand adjustment period. For example, if the hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period is 240 Nm 3 The current value of the remaining pressure is 144Nm 3 In this case, the hydrogen shortage is 96 Nm 3 At this time, the hydrogen shortage (for example, 96 Nm 3) divided by the power supply and demand adjustment time (e.g., 1 hour) (e.g., 96 Nm 3 / h) is the lower limit of the production amount per hour. The lower limit of the output of the water electrolysis device 12 is the lower limit of the production amount (for example, 96 Nm 3 / h) (e.g., 30% of the rated output). At this time, the downward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is the difference between the current value of the operating output and the output lower limit. For example, if the water electrolysis device 12 is operating at the rated output and the output lower limit is 30% of the rated output, then the downward adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is 70% of the rated output.

[0042] The hydrogen shortage during the power supply and demand adjustment period is limited to the lower limit of the buffer remaining pressure (for example, 100 Nm 3 ) may be taken into consideration in the calculation. The lower limit of the remaining amount of stored pressure may be equal to the capacity of the high-pressure accumulator 22, or may be equal to the capacity of the high-pressure accumulator 22 plus a buffer. By setting the lower limit of the remaining amount of stored pressure to a value equal to or greater than the capacity of the high-pressure accumulator 22, the high-pressure accumulator 22 can be maintained in a state where it is fully filled with high-pressure hydrogen, and hydrogen gas can be constantly and instantly supplied to fuel cell vehicles 92 that visit the hydrogen station 10. In addition, the hydrogen demand during the power supply and demand adjustment period may be multiplied by a predetermined safety factor (e.g., 2) to obtain a value (e.g., 192 Nm 3 ) may be used to calculate the hydrogen shortage. Setting a safety factor can reduce the possibility of hydrogen stock running out if actual hydrogen demand is higher than expected.

[0043] The control device 20 calculates the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 based on both the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 and the amount of hydrogen shortage during the power supply and demand adjustment time slot. Specifically, the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is determined to be the relatively smaller value of the adjustment margin based on the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 and the adjustment margin based on the amount of hydrogen shortage during the power supply and demand adjustment time slot. For example, if the adjustment margin based on the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is 80% of the rated output and the adjustment margin based on the pressure storage margin of the accumulator 16 is 70% of the rated output, the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 is determined to be 70%. The control device 20 may determine the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis device 12 based on either the operating margin of the water electrolysis device 12 or the amount of hydrogen shortage during the power supply and demand adjustment time slot.

[0044] When providing the commercial power grid 90 with power supply and demand adjustment capability, the control device 20 adjusts the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 within the calculated adjustment capability. The control device 20 adjusts the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 within the adjustment capability, for example, so as to approach an adjustment target amount instructed by a power supplier or an aggregator. When adjusting the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12, the control device 20 may calculate an actual value of the adjustment amount of the power consumption. For example, the control device 20 may measure the power consumption of the water electrolysis device 12 during a power supply and demand adjustment period, and calculate the difference between the power consumption based on the initial operation plan or the power consumption immediately before the adjustment, to obtain the actual value of the adjustment amount.

[0045] When providing the commercial power grid 90 with the ability to adjust power supply and demand, the control device 20 may update the operation plan of the water electrolysis device 12 so as to eliminate or mitigate any excess or deficiency in the amount of hydrogen produced due to the adjustment of the amount of power consumption. For example, when power consumption is increased during a power supply and demand adjustment time zone, the operation output during a time zone other than the power supply and demand adjustment time zone may be reduced compared to the initial plan. Conversely, when power consumption is reduced during a power supply and demand adjustment time zone, the operation output during a time zone other than the power supply and demand adjustment time zone may be increased compared to the initial plan. When updating the operation plan, the hourly inventory amount is determined to be within a range from a predetermined lower limit value to an upper limit value, as in the case of creating the above-mentioned operation plan.

[0046] 3(a) and (b) are graphs showing an example of an update of the hydrogen production plan. FIG. 3(a) shows the production plan by hour when an adjustment is made to increase power consumption. In FIG. 3(a), an adjustment is made to increase power consumption for 30 minutes from 9:00 to 9:30, and the hydrogen production amount indicated by reference numeral 81 is added to the initial plan. In order to adjust the added hydrogen production amount, the hydrogen production amount is adjusted for three hours from 10:00 to 13:00, and the hydrogen production amount indicated by reference numeral 82 is subtracted from the initial plan. FIG. 3(b) shows the production plan by hour when an adjustment is made to decrease power consumption. In FIG. 3(b), an adjustment is made to decrease power consumption for one hour from 9:00 to 10:00, and the hydrogen production amount indicated by reference numeral 83 is subtracted from the initial plan. In order to adjust the subtracted hydrogen production amount, the hydrogen production amount is adjusted for five hours from 12:00 to 17:00, and the hydrogen production amount indicated by reference numeral 84 is added to the initial plan.

