Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for preventing a shortage of electricity derived from renewable energy at electricity generation consumers where use is prioritized, for executing timely and appropriate reallocation of environmental value, and for promoting timely and effective utilization of electricity derived from renewable energy by third parties.SOLUTION: An information processing apparatus comprises: a calculation unit for calculating tradable electricity by subtracting the electricity consumed and stored electricity at an electricity generation consumer from the generated electricity derived from renewable energy generated at the electricity generation consumer; and an issuance control unit for controlling the issuance of electricity certificates based on a trading history of the tradable electricity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Techniques for trading the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is no mechanism for timely distributing and utilizing the environmental value corresponding to the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy generated by power generation consumers (e.g., houses equipped with solar panels) to third parties in real time. Although it should originally be treated as the amount of electric power, the system regarding the trading of the amount of electric power is complicated.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus, an information processing method, and a program for appropriately and timely redistributing the environmental value without shortage of the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy in power generation consumers where use is prioritized, and for activating the timely utilization of the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy by third parties.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An information processing apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure a calculation unit that calculates an amount of tradable electric power by subtracting the amount of electric power consumed by the power generation consumer and the amount of electric power stored in a power storage from the amount of generated electric power derived from renewable energy generated by the power generation consumer; An issuance control unit that controls the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power is provided.

[0007] An information processing method according to an aspect of the present disclosure calculates the tradable amount of electric power by subtracting the amount of electric power consumed by the power generation consumer and the amount of electric power stored in the power generation consumer from the amount of generated electric power derived from renewable energy generated by the power generation consumer, and controls the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power.

[0008] A program according to an aspect of the present disclosure a process of calculating the tradable amount of electric power by subtracting the amount of electric power consumed by the power generation consumer and the amount of electric power stored in the power generation consumer from the amount of generated electric power derived from renewable energy generated by the power generation consumer, and a process of controlling the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power are executed by a computer.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program in order to appropriately execute the redistribution of environmental value in a timely manner without a shortage of the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy in a power generation consumer where use is prioritized, and to activate the timely utilization of the amount of electric power derived from renewable energy by a third party.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information processing apparatus 10. The information processing apparatus 10 includes a calculation unit 11 and an issuance control unit 12. The information processing apparatus 10 may be a computer including a processor, a memory, and the like. An example of the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 10 will be described later.

[0012] The calculation unit 11 calculates the tradable amount of power by subtracting the amount of power consumed by the power generation consumer (also referred to as the consumption power amount) and the amount of power stored (also referred to as the stored power amount) from the amount of power derived from the renewable energy generated by the power generation consumer (e.g., a house equipped with a solar panel) (also referred to as the generated power amount). The consumption power amount is directly consumed by the power generation consumer. The stored power amount is stored in a storage battery provided by the power generation consumer. The calculation unit 11 may, for example, predict the amount of power consumed by the power generation consumer and determine the stored power amount based on the prediction result. Also, the stored power amount may be a predetermined amount of power.

[0013] The issuance control unit 12 controls the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power. The power certificate represents, for example, the amount of electric power purchased from power generation consumers or the corresponding environmental value over a certain period (e.g., one year, one month). The issuance control unit 12 may be a function for issuing power certificates or a function for causing an external institution's device to issue power certificates.

[0014] Figure 2 shows an example of the flow of the information processing method. First, the calculation unit 11 of the information processing device 10 calculates the tradable amount of electric power by subtracting the consumed amount of electric power and the stored amount of electric power from the generated amount of electric power (step S11). Next, the issuance control unit 12 of the information processing device 10 controls the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power (step S12).

[0015] The information processing device 10 calculates the tradable amount of electric power by subtracting the consumed amount of electric power and the stored amount of electric power from the generated amount of electric power. Since power generation consumers consume the stored electrical energy, an increase in the electricity bill of power generation consumers is also prevented.

[0016] Embodiment 2 Referring to Figure 3, a configuration example of the information processing system will be described. The system shown in Figure 3 includes a house 20a, a house 20b, a house 20c, an office 30-1, an office 30-2, an office 30-3, a thermal power plant 40, a hydrogen production device 50a, a power storage device 50b, a device monitoring and control server 60, and an information processing device 70.

[0017] When the houses 20a, 20b, and 20c are not distinguished from each other, they may simply be referred to as house 20. The number of houses 20 may be two or less or four or more. When the offices 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3 are not distinguished from each other, they may simply be referred to as office 30. The number of offices 30 may be two or less or four or more. The houses 20, the offices 30, the thermal power plant 40, the hydrogen production device 50a, and the power storage device 50b are interconnected via a power network N.

