Demand response system, power supply controller and power supply control method
The demand response system for small-scale consumers addresses the lack of reliability and effectiveness in existing systems by remotely controlling whole-building air conditioning systems to switch from grid to battery power, achieving a higher power-saving effect and providing benefits to all parties involved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2023208120
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-12-11
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-23
AI Technical Summary
Existing demand response systems for small-scale consumers lack reliability and effectiveness in reducing power consumption, as they often rely on voluntary participation and lack a clear target for power reduction.
A demand response system that includes a DR request transmission device and a power control device capable of remotely controlling whole-building air conditioning systems in small-scale consumers with storage batteries, switching the power source from the grid to stored battery power upon receiving a demand response request.
This system achieves a higher power-saving effect by ensuring reliable participation from small-scale consumers and maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, while also providing benefits to both the power company and small consumers.
Smart Images
Figure 2025092804000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a demand response system, a power control device, and a power control method.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, power shortage has been a social issue. To solve this problem, in recent years, demand response (DR), which is a mechanism for controlling power demand and adjusting the balance between demand and supply, has been spreading. In demand response, in order to control power demand, the power company requests large consumers such as factories to save power, and the large consumers execute power saving in response to this request. As a result, in demand response, peak power is reduced and stable power supply is realized.
[0003] Generally, the power company and large consumers conclude a contract in advance. Instead of giving some benefits to large consumers, the power company requests large consumers to save power during power shortage, and the large consumers respond to this request. When large consumers realize power saving, the above mechanism works effectively. On the other hand, regarding the realization of demand response for a large number of small consumers such as general households, efforts such as Non-Patent Document 1 are known.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Non-Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] Regarding the realization of demand response for small-scale consumers, for initiatives such as those in Non-Patent Document 1, for example, the following methods have been realized. (1) Set a power-saving mode in advance for the devices that consume power, and when a power company or the like requests power saving, the device automatically enters the power-saving mode. (2) Small-scale consumers register with the power company in advance, and the power company issues points when small-scale consumers save power compared to their normal power consumption. However, in the method of (1) above, although devices such as air conditioners are targeted, when a small-scale consumer cancels the power-saving mode, the demand response becomes invalid, and it may not lead to a reliable reduction in power consumption. Also, the method of (2) above is a method of asking small-scale consumers to cooperate voluntarily in power saving, and since there is no target power reduction amount, a clear power-saving effect may not be expected in some cases.
[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and is a demand response for small-scale consumers, aiming to realize a demand response with a higher power-saving effect than before.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The demand response system according to the present disclosure includes a DR request transmission device that transmits a DR request signal indicating a request for power saving, and a power control device that can remotely control a whole-building air conditioning system provided in a small-scale consumer having a storage battery, and is a demand response system configured to include: the DR request transmission device includes a DR request transmission unit that transmits a DR request signal; the power control device includes a DR request reception unit that receives the DR request signal, and a power control unit that switches the power supplied to the whole-building air conditioning system provided in the small-scale consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery owned by the small-scale consumer based on the received DR request signal.
Effects of the Invention
[0008] According to the present disclosure, since it is configured as described above, it is possible to realize a demand response for small-scale consumers, which has a higher power-saving effect than before.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0009]
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1. The demand response system 1 mainly includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, a DR request transmission device 20 used in a power company 2, a power control device 30 used in a service provider 3, and a control device 41 used in a small-scale consumer 4.
[0011] The DR request transmission device 20 is mainly used in the power company 2 and transmits a demand response (DR) request signal to the power control device 30 via a network NW such as the Internet or a mobile network.
[0012] The DR request signal is a signal indicating a request for power saving. The DR request signal includes, for example, a signal indicating a period for which power saving is requested and a signal indicating an amount of power to be saved (power saving amount).
[0013] The power control device 30 is mainly used by the service provider 3 and receives the DR request signal transmitted from the DR request transmission device 20. The service provider 3 is a company or the like that provides the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 to a plurality of small customers 4, and is the administrator of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 provided to each small customer 4.