[0047] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the production plan is updated so that the adjustment time of the hydrogen production amount (e.g., 3 hours or 5 hours) is longer than the adjustment time of the power supply and demand (e.g., 30 minutes or 1 hour). By updating the production plan in this manner, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the operation output of the water electrolysis device 12, and to further stabilize the output of the water electrolysis device 12. The production plan may be updated so that the adjustment time of the power supply and demand is the same as the adjustment time of the hydrogen production amount, or so that the adjustment time of the hydrogen production amount is shorter than the adjustment time of the power supply and demand. The time period during which the hydrogen production amount is adjusted may be immediately after the power supply and demand adjustment time period, or may be set to be some time apart from the power supply and demand adjustment time period. The time period during which the hydrogen production amount is adjusted may be the same day that the power supply and demand is adjusted, or may be the next day or later. If the time period between when a power supply and demand adjustment is commanded and when the power supply and demand is adjusted is long, the hydrogen production amount may be adjusted before the power supply and demand adjustment time period.

[0048] 2 and 3 show a case where an operation plan for the water electrolysis apparatus 12 is created on a daily basis. In another embodiment, the operation output of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 may be determined each time. For example, only the operation plan for the water electrolysis apparatus 12 for the most recent period from the current time until a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes or 1 hour) has elapsed may be determined. For example, the hydrogen production amount for the most recent period may be determined based on a predicted value of the hydrogen demand for the most recent period and a current value of the hydrogen inventory. In this case, the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 may also be calculated each time. The adjustment margin of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 may be calculated based on the current value of the operation output of the water electrolysis apparatus 12, the planned value of the hydrogen production amount for the most recent period, the predicted value of the hydrogen demand for the most recent period, and the current value of the hydrogen inventory. The amount of power consumption of the water electrolysis apparatus 12 for the most recent period may be adjusted based on the adjustment margin calculated in this manner. Alternatively, the operation plan for the water electrolysis apparatus 12 may be determined and the adjustment margin calculated without using a predicted value of the hydrogen demand. For example, the operation plan for the water electrolysis apparatus 12 and the adjustment margin may be calculated based only on the current value of the hydrogen inventory.

[0049] Next, the cooperative control of the power consumption at multiple hydrogen stations will be explained. In order to popularize fuel cell vehicles that use hydrogen as fuel, it is necessary to develop hydrogen stations in various locations to improve convenience. As with gasoline and diesel fuel stations, large hydrogen stations may be installed along major roads, and small hydrogen stations may be installed in urban areas. In the case of gasoline and diesel, fuel produced at large oil refineries must be transported to each gas station using carrier ships, railways, tank trucks, etc. On the other hand, in the case of hydrogen, hydrogen can be produced locally using a small water electrolysis device, so transportation costs can be reduced. Even in the case of a small hydrogen station where a water electrolysis device cannot be installed due to factors such as location, demand, and cost, transportation costs can be reduced by transporting hydrogen produced at a nearby hydrogen station or hydrogen production site. Furthermore, by coordinating the power consumption of each water electrolysis device installed at multiple hydrogen stations, it is possible to provide a large adjustment power for the supply and demand of electricity in the commercial power grid. This makes it possible to efficiently use renewable energy, which has a large output fluctuation, while also reducing the transportation costs of hydrogen, thereby improving energy efficiency throughout society.

[0050] 4 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hydrogen supply system 50 according to an embodiment. The hydrogen supply system 50 includes a plurality of hydrogen stations 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e, 10f, 10g, and 10h, a hydrogen production base 30, and a management center 40. The hydrogen supply system 50 is a hydrogen supply network for supplying hydrogen to an entire specific region.

[0051] The multiple hydrogen stations 10a-10h include multiple on-site hydrogen stations (also referred to as on-site ST) 10a, 10b and multiple off-site hydrogen stations (also referred to as off-site ST) 10c-10h. In the example of Fig. 4, two on-site STs and six off-site STs are included, but the number of on-site STs and off-site STs is not particularly limited, and fewer or more hydrogen stations than the illustrated example may be included.