[0018] The house 20 is an example of the power generation customer described above. The house 20 is equipped with a gateway (GW: Gateway) 21 for communicating with the device monitoring and control server 60. The house 20 supplies power to the power network N in response to an instruction from the device monitoring and control server 60. The amounts of power 81, 82, and 83 represent 1 kWh of power generated or the corresponding environmental value in the houses 20a, 20b, and 20c, respectively.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the house 20. The house 20 includes a GW21, a power generation device 22, and a power storage device 23.

[0020] The power generation device 22 generates power derived from renewable energy. The power generation device 22 is, for example, a solar panel or a wind turbine.

[0021] The power storage device 23 includes a storage battery 231 such as a lithium-ion battery and a control unit 232 that controls the charge and discharge of the storage battery 231. The control unit 232 controls the charge and discharge of the storage battery 231 in response to an instruction from the device monitoring and control server 60. By discharging the storage battery 231 by the control unit 232, electrical energy flows from the house 20 to the power network N.

[0022] The amount of power stored in the power storage device 23 is consumed by the house 20 itself or supplied to the business office 30. Note that a part of the amount of power generated by the power generation device 22 may be consumed by the house 20 itself without passing through the power storage device 23 or may be supplied to the business office 30.

[0023] The house 20 may be equipped with a smart meter. The smart meter measures the amount of power supplied from the power network N to the house 20 and the amount of power supplied from the house 20 to the power network N. The smart meter transmits the measurement result to the device monitoring and control server 60 via the gateway 21.

[0024] Referring to FIG. 3, the business office 30 consumes the amount of electric power generated at the residence 20 and the thermal power plant 40. The business office 30 is also referred to as a consumer. The business office 30 includes a gateway 31 for communicating with the device monitoring and control server 60. The business office 30 may be equipped with a power generation device such as a solar panel. The business office 30 may consume the amount of electric power generated by the power generation device. The business office 30 may include a smart meter for measuring the amount of electric power supplied from the power network N to the business office 30. The smart meter transmits the measurement result to the device monitoring and control server 60 via the gateway 31.

[0025] The thermal power plant 40 sends the electrical energy generated by thermal power generation into the power network N. The amount of electric power 84 represents 1 kWh of the amount of electric power generated at the thermal power plant 40 or the corresponding environmental value.

[0026] The hydrogen production device 50a produces hydrogen using the surplus amount of electric power among the amount of electric power generated at the residence 20. The hydrogen production device 50a includes a gateway 51 for communicating with the device monitoring and control server 60. The hydrogen production device 50a may convert and store the electrical energy of the amount of electric power instructed by the device monitoring and control server 60 into hydrogen.

[0027] The energy storage device 50b stores the surplus amount of electric power among the amount of electric power generated at the residence 20. The energy storage device 50b includes a gateway 51 for communicating with the device monitoring and control server 60. The energy storage device 50b may store the electrical energy of the amount of electric power instructed by the device monitoring and control server 60 in a storage battery.

[0028] The device monitoring and control server 60 collects information indicating the amount of power consumed in the house 20, the amount of power generated in the house 20, the amount of power stored in the house 20, the amount of power generated in the business office 30, and the amount of power consumed in the business office 30. The device monitoring and control server 60 passes the collected information to the information processing device 70. In addition, the device monitoring and control server 60 transmits information instructing charge and discharge to the power storage device 23 of the house 20. The device monitoring and control server 60 transmits information indicating the amount of power to be stored to the hydrogen production device 50a and the power storage device 50b based on the distribution plan described later.

[0029] The information processing device 70 is a specific example of the information processing device 10. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information processing device 70. The information processing device 70 includes a storage unit 71, a customer optimization unit 72, a control processing unit 73, a display processing unit 74, and an issuance control unit 75. The information processing device 70 may include a computer device that operates by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. The components or functions constituting the information processing device 70 may be distributed and arranged in a plurality of computer devices. The customer optimization unit 72, the control processing unit 73, the display processing unit 74, and the issuance control unit 75 may be software or modules in which processing is executed by a processor executing a program stored in a memory. Alternatively, the customer optimization unit 72, the control processing unit 73, the display processing unit 74, and the issuance control unit 75 may be hardware such as a circuit or a chip.

[0030] The storage unit 71 stores demand performance 711, power generation performance 712, weather performance 713, and transaction history 714. The demand performance 711 indicates the past power consumption of the house 20 or the business office 30. The power generation performance 712 indicates the past power generation amount of the house 20 or the business office 30. The weather performance 713 indicates the past weather of the area where the house 20 or the business office 30 is located. The transaction history 714 indicates the transaction history of the tradable power amount. Transaction information according to the distribution result of the control processing unit 73 is accumulated in the transaction history 714. Note that the storage unit 71 may store the above-described program.