[0014] The small customer 4 is, for example, a general residence, and it is assumed that there are a plurality of them here. In each small customer 4, a whole-building air-conditioning system 5 and a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) 6 are installed. The whole-building air-conditioning system 5 and the HEMS 6 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via the control device 41.
[0015] The whole-building air-conditioning system 5 is a system that heats and cools the entire building including the living rooms and corridors of the small customer 4 and performs 24-hour ventilation. The HEMS 6 is a management system for saving the energy used in the small customer 4. The HEMS 6 can centrally manage the power generation amount by the solar power generation system 61 and the state of the storage battery 62.
[0016] For example, in Embodiment 1, the service provider 3 that manages the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 contracts with the power company 2 as an aggregator and controls the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 of the small customers 4 for which the service is provided, thereby realizing the power saving required during demand response. Since the service provider 3 controls the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 of many small customers 4 as an aggregator, power saving can be effectively realized.
[0017] Specifically, the service provider 3 can temporarily eliminate the power consumption of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 by the power from the power company by switching the power source of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 installed in the small customer 4 having a power source such as the storage battery 62 from the power supplied from the power company 2 to the power stored in the storage battery 62. Also, in this case, a comfortable indoor environment by the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 is maintained.
[0018] Service provider 3 concludes a quantitative power-saving contract with power company 2 and can receive benefits from power company 2 in the same way as large customers by reliably saving power during power shortages. On the other hand, small customers 4 can obtain benefits such as reduction of service fees according to the amount of power saved from service provider 3, thereby realizing a mechanism in which the three parties involved can obtain some benefits.
[0019] Hereinafter, specific configuration examples of the DR request transmission device 20 and the power control device 30 will be described. Note that since the control device 41, the whole-building air-conditioning system 5, the HEMS 6, the solar power generation system 61, and the storage battery 62 provided in each small customer 4 are all known configurations, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted here.
[0020] <DR request transmission device 20> FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the DR request transmission device 20 and the power control device 30 according to Embodiment 1.
[0021] The DR request transmission device 20 is configured to include a DR request transmission unit 21, for example, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] The DR request transmission unit 21 transmits a DR request signal to the power control device 30 provided in the service provider 3 via the network NW. The DR request signal includes a signal indicating the amount of power for which power saving is requested (hereinafter referred to as the "power saving amount signal") and a signal indicating the period for which power saving is requested (hereinafter referred to as the "power saving period signal").
[0023] The function of the DR request transmission unit 21 is realized, for example, by a processor (not shown) mounted on the DR request transmission device 20 executing a program stored in a memory (not shown). Also, the functions of the DR request transmission unit 21 may be realized by coordinating a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories.
[0024] <Power control device 30> As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the power control device 30 includes a DR request receiving unit 31, an information acquisition unit 32, a power consumption estimation unit 33, an in-battery power estimation unit 34, an allocation unit 35, and a power control unit 36.
[0025] The DR request receiving unit 31 receives a DR request signal transmitted from the DR request transmitting unit 21 of the DR request transmitting device 20.
[0026] The information acquisition unit 32 communicates with a control device 41 with a remote communication line provided in each small consumer 4, and obtains information regarding the operating status of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 provided in each small consumer 4 (hereinafter referred to as "operating status information"). The operating status information includes, for example, data regarding the outside air temperature, weather, or direct sunlight amount for each time, and data regarding the measured value of the power consumption of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 for each time.
[0027] Based on the operating status information of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the power consumption of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 per unit time during the period when power saving is required as indicated by the power saving period signal.
[0028] For example, the power consumption of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 basically changes according to the outside air temperature, weather, or direct sunlight amount. Therefore, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the outside air temperature, weather, or direct sunlight amount per unit time (for example, 30 minutes) during the period when power saving is required in each customer's house. Further, the power consumption estimation unit 33 refers to the operating status information acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, and estimates the power consumption of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 per unit time based on the measured value of the power consumption of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 at the time when the same outside air temperature, weather, or direct sunlight amount existed in the past.