[0052] The on-site STs 10a and 10b each have a facility for producing hydrogen. For example, the on-site ST 10a has a water electrolysis device 12a, a compressor 14a, a pressure accumulator 16a, a precooler 17a, a dispenser 18a, and a control device 20a, and is configured similarly to the hydrogen station 10 according to the above-described embodiment. The on-site ST 10b has a water electrolysis device 12b, a compressor 14b, a pressure accumulator 16b, a precooler 17b, a dispenser 18b, and a control device 20b, and is configured similarly to the hydrogen station 10 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0053] The off-site STs 10c-10h do not have facilities for producing hydrogen. For example, the off-site ST 10c has a compressor 14c, a pressure accumulator 16c, a precooler 17c, a dispenser 18c, and a control device 20c, but does not have a water electrolysis device. Therefore, the off-site STs 10c-10h have the same configuration as the hydrogen station 10 according to the above-mentioned embodiment, except that the water electrolysis device 12 has been removed. The off-site STs 10c-10h procure hydrogen produced at other bases and supply hydrogen. In the example of FIG. 4, hydrogen gas produced at the on-site ST 10a or the hydrogen production base 30 is transported to each of the off-site STs 10c-10h using hydrogen trailers 98a, 98b.

[0054] The hydrogen production site 30 has facilities for producing hydrogen, but does not have facilities for supplying hydrogen to the fuel cell vehicle 92. The hydrogen production site 30 has a water electrolysis device 32, a compressor 34, a pressure accumulator 36, and a control device 38, but does not have a precooler or a dispenser. The hydrogen production site 30 may have a water electrolysis device 32 that is larger than the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b of the on-site STs 10a, 10b, and may have a higher hydrogen production capacity than the on-site STs 10a, 10b.

[0055] The control device 38 of the hydrogen production site 30 creates a production plan for the water electrolysis device 32 based on the hydrogen supply and demand of the off-sites ST10e-10h to which hydrogen is to be supplied. When it becomes necessary to adjust the power supply and demand of the commercial power grid 90, the control device 38 of the hydrogen production site 30 calculates the adjustment margin for power consumption of the water electrolysis device 32 based on the hydrogen supply and demand and hydrogen inventory of the off-sites ST10e-10h to which hydrogen is to be supplied, the production plan for the water electrolysis device 32, the remaining pressure in the accumulator 36, etc. The adjustment margin for the water electrolysis device 32 can be calculated in a similar manner to the adjustment margin for the hydrogen station 10 according to the above-described embodiment.

[0056] The multiple on-site STs 10a, 10b and the hydrogen production site 30 included in the hydrogen supply system 50 produce hydrogen by consuming electricity supplied from a common commercial power grid 90. Therefore, the multiple on-site STs 10a, 10b and the hydrogen production site 30 included in the hydrogen supply system 50 have the ability to adjust the supply and demand of electricity with respect to the common commercial power grid 90.

[0057] The management center 40 is equipped with a management device 42 for managing the overall hydrogen supply and demand of the hydrogen supply system 50. The management device 42 is realized as a hardware configuration by elements and circuits including a computer CPU and memory, and as a software configuration by a computer program, etc. It will be naturally understood by those skilled in the art that the various functions of the management device 42 can be realized in various ways by combining hardware and software.

[0058] The management device 42 is connected to the respective control devices of the multiple hydrogen stations 10a-10h and the hydrogen production site 30, and supports the creation of hydrogen supply and demand plans for each site. For example, the on-site ST10a needs to supply part of the hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis device 12a to two off-site STs 10c and 10d. The management device 42 notifies the on-site ST10a of the demand and inventory of hydrogen gas at the off-site STs 10c and 10d, which are the supply destinations, so that the on-site ST10a can create a supply and demand plan that takes into account the hydrogen demand of the supply destinations. Similarly, the hydrogen production site 30 needs to supply hydrogen gas produced by the water electrolysis device 32 to four off-site STs 10e-10h. The management device 42 notifies the hydrogen production site 30 of the demand and inventory of hydrogen gas at the off-site STs 10e-10h, which are the supply destinations, so that the hydrogen production site 30 can create a production plan according to the hydrogen demand of the supply destinations. The management device 42 may create a transportation plan for hydrogen gas from the on-site ST 10a or the hydrogen production base 30 to the off-site STs 10c to 10h. The management device 42 may collectively create hydrogen supply and demand plans for each base.