[0031] The demand optimization unit 72 includes a prediction unit 721 and a planning unit 722. The prediction unit 721 predicts the future power consumption amount and power generation amount of the house 20 based on the demand actual result 711, the power generation actual result 712, and the weather actual result 713. The planning unit 722 is an example of the calculation unit 11 described above. The planning unit 722 determines the power storage amount that can be stored in the house 20 based on the future power consumption amount and power generation amount of the house 20. Then, the planning unit 722 calculates the tradable power amount by subtracting the power consumption amount and the power storage amount from the power generation amount. The planning unit 722 passes the tradable power amount to the control processing unit 73. Also, the planning unit 722 passes the power storage amount to the device monitoring and control server 60.

[0032] The control processing unit 73 distributes the tradable power amount to the business offices 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3. The control processing unit 73 is also referred to as a distribution unit. A target value of the ratio of renewable energy in the consumed energy is determined in advance for each business office 30. The control processing unit 73 distributes the tradable power amount according to the target value. Then, the control processing unit 73 distributes the surplus power amount to the hydrogen production device 50a and the power storage device 50b. The control processing unit 73 passes the distribution result to the device monitoring and control server 60.

[0033] The display processing unit 74 displays the power amount generated in each house 20 on a display device such as a display in real time (e.g., every minute). The display processing unit 74 may display a graph showing the power generation amount in the entire area where the house 20 is located or the time change of the power generation amount.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display screen displayed by the display processing unit 74. The bar graph 91 represents the power generation power with respect to the rated power of each of the plurality of houses 20. The bar graph 92 represents the power generation power of the entire area. The broken line 93 represents the time change of the power generation power of the entire area.

[0035] Further, the display processing unit 74 displays information on power trading according to the distribution plan generated by the control processing unit 73 in real time, for example, every minute, on a display device such as a display. The display processing unit 74 may acquire the measurement results of the smart meters installed in each business office 30 and generate trading information in consideration of the acquired information.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display screen displayed by the display processing unit 74. The pie charts 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98 represent information on power trading conducted by different business offices 30. The items 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d represent the amounts of power supplied from different houses 20. The item 9e represents the amount of power generated by the thermal power plant 40. Below each of the pie charts 94, 95, 96, 97, and 98, the ratio (e.g., 100%, 75%, 55%) of the amount of power derived from renewable energy in the power consumption of the business office 30 is shown. The pie chart 99 represents the ratio of the power generation amount of each house 20 in the sum of the power consumption amounts of the business offices 30.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 5, the issuance control unit 75 is a specific example of the above-described issuance control unit 12. The issuance control unit 75 controls the issuance of power certificates according to the trading information accumulated over a certain period (e.g., one year, one month). The issuance control unit 75 may, for example, cooperate with the program of the institution that issues power certificates and an API (Application Programming Interface) to cause the program to issue power certificates. The power certificate represents, for example, how much power the business office 30 has purchased from which house 20. The power certificate may be, for example, a certificate commonly circulated in the country such as J Credit, a green power certificate, or a non-fossil certificate, or may be a unit of a system for trading the reduction amount of greenhouse gas emissions including CO2 in order to achieve carbon offsets such as voluntary credits.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an outline of a power certificate issued when a plurality of houses 20 and a plurality of offices 30 perform N-to-N relative transactions. The upper diagram represents a power certificate related to the house 20, and the lower diagram represents a power certificate related to the office 30. For example, power certificates A1, A2, and A3 respectively represent that the house 20a has sold an amount of electric power or a corresponding environmental value to the offices 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3. For example, power certificates A1, B1, and C1 respectively represent that the houses 20a, 20b, and 20c have sold an amount of electric power or a corresponding environmental value to the offices 30-1, 30-2, and 30-3.

[0039] The information processing apparatus 70 according to the second embodiment predicts the amount of electric power consumed in each house 20 and calculates the amount of tradable electric power based on the prediction result. Therefore, the necessity for the residents of the house 20 to purchase electric power from the thermal power plant 40 is low.

[0040] In addition, by issuing a power certificate based on the transaction history of the amount of tradable electric power by the information processing apparatus 70, the use of renewable energy can be promoted. In addition, the office can prove that it has purchased an amount of electric power or a corresponding environmental value from a power demand customer that consumes electric power derived from renewable energy.

[0041] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information processing apparatuses 10 and 70 (hereinafter referred to as the information processing apparatus 10 etc.). Referring to FIG. 9, the information processing apparatus 10 etc. includes a network interface 1201, a processor 1202, and a memory 1203. The network interface 1201 is used to communicate with other network node devices constituting the communication system. The network interface 1201 may be used to perform wireless communication. For example, the network interface 1201 may be used to perform wireless LAN communication defined in the IEEE 802.11 series or mobile communication defined in 3GPP (registered trademark) (3rd Generation Partnership Project). Alternatively, the network interface 1201 may include, for example, a network interface card (NIC) compliant with the IEEE 802.3 series.