[0029] The in-battery power estimator 34 estimates the amount of power in the battery 62 of each small-scale consumer 4 at the start time of the period when power saving is requested as indicated by the power saving period signal. The in-battery power estimator 34 performs the above estimation based on, for example, the operation status information of each whole-building air conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32.
[0030] Also, for example, if the information acquisition unit 32 can acquire information regarding the operation status of each HEMS 6 from the HEMS 6 provided in each small-scale consumer 4 through communication with the control device 41 provided in each small-scale consumer 4, the in-battery power estimator 34 may perform the above estimation based on the information regarding the operation status of each HEMS 6 instead of or in addition to the operation status information of each whole-building air conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32.
[0031] The allocation unit 35 allocates, for each unit time, the whole-building air conditioning system 5 that switches the power to be supplied from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the battery 62 among each whole-building air conditioning system 5 based on the estimation result by the power consumption estimator 33 and the estimation result by the in-battery power estimator 34.
[0032] The power supply control unit 36 switches, for each unit time, the whole-building air conditioning system 5 that switches the power to be supplied from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the battery 62 based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35.
[0033] The above switching by the power supply control unit 36 is performed remotely via the network NW. For example, the power supply control unit 36 transmits a signal instructing the switching of the power supply to the control device 41 in the small-scale consumer 4 where the whole-building air conditioning system 5 to be switched to the battery 62 as the power supply source is installed. When receiving the signal, the control device 41 cooperates with the whole-building air conditioning system 5 and the HEMS 6 to supply the power stored in the battery 62 to the whole-building air conditioning system 5.
[0034] The functions of the DR request receiving unit 31, the information acquisition unit 32, the power consumption estimation unit 33, the in-battery power estimation unit 34, the allocation unit 35, and the power supply control unit 36 are realized, for example, by a processor (not shown) mounted on the power supply control device 30 executing a program stored in a memory (not shown). Further, the functions of the respective units may be realized by causing a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories to cooperate with each other.
[0035] Next, an operation example of the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 3. In the following description, it is assumed that the information acquisition unit 32 of the power supply control device 30 communicates with the control device 41 provided in each small consumer 4 at a predetermined cycle, and acquires the operation status information of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 provided in each small consumer 4 from each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 at a predetermined cycle.
[0036] First, the DR request transmission unit 21 of the DR request transmission device 20 transmits a DR request signal to the power supply control device 30 provided in the service provider 3 via the network NW (step ST1).
[0037] Next, the DR request receiving unit 31 receives the DR request signal transmitted from the DR request transmission unit 21 of the DR request transmission device 20 (step ST2).
[0038] Next, based on the operation status information of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the power consumption per unit time of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 during the period in which power saving is required as indicated by the power saving period signal (step ST3).
[0039] Next, the in-battery power estimation unit 34 estimates the amount of power in the storage battery 62 of each small consumer 4 at the start time of the period in which power saving is required as indicated by the power saving period signal (step ST4).
[0040] Next, the allocation unit 35 allocates, for each unit time, the entire building air-conditioning system 5 that switches the power to be supplied from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery 62 based on the estimation result by the power consumption estimation unit 33 and the estimation result by the in-storage-battery power estimation unit 34 (step ST5). A specific example from the estimation of the power consumption in step ST3 to the allocation in step ST5 will be described later.
[0041] Next, based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35, the power supply control unit 36 switches, for each unit time, the entire building air-conditioning system 5 that switches the power to be supplied from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery 62 (step ST6).
[0042] Next, a specific example from the estimation of the power consumption in step ST3 to the allocation in step ST5 will be described while giving the specific example shown in FIG. 4.
[0043] In the specific example shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the period for which power saving is required indicated by the power saving period signal included in the DR request signal is from 14:00 to 16:00 on a certain day, and the amount of power (power saving amount) for which power saving is required indicated by the power saving amount signal included in the DR request signal is "10 kWh". Also, in the specific example shown in FIG. 4, the case where there are five small consumers 4 (customer houses) A to E as the target will be described as an example.