[0059] The management device 42 acquires a command to adjust the power supply and demand of the commercial power grid 90. The management device 42 receives an adjustment command issued by, for example, a power company or an aggregator of the commercial power grid 90 via the Internet. Alternatively, the adjustment command may be received by telephone, fax, email, or the like, and the person who received the command may input the contents of the adjustment command into the management device 42. The adjustment command includes a time period during which the power supply and demand should be adjusted and a target adjustment amount for the power supply and demand.

[0060] When the management device 42 receives a command to adjust the power supply and demand of the commercial power grid 90, the management device 42 obtains the power consumption adjustment margin of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 of the multiple on-site STs 10a, 10b and the hydrogen production site 30. The management device 42 requests the control devices 20a, 20b, 38 of the multiple on-site STs 10a, 10b and the hydrogen production site 30 to calculate the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32. When requesting the calculation of the adjustment margin, the management device 42 may specify a time period during which the power supply and demand should be adjusted. The control devices 20a, 20b, 38 of each site calculate the adjustment margin of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 based on the request from the management device 42, and transmit the calculated adjustment margin to the management device 42. The control devices 20a, 20b, 38 of each site may transmit the latest information on the hydrogen supply and demand plan of each site to the management device 42. For example, the current values ​​of the production amount and remaining pressure of hydrogen gas at each site may be transmitted to the management device 42. The management device 42 may calculate the adjustment margin for power consumption of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 at each site, based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan of each site.

[0061] The management device 42 determines the amount of adjustment of power consumption in the entire hydrogen supply system 50 based on the power consumption adjustment margin of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 at each site, within the range of the adjustment margin of each site. For example, the management device 42 sets the total value of the adjustment margin of each site as the adjustment amount for the entire system. The management device 42 may set the adjustment amount for the entire system lower than the total value of the adjustment margin of each site. For example, when the adjustment target amount of power supply and demand is set in stages, such as in units of 1,000 kW or 5,000 kW, the management device 42 may determine the adjustment amount for the entire system so as to match the staged adjustment target amount. The management device 42 may participate in a bid to acquire the right to adjust power supply and demand within the range of the total value of the adjustment margin of each site, and determine the adjustment amount for the entire system based on the adjustment amount that is won.

[0062] The management device 42 allocates the adjustment amount of the entire system to each base and determines the adjustment amount of the power consumption of each base. The management device 42 may equally allocate the adjustment amount of the power consumption of each base, or may determine the adjustment amount of each base by multiplying the adjustment capacity of each base by a common allocation rate. The allocation rate corresponds to the ratio of the adjustment amount of the entire system to the total value of the power consumption adjustment capacity of each base. For example, if the total value of the power consumption adjustment capacity of each base is 5,800 kW and the adjustment amount of the entire system is 5,000 kW, the allocation rate is 86.2%.

[0063] Management device 42 may allocate the amount of adjustment of power consumption to each base in a skewed manner. In other words, the allocation rate of the amount of adjustment of power consumption may be different for each base. Management device 42 may determine the amount of adjustment for each base in accordance with the magnitude of the adjustment margin of each base. For example, the allocation rate may be relatively small for bases with relatively small adjustment margin, and relatively large for bases with relatively large adjustment margin. Management device 42 may allocate the amount of adjustment of power consumption to each base in a skewed manner based on the current value of the amount of hydrogen gas produced and the remaining pressure of the storage at each base. In addition, when the production capacity of the water electrolysis equipment at each base differs from base to base (for example, 600 Nm 3 / h, 300Nm 3 / h and 100Nm 3 / h), the amount of power consumption adjustment may be allocated in a gradual manner according to the production capacity of each site. Adjustments may be made according to the current value of the production capacity of the water electrolysis device at each site, for example, adjustments may be made taking into account a decrease in output of the water electrolysis device due to deterioration over time. Alternatively, power consumption may not be adjusted for some sites (e.g., on-site ST10a), and only the power consumption of the remaining sites (e.g., on-site ST10b and hydrogen production site 30) may be adjusted.

[0064] The management device 42 instructs the bases whose power consumption should be adjusted as to the time periods during which power supply and demand should be adjusted and the amount of power consumption adjustment. Instead of instructing the amount of power consumption adjustment, the management device 42 may instruct the operation output of the water electrolysis device at each base. The control device of the base that receives the instruction adjusts the operation output of the water electrolysis device during the specified time period so that the instructed amount of power consumption adjustment is achieved. By adjusting power consumption by each base in cooperation with each other, the target amount of power supply and demand adjustment instructed by the power company or aggregator can be achieved throughout the hydrogen supply system 50.