[0042] The processor 1202 reads out and executes software (computer program) from the memory 1203, thereby performing the processing of the information processing apparatus 10 etc. described using the flowchart or sequence in the above-described embodiment. The processor 1202 may be, for example, a microprocessor, an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor 1202 may include a plurality of processors.

[0043] The memory 1203 is configured by a combination of a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The memory 1203 may include a storage disposed apart from the processor 1202. In this case, the processor 1202 may access the memory 1203 via an I / O interface (not shown).

[0044] In the example of FIG. 9, the memory 1203 is used to store a group of software modules. The processor 1202 can perform the processing of the information processing apparatus 10 and the like described in the above embodiments by reading out and executing these groups of software modules from the memory 1203.

[0045] As described with reference to FIG. 2 and the like, each of the processors included in the information processing apparatus 10 and the like executes one or more programs including a group of instructions for causing a computer to perform the algorithms described with reference to the drawings.

[0046] As described above, the present disclosure has been described with reference to the embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art can be made to the configuration and details of the present disclosure. And each embodiment can be combined with other embodiments as appropriate.

[0047] Each drawing is merely an example for explaining one or more embodiments. Each drawing is not associated with only one specific embodiment, but may be associated with one or more other embodiments. As can be understood by those skilled in the art, various features or steps described with reference to any one drawing can be combined with features or steps shown in one or more other drawings to create, for example, embodiments not explicitly illustrated or described. Not all of the features or steps shown in any one drawing for explaining exemplary embodiments are necessarily essential, and some features or steps may be omitted. The order of the steps described in any drawing may be changed as appropriate.

[0048] In the above example, when the program is loaded into a computer, it includes a set of instructions (or software code) for causing the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, a computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium includes random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD), or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD), Blu-ray (registered trademark) disc, or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium includes electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

Explanation of Signs

[0049] 10, 70 Information processing device 11 Calculation unit 12, 75 Issuance control unit 20, 20a, 20b, 20c House 21, 31, 51 Gateway 22 Power generation device 23, 50b Power storage device 231 Storage battery 232 Control unit 30, 30-1, 30-2, 30-3 Office 40 Thermal power plant 50a Hydrogen production device 60 Equipment monitoring and control server 71 Storage unit 711 Demand performance 712 Power generation performance 713 Weather performance 714 Transaction history 72 Optimizer for consumers 721 Prediction unit 722 Planning Department 73 Control Processing Unit 74 Display Processing Unit 81, 82, 83, 84 Electric Power Quantity 91, 92 Bar Graph 93 Line Graph 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 Pie Chart 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e Items A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3 Power Certificates

Claims

1. A calculation unit that calculates the tradable amount of power by subtracting the amount of power consumed by the power generation customer and the amount of power stored in the power generation customer from the amount of power generated from renewable energy generated by the power generation customer; An issuance control unit that controls the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of power An information processing apparatus comprising the above.

2. The calculation unit predicts the future power consumption amount of the power generation customer based on the demand record indicating the past power consumption amount of the power generation customer, and determines the power consumption amount and the power storage amount to be consumed based on the future power consumption amount The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The calculation unit predicts the future power generation amount of the power generation customer based on the power generation record indicating the past power generation amount of the power generation customer, and determines the power consumption amount and the power storage amount to be consumed based on the future power generation amount The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The calculation unit predicts the future power generation amount in consideration of the weather in the area where the power generation customer is located The information processing apparatus according to claim 3.

5. A distribution unit that distributes the tradable amount of power to a customer different from the power generation customer The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the above.

6. A display processing unit that outputs display information representing the ratio occupied by the environmental value corresponding to the tradable amount of power in the power consumption amount consumed by the customer The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, comprising the above.

7. The power certificate is a unit of a system for trading the reduction amount of greenhouse gas emissions such as CO2 in order to achieve J credit, green power certificate or non-fossil certificate, or carbon offset The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

8. Calculate the tradable amount of power by subtracting the amount of power consumed by the power generation customer and the amount of power stored in the power generation customer from the amount of power generated from renewable energy generated by the power generation customer, Control the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of power An information processing method.

9. Predict the future power consumption amount of the power generation customer based on the demand record indicating the past power consumption amount of the power generation customer, and determine the power consumption amount and the power storage amount to be consumed based on the future power consumption amount The information processing method according to claim 8.

10. A process of calculating the tradable amount of electric power by subtracting the amount of electric power consumed by the power generation customer and the amount of electric power stored in the power generation customer from the amount of generated electric power derived from renewable energy generated by the power generation customer, A process of controlling the issuance of power certificates based on the transaction history of the tradable amount of electric power A program for causing a computer to execute.

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