[0044] Based on the operation status information of each entire building air-conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the power consumption of each entire building air-conditioning system 5 for each unit time (here, every 30 minutes) from 14:00 to 16:00 when power saving is required as indicated by the power saving period signal (step ST3).
[0045] For example, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the power consumption in each customer's home during time period 1 (from 14:00 to 14:30) as 2 kW in customer's home A, 1 kW in customer's home B, 2 kW in customer's home C, 1 kW in customer's home D, and 1 kW in customer's home E. Similarly, the power consumption estimation unit 33 estimates the power consumption in each customer's home during time period 2 (from 14:30 to 15:00), time period 3 (from 15:00 to 15:30), and time period 4 (from 15:30 to 16:00) as shown in FIG. 4.
[0046] Next, the in-battery power estimation unit 34 estimates the amount of power (charge amount) in the storage battery 62 of each small consumer 4 at 14:00, which is the start time of the period when power saving is requested (step ST4).
[0047] In the example shown in FIG. 4, for example, the full charge capacity of the storage battery 62 installed in customer's home A is "15 kWh", the full charge capacity of the storage battery 62 installed in customer's home B is "4 kWh", the full charge capacity of the storage battery 62 installed in customer's home C is "10 kWh", the full charge capacity of the storage battery 62 installed in customer's home D is "6 kWh", and the full charge capacity of the storage battery 62 installed in customer's home E is "5 kWh".
[0048] The in-battery power estimation unit 34 predicts the charge rates of the storage batteries 62 installed in each customer's home at 14:00 as "33%" in customer's home A, "100%" in customer's home B, "50%" in customer's home C, "100%" in customer's home D, and "80%" in customer's home E, respectively. Also, the in-battery power estimation unit 34 estimates the charge amounts (usable power amounts) of the storage batteries 62 installed in each customer's home at 14:00 as "5 kWh" in customer's home A, "4 kWh" in customer's home B, "5 kWh" in customer's home C, "6 kWh" in customer's home D, and "4 kWh" in customer's home E, respectively.
[0049] Next, the allocation unit 35 allocates, for each unit of time, the entire building air conditioning system 5 that switches the power supplied from the power company to the power stored in the storage battery 62 among the entire building air conditioning systems 5 based on the estimation results by the power consumption estimation unit 33 and the estimation results by the in-battery power estimation unit 34 (step ST5).
[0050] For example, based on the estimation result by the power consumption estimation unit 33 and the estimation result by the in-storage battery power estimation unit 34, the allocation unit 35 can calculate the time during which the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 can be driven by the in-storage battery 62 in each customer's home. For example, in customer's home A, the time during which the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 can be driven by the in-storage battery 62 is "60 minutes", and in customer's home B, the time during which the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 can be driven by the in-storage battery 62 is "120 minutes", etc., which can be calculated. Therefore, the allocation unit 35 performs the above-mentioned allocation so that the total time when the power supply source for supplying power to the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 is switched to the in-storage battery in each customer's home is within the above-mentioned time.
[0051] In addition, the allocation unit 35 performs the above-mentioned allocation so that, at the start time of each time period, the power supply source for the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 installed in the customer's home with a high charging rate of the in-storage battery 62 is preferentially switched to the in-storage battery 62. Also, the allocation unit 35 performs the above-mentioned allocation so that, between 14:00 and 16:00, the total amount of power consumed by the in-storage battery 62 in each customer's home is equal to or greater than the amount of power required for power saving (power saving amount).
[0052] Furthermore, the allocation unit 35 performs the above-mentioned allocation so that the estimated charging rate of the in-storage battery 62 in each customer's home at 16:00, which is the end time of the demand response, is almost the same rate for all customer's homes. For example, the allocation unit 35 performs the above-mentioned allocation so that the variation in the estimated charging rate of the in-storage battery 62 in each customer's home at 16:00, which is the end time of the demand response, is smaller than the variation in the estimated charging rate of the in-storage battery in each customer's home at 14:00, which is the start time of the demand response.