[0065] 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a hydrogen supply and demand management method according to an embodiment. The management device 42 receives a command to adjust the power supply and demand of the commercial power grid 90 (S10). The control devices 20a, 20b, 38 at each site individually calculate the adjustment margin of the power consumption of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 at each site based on the command from the management device 42 (S12). The management device 42 determines the adjustment amount of the power consumption of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 at each site within the adjustment margin of each site (S14). The control devices 20a, 20b, 38 at each site adjust the power consumption of the water electrolysis devices 12a, 12b, 32 at each site based on the determined adjustment amount (S16).

[0066] According to this embodiment, it is possible to provide the commercial power grid 90 with a large adjustment capability that cannot be realized by a single electrolysis device. For example, when the amount of power generation from renewable energy is large, the ratio of the amount of hydrogen produced using renewable energy can be increased by increasing the operating output of each electrolysis device. Furthermore, when power generation from renewable energy is not expected, the ratio of the amount of hydrogen produced using electricity not derived from renewable energy can be increased by decreasing the operating output of each electrolysis device. This allows efficient use of renewable energy with large output fluctuations. Furthermore, since hydrogen can be produced on-site using a water electrolysis device and consumed on-site, the transportation cost of hydrogen can also be reduced. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to contribute to improving energy efficiency throughout society.

[0067] In the above-described embodiment, at least one of the multiple off-site ST10c-10h may receive hydrogen gas from multiple bases. For example, the off-site ST10c may receive hydrogen gas from multiple on-site ST10a, 10b, or may receive hydrogen gas from both the on-site ST10a and the hydrogen production base 30. At least one of the multiple on-site ST10a, 10b may receive hydrogen gas from the hydrogen production base 30. In other words, the hydrogen production base 30 may supply hydrogen gas not only to the multiple off-site ST10e-10h, but also to at least one of the multiple on-site ST10a, 10b. The hydrogen supply system 50 may include a hub-type hydrogen station. The hub-type hydrogen station is configured to receive hydrogen gas from another base (hydrogen production base or on-site hydrogen station) and to supply hydrogen gas to another base (off-site or on-site hydrogen station). The hub-type hydrogen station may be an on-site type having a water electrolysis device, or an off-site type having no water electrolysis device.

[0068] In the above-described embodiment, the hydrogen supply system 50 may not include the hydrogen production site 30. The hydrogen supply system 50 may include a site having an electrolysis device different from the water electrolysis device. For example, the hydrogen supply system 50 may include an organic hydride production site having an electrolysis device that produces organic hydride by an electrolysis reaction that consumes power supplied from the commercial power grid 90. The organic hydride is a liquid that easily produces hydrogen gas by a dehydrogenation reaction, and examples of such organic hydrides include methylcyclohexane, cyclohexane, decalin and its derivatives, and 2-propanol. For example, methylcyclohexane can be produced by an electrolysis reaction in which hydrogen derived from water is added to toluene, and hydrogen gas can be produced by a dehydrogenation reaction of methylcyclohexane. Since the organic hydride is a liquid, the transportation cost is lower than that of hydrogen gas. Therefore, the hydrogen supply system 50 may produce organic hydride, transport the produced organic hydride to another site, and produce hydrogen gas from the organic hydride at the other site.

[0069] The hydrogen supply system 50 may include an organic hydride production site and an on-site hydrogen station that produces hydrogen by a dehydrogenation reaction of organic hydride. The hydrogen supply system 50 may provide the commercial power grid 90 with the ability to adjust the power supply and demand by adjusting the power consumption of an electrolysis device at the organic hydride production site. The adjustment margin for power consumption at the organic hydride production site may be determined based on a supply and demand plan for organic hydride at the organic hydride production site. The supply and demand plan for organic hydride may include a time-based plan for the demand, production, and inventory of organic hydride. The demand for organic hydride may be determined based on a hydrogen supply and demand plan for the on-site hydrogen station that is the supply destination.

[0070] The supply destination of the organic hydride may not be an on-site hydrogen station, but may be a hydrogen production site that does not have a filling facility for fuel cell vehicles. This hydrogen production site has a hydrogen production device that produces hydrogen by a dehydrogenation reaction of the organic hydride. This hydrogen production site may supply hydrogen gas to an off-site hydrogen station. The supply and demand plan of this hydrogen production site is determined based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan of the off-site hydrogen station to which the hydrogen is supplied. In this way, a hydrogen supply network may be constructed by combining an organic hydride production site, a hydrogen production site, and an off-site hydrogen station. In this case, the adjustment margin for power consumption at the organic hydride production site may be determined based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan of the off-site hydrogen station to which the hydrogen is ultimately supplied.