[0053] For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the allocation unit 35 performs the allocation as follows. <Time period 1 (14:00 to 14:30)> At 14:00 which is the start time of time period 1, the allocation unit 35 selects customer homes in descending order of the charge rate of the storage battery 62. As a result, the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 installed in customer homes B, C, D, and E are allocated as the power supply targets by the storage battery 62. In FIG. 4, the customer homes which are the installation locations of the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 allocated as the power supply targets by the storage battery 62 are indicated by circles.
[0054] Also, at 14:30 which is the end time of time period 1, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer home. For example, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer home at 14:30 as "5 kWh" (no increase or decrease from 14:00) for customer home A, "3.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 14:00) for customer home B, "4 kWh" (-1 kWh from 14:00) for customer home C, "5.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 14:00) for customer home D, and "3.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 14:00) for customer home E. In this case, it is estimated that a total charge amount of "2.5 kWh" is consumed in time period 1. This "2.5 kWh" corresponds to the power saving amount in time period 1.
[0055] Also, as a result of the above estimation, the allocation unit 35 calculates the charge rate of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer home at 14:30 as "33%" (no increase or decrease from 14:00) for customer home A, "88%" (-12% from 14:00) for customer home B, "40%" (-10% from 14:00) for customer home C, "92%" (-8% from 14:00) for customer home D, and "70%" (-10% from 14:00) for customer home E.
[0056] <Time period 2 (14:30 - 15:00)> At 14:30 which is the start time of time period 2, the allocation unit 35 selects customer homes in descending order of the charge rate of the storage battery 62. As a result, the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 installed in customer homes B, C, D, and E are allocated as the power supply targets by the storage battery 62.
[0057] Further, at 15:00 which is the end time of time period 1, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home. For example, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 15:00 as "5 kWh" (no increase or decrease from 14:30) at customer home A, "3 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 14:30) at customer home B, "3 kWh" ( - 1 kWh from 14:30) at customer home C, "5 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 14:30) at customer home D, and "3 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 14:30) at customer home E. In this case, in time period 2, it is estimated that a total charge amount of "2.5 kWh" is consumed. This "2.5 kWh" corresponds to the power saving amount in time period 2.
[0058] Also, as a result of the above estimation, the allocation unit 35 calculates the charge rate of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 15:00 as "33%" (no increase or decrease from 14:30) at customer home A, "75%" ( - 13% from 14:30) at customer home B, "30%" ( - 10% from 14:30) at customer home C, "83%" ( - 9% from 14:30) at customer home D, and "60%" ( - 10% from 14:30) at customer home E.
[0059] <Time period 3 (15:00 - 15:30)> At 15:00 which is the start time of time period 3, the allocation unit 35 selects customer homes in descending order of the charge rate of the storage battery 62, and as a result, allocates the entire building air - conditioning system 5 installed in customer homes A, B, D, and E as the power supply target by the storage battery 62.
[0060] Further, at 15:30 which is the end time of time period 3, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home. For example, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 15:30 as "4 kWh" (-1.0 kWh from 15:00) at customer home A, "2.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 15:00) at customer home B, "3 kWh" (no increase or decrease from 15:00) at customer home C, "4.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 15:00) at customer home D, and "2.5 kWh" (-0.5 kWh from 15:00) at customer home E. In this case, it is estimated that a total charge amount of "2.5 kWh" is consumed during time period 3. This "2.5 kWh" corresponds to the power saving amount during time period 3.
[0061] Also, as a result of the above estimation, the allocation unit 35 calculates the charge rate of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 15:30 as "26%" (-7% from 15:00) at customer home A, "63%" (-12% from 15:00) at customer home B, "30%" (no increase or decrease from 15:00) at customer home C, "75%" (-8% from 15:00) at customer home D, and "50%" (-10% from 15:00) at customer home E.
[0062] <Time period 4 (15:30 to 16:00)> At 15:30 which is the start time of time period 4, the allocation unit 35 selects customer homes in descending order of the charge rate of the storage battery 62. As a result, it allocates the entire building air conditioning system 5 installed in customer homes B, C, D, and E as the power supply target by the storage battery 62.
[0063] Also, at 16:00 which is the end time of time period 4, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home. For example, the allocation unit 35 estimates the charge amount of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 16:00 as "4 kWh" (no increase or decrease from 15:30) at customer home A, "2.0 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 15:30) at customer home B, "2 kWh" ( - 1.0 kWh from 15:30) at customer home C, "4.0 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 15:30) at customer home D, and "2.0 kWh" ( - 0.5 kWh from 15:30) at customer home E. In this case, it is estimated that a total of "2.5 kWh" of charge amount is consumed in time period 4. This "2.5 kWh" corresponds to the power saving amount in time period 4.
[0064] Also, as a result of the above estimation, the allocation unit 35 calculates the charge rate of the storage battery 62 installed in each customer's home at 16:00 as "26%" (no increase or decrease from 15:30) at customer home A, "50%" ( - 13% from 15:30) at customer home B, "25%" ( - 5% from 15:30) at customer home C, "67%" ( - 8% from 15:30) at customer home D, and "40%" ( - 10% from 15:30).
[0065] When the above allocation is performed, the total charge amount of the storage battery 62 estimated to be consumed in each time period from time period 1 to time period 4 is "10 kWh" (= 2.5 kWh + 2.5 kWh + 2.5 kWh + 2.5 kWh), and this value is equal to or greater than the power saving amount (10 kWh) indicated by the power saving amount signal included in the DR request signal. Therefore, the power supply control unit 36 can satisfy the power saving requirement by performing power switching control according to the above allocation.
[0066] Also, in the above example, the estimated charge rates of the storage batteries 62 at each customer's home at 16:00, which is the end time of the demand response, are "26%", "50%", "25%", "67%", and "40%", respectively. However, the variation in each estimated charge rate at this 16:00 time is smaller than the variation in the estimated charge rates of the storage batteries 62 at each customer's home at 14:00, which is the start time of the demand response, namely "33%", "100%", "50%", "100%", and "80%". As a result, in the above example, the variation in the charge rates of each storage battery 62 after the end of the period requiring power saving is suppressed.
[0067] Note that as an index indicating the above variation, the allocation unit 35 may obtain the standard deviation of the estimated charge rates of the storage batteries 62 at each customer's home at 14:00, which is the start time of the demand response, and at 16:00, which is the end time of the demand response. Also, the allocation unit 35 may set a threshold condition for the difference value between the standard deviation at 14:00 and the standard deviation at 16:00, for example, and repeat the above allocation until this threshold condition is satisfied. Alternatively, the allocation unit 35 may set a threshold condition only for the standard deviation at 16:00, which is the end time of the demand response, and repeat the above allocation until this threshold condition is satisfied.
[0068] As described above, when the allocation by the allocation unit 35 is performed, the power control unit 36 switches the power supply to the entire building air conditioning system 5 every 30 minutes (for each of the above time periods) in accordance with the allocation by the allocation unit 35. In this case, since the power supply switching is automatically performed by the power control unit 36, the power saving effect can be surely obtained without depending on the trends of the small-lot consumers 4. In this way, in the first embodiment, it is possible to realize a demand response for small-lot consumers that has a higher power saving effect than before.
[0069] Note that the periods for requesting power saving, the amounts of power for which power saving is requested, and values such as the charging rates of the respective storage batteries 62 exemplified in the above description are merely examples, and these may be other contents than those described above.
[0070] In the above description, the case where there are a plurality of small consumers 4 has been described as an example. However, the small consumers 4 do not necessarily have to be plural, and there may be only one household. In that case, the allocation unit 35 may perform the above allocation so that the total amount of power of the storage battery 62 consumed during the period in which the small consumer 4 of that one household is requested to save power is equal to or greater than the amount of power (power saving amount) for which power saving is requested.