[0071] In the above-described embodiment, the hydrogen supply system may not include an on-site hydrogen station. In this case, the hydrogen supply system may include a plurality of hydrogen production bases and a plurality of off-site hydrogen stations. Each hydrogen production base may include a water electrolysis device, a compressor, a pressure accumulator, and a control device, similar to the above-described hydrogen production base 30. Each off-site hydrogen station may include a compressor, a pressure accumulator, a precooler, a dispenser, and a control device, similar to the above-described off-site ST10c to 10h. Each off-site hydrogen station may receive hydrogen gas from at least one of the plurality of hydrogen production bases. The supply and demand plan of each hydrogen production base may be determined based on the hydrogen supply and demand plan of the off-site hydrogen station to which the hydrogen gas is supplied. In this case, the power consumption of the plurality of water electrolysis devices installed in the plurality of hydrogen production bases may be adjusted to provide the commercial power grid with the power supply and demand adjustment capability.

[0072] The above describes the embodiments of the present invention in detail. The above-mentioned embodiments merely show specific examples of implementing the present invention. The contents of the embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention, and many design changes such as changes, additions, and deletions of components are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. A new embodiment with design changes has the effects of the combined embodiments and modifications. In the above-mentioned embodiments, the contents for which such design changes are possible are emphasized by adding notations such as "in this embodiment" and "in this embodiment", but design changes are permitted even in contents without such notations. Any combination of the above-mentioned components is also effective as an aspect of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 10...hydrogen station, 12...water electrolysis device, 14...compressor, 16...accumulator, 17...precooler, 18...dispenser, 20...control device, 22...high-pressure accumulator, 24...intermediate accumulator, 30...hydrogen production base, 32...water electrolysis device, 34...compressor, 36...accumulator, 38...control device, 42...management device, 50...hydrogen supply system, 90...commercial power grid, 92...fuel cell vehicle.

Claims

1. A management device that manages an energy supply unit that supplies energy and an energy consumption unit that consumes the energy, The management device creates a supply plan for the energy by the energy supply unit based on an electric power supply and demand adjustment command, a supply and demand adjustment capability of the energy supply unit, and a remaining amount of energy of the energy consumption unit. Management device.

2. The management device creates a supply plan for the energy by the energy supply unit based on the time-based electricity rates of the commercial power grid. The management device according to claim 1 .

3. The management device creates a supply plan of the energy by the energy supply unit based on a predicted value of the energy consumption by the energy consumption unit. The management device according to claim 2 .

4. When adjusting the supply amount of the energy based on the supply and demand adjustment command, the management device updates a supply plan of the energy by the energy supply unit. The management device according to claim 1 .

5. When updating the energy supply plan by the energy supply unit, the management device updates the plan so that an adjustment time of the energy supply amount by the energy supply unit is longer than an adjustment time of power supply and demand. The management device according to claim 4.

6. The management device manages a plurality of energy supply units, The management device determines an allocation rate of an adjustment amount of the energy supply amount by the plurality of energy supply units based on a supply and demand adjustment capacity of each of the plurality of energy supply units. The management device according to claim 1 .

7. The supply and demand adjustment capacity of the energy supply unit is based on the adjustment capacity of the energy supply unit. The management device according to claim 1 .

8. The adjustment margin of the energy supply unit is based on the supply margin of the energy supply unit. The management device according to claim 7.

9. The management device receives information regarding the energy consumption unit. The management device according to claim 1 .

10. The information about the energy consumption unit includes a hydrogen inventory of an off-site hydrogen station that consumes hydrogen. The management device according to claim 9.

11. The management device manages a plurality of energy consumption units, The management device receives a remaining amount of energy of each of the plurality of energy consumption units and a predicted value of an amount of energy consumed by the energy consumption units. The management device according to claim 1 .

12. The management device transmits information regarding the energy supply plan to the energy supply unit. The management device according to claim 1 .

13. the energy is hydrogen; the energy consumption unit is an off-site hydrogen station that consumes hydrogen, The energy supply unit is an on-site hydrogen station or a hydrogen production base that supplies hydrogen. The management device according to claim 1 .

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