[0071] In the above description, an example has been described in which the power control unit 36 switches the power supply to the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35. However, the power control unit 36 does not necessarily have to switch the power supply based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35. For example, when a DR request signal is received by the DR request receiving unit 31, the power control unit 36 may switch the power supply of the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 installed in at least one arbitrarily selected small consumer 4 to the power charged in the storage battery 62 based on the DR request signal. In that case, in the power control device 30, the information acquisition unit 32, the power consumption estimation unit 33, the in-storage-battery power estimation unit 34, and the allocation unit 35 may be omitted.
[0072] Alternatively, when the DR request signal is received by the DR request receiving unit 31, the power supply control unit 36 may select at least one whole-building air-conditioning system based on the information regarding the operating status of each whole-building air-conditioning system acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, and switch the power supplied to the selected whole-building air-conditioning system 5 from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery owned by the small-scale consumer. In that case, in the power supply control device 30, the power consumption estimation unit 33, the power in the storage battery estimation unit 34, and the allocation unit 35 may be omitted. However, as described above, if the power supply control unit 36 switches the power supply to the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35, the power supply switching control can be performed simply and reliably, and the power saving effect can be obtained more reliably.
[0073] As described above, according to the first embodiment, the demand response system 1 includes a DR request transmission device 20 that transmits a DR request signal indicating a request for power saving, and a power supply control device 30 provided in the small-scale consumer 4 having a storage battery 62 and capable of remotely controlling the whole-building air-conditioning system 5. The DR request transmission device 20 includes a DR request transmission unit 21 that transmits a DR request signal. The power supply control device 30 includes a DR request receiving unit 31 that receives the DR request signal, and a power supply control unit 36 that switches the power supplied to the whole-building air-conditioning system provided in the small-scale consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery owned by the small-scale consumer based on the received DR request signal. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to the first embodiment is a demand response for small-scale consumers, and can realize a demand response with a higher power saving effect than before.
[0074] In addition, there are a plurality of small-scale consumers 4 having a storage battery 62. Based on the received DR request signal, the power control unit 36 switches the power supplied to at least one of the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 provided in each small-scale consumer 4 from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery 62 of the small-scale consumer 4. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can realize a demand response for a plurality of small-scale consumers and a demand response with a higher power-saving effect than before.
[0075] In addition, the power control device 30 includes an information acquisition unit 32 that acquires information on the operating status of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 from the whole-building air-conditioning systems 5 provided in each small-scale consumer 4. Based on the information on the operating status of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, the power control unit 36 switches the power supplied to at least one whole-building air-conditioning system 5 selected from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery 62 of the small-scale consumer 4. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can appropriately select the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 that switches the power supply source to the power stored in the storage battery 62.
[0076] Further, the DR request signal includes a signal indicating the amount of power required for power saving and a signal indicating the period during which power saving is required. Based on the information regarding the operating status of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 acquired by the information acquisition unit 32, the power supply control device 30 includes a power consumption estimation unit 33 that estimates the power consumption of each whole-building air-conditioning system 5 per unit time during the above period, a battery internal power estimation unit 34 that estimates the amount of power charged in the battery 62 of each small consumer 4 at the start time of the above period, and an allocation unit 35 that allocates the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 that switches the supplied power to the power stored in the battery 62 per unit time based on the estimation result by the power consumption estimation unit 33 and the estimation result by the battery internal power estimation unit 34. The power supply control unit 36 performs the switching based on the allocation result by the allocation unit 35. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can perform the switching control of the power supply simply and surely, and can obtain the power saving effect more surely.
[0077] Further, the allocation unit 35 performs the allocation so that, at the start time of each unit time, the power supplied to the whole-building air-conditioning system 5 installed in the small consumer 4 with a high charging rate of the battery 62 is preferentially switched to the power stored in the battery 62. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can suppress the depletion of the power stored in the battery 62 due to power saving.
[0078] Further, the allocation unit 35 performs the allocation so that the variation in the estimated charging rate of the battery 62 of each small consumer 4 at the end of the period during which power saving is required is smaller than the variation in the estimated charging rate of the battery 62 of each small consumer 4 at the start of the period during which power saving is required. Thereby, the demand response system 1 according to Embodiment 1 can suppress the variation in the charging rate of each battery 62 after the end of the period during which power saving is required.
[0079] Note that within the scope of the present disclosure, any component of the embodiment can be modified, or any component in the embodiment can be omitted.
Explanation of Reference Numerals
[0080] 1 Demand response system 2 Electric power company 3 Service provider 4 Small-scale consumer 5 Whole-building air conditioning system 6 HEMS 20 DR request transmission device 21 DR request transmission section 30 Power control device 31 DR request reception section 32 Information acquisition section 33 Power consumption estimation section 34 Battery internal power estimation section 35 Allocation section 36 Power control section 41 Control device 61 Photovoltaic power generation system 62 Battery NW Network
Claims
1. A DR request transmission device that transmits a DR request signal requesting power saving, and A power control device capable of remotely controlling a whole-building air conditioning system provided in a small-scale consumer having a storage battery, comprising a demand response system, The DR request transmission device includes a DR request transmission unit that transmits the DR request signal, The power control device includes a DR request reception unit that receives the DR request signal, and a power control unit that switches the power supplied to the whole-building air conditioning system provided in the small-scale consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery of the small-scale consumer based on the received DR request signal. A demand response system characterized by comprising the above.
2. There are a plurality of small-scale consumers having the storage battery, The power control unit switches the power supplied to at least one of the whole-building air conditioning systems provided in each small-scale consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery of the small-scale consumer based on the received DR request signal. The demand response system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.
3. The power control device includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the operating status of each whole-building air conditioning system from each whole-building air conditioning system provided in each small-scale consumer, The power control unit switches the power supplied to at least one whole-building air conditioning system selected based on the information regarding the operating status of each whole-building air conditioning system acquired by the information acquisition unit from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery of the small-scale consumer. The demand response system according to claim 2, characterized by the above.
4. The DR request signal includes a signal indicating the amount of power required for power saving and a signal indicating the period during which power saving is required. The power control device Based on the information on the operating status of each building-wide air conditioning system acquired by the information acquisition unit, a power consumption estimation unit that estimates the power consumption of each building-wide air conditioning system per unit time during the period, A battery internal power estimation unit that estimates the amount of power charged in the battery of each small consumer at the start time of the period, Based on the estimation result by the power consumption estimation unit and the estimation result by the battery internal power estimation unit, an allocation unit that allocates a building-wide air conditioning system that switches the supplied power to the power stored in the battery for each unit time, Comprising The power control unit performs the switching based on the allocation result by the allocation unit The demand response system according to claim 3, characterized in that
5. The allocation unit performs allocation so as to preferentially switch the power supplied to the building-wide air conditioning system installed in a small consumer with a high battery charge rate to the power stored in the battery at the start time of the unit time. The demand response system according to claim 4, characterized in that
6. The allocation unit performs allocation so that the variation in the estimated charge rate of the battery of each small consumer at the end of the period during which power saving is required is smaller than the variation in the estimated charge rate of the battery of each small consumer at the start of the period during which power saving is required. The demand response system according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that
7. A power control device capable of remotely controlling a building-wide air conditioning system provided in a small consumer having a battery, A DR request receiving unit that receives a DR request signal indicating a request for power saving, Based on the received DR request signal, a power control unit that switches the power supplied to the whole-building air conditioning system provided in the small consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery owned by the small consumer. A power control device characterized by comprising the above.
8. A DR request transmission device that transmits a DR request signal requesting power saving. A power control method by a demand response system configured to include a DR request transmission device that transmits a DR request signal requesting power saving and a power control device capable of remotely controlling a whole-building air conditioning system provided in a small consumer having a storage battery, comprising: A step in which the DR request transmission unit of the DR request transmission device transmits the DR request signal. A step in which the DR request reception unit of the power control device receives the DR request signal. A step in which the power control unit of the power control device switches the power supplied to the whole-building air conditioning system provided in the small consumer from the power supplied by the power company to the power stored in the storage battery owned by the small consumer based on the received DR request signal. A power control method characterized by having the above.