Hydrogen production system

Abstract

To provide a hydrogen production system capable of efficiently operating a hydrogen production device based on power supply prediction of a non-continuous renewable energy device and a continuous renewable energy device.SOLUTION: For at least one of a discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and a continuous renewable energy device 14, a hydrogen production system 10 predicts a power supply amount in a certain period in the future based on environmental information 22 including a weather forecast, thereby obtaining a total power amount prediction value that is a sum of the power supply amounts from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 in the certain period, and controlling power supply to a plurality of hydrogen production devices 20 based on the total power amount prediction value. In addition, when it is predicted that sunny days will continue based on the environmental information 22, rainwater is supplied from a rainwater storage device 26 to the continuous renewable energy device 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrogen production system that utilizes renewable energy. [Background technology]

[0002] Towards a carbon-zero society, solar power generation and wind power generation are becoming more popular, replacing thermal power generation using fossil fuels. However, because the amount of power generated by solar power generation and wind power generation fluctuates greatly due to natural phenomena, it becomes necessary to store the power using storage batteries or to convert the power into hydrogen and store it. Systems that convert power into hydrogen and store it have been proposed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a system that includes a hydrogen production device that produces hydrogen using electricity generated using renewable energy, and an absorbing alloy tank that stores hydrogen, and that uses the heat generated during hydrogen absorption and production to heat the absorbing alloy tank.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a system that includes a power generation means for converting renewable energy into electrical energy, and multiple hydrogen production devices that produce hydrogen gas using electrical energy, and a hydrogen gas backflow prevention mechanism in the piping that connects the multiple hydrogen production devices to a buffer tank.

[0005] Patent Document 3 discloses an energy management device that manages the supply of electricity generated using renewable energy. In this energy management device, a processor in charge of control predicts fluctuations in renewable energy electricity based on the renewable energy electricity and operation information of renewable energy devices, and inputs the predicted value of surplus electricity, obtained by subtracting the electricity sold from the predicted value, as a command value to a power conversion device provided on the electrolyzer side. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-23028 [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-49600 A [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-110287 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As disclosed in Patent Documents 1-3, solar power generation and wind power generation, which use renewable energy, are dependent on nature and therefore have large fluctuations in the amount of power they generate. For example, solar power generation does not generate power at least at night, and its power generation capacity fluctuates depending on the weather. Also, wind power generation does not generate power when there is no wind.

[0008] Therefore, attempts have been made to operate hydrogen production equipment according to the amount of electricity generated. However, because the amount of electricity generated by solar and wind power generation fluctuates greatly, if the hydrogen production equipment is installed to match the maximum amount of electricity generated, there is a problem that when power generation capacity decreases due to weather, the operating rate of the hydrogen production equipment will drop significantly.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrogen production system that can efficiently operate a hydrogen production device based on power supply predictions of a discontinuous renewable energy device and a continuous renewable energy device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] (1) The hydrogen production system of the present invention comprises a discontinuous renewable energy device that generates electricity discontinuously using natural energy, a continuous renewable energy device that generates electricity continuously using water present in the natural environment, a storage device that stores the electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device and the electricity generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device, a plurality of hydrogen production devices that produce hydrogen using electricity, and a control device that controls the supply of electricity output from the continuous renewable energy device, the discontinuous renewable energy device, and the storage device to the plurality of hydrogen production devices, wherein the control device predicts the amount of electricity supply for a certain future period for at least one of the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device based on environmental information including a weather forecast, thereby determining a predicted total amount of electricity, which is the sum of the amounts of electricity supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period, and controls the supply of electricity to the plurality of hydrogen production devices based on the predicted total amount of electricity.

[0011] (2) In the present invention, it is preferable that the control device calculates the total power prediction value based on the result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, and the result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information.

[0012] (3) In the present invention, the control device may employ a configuration in which the total power prediction value is calculated based on the result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, and the current amount of power supply to be supplied from the continuous renewable energy device.

[0013] (4) In the present invention, it is preferable that the control device determines the number of operating hydrogen production devices when controlling the power supply to the plurality of hydrogen production devices.

[0014] (5) In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the electricity generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device and the electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device is stored in the power storage device during a period when the hydrogen production device is not operating.

[0015] (6) In the present invention, the discontinuous renewable energy device is preferably a solar power generation device equipped with a solar panel.

[0016] (7) In the present invention, it is preferable that a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater be further provided, and the solar panel be installed above the rainwater storage device.

[0017] (8) In the present invention, when the control device predicts the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, it is preferable that the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device based on at least information regarding weather, temperature, and wind among the environmental information.

[0018] (9) In the present invention, the continuous renewable energy device is preferably a battery that uses moist soil, rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater as an electrolyte, and utilizes a voltage generated corresponding to the difference between the standard electrode potential of the negative electrode and the standard electrode potential of the positive electrode when a negative electrode made of a first metal material with a negative standard electrode potential and a positive electrode made of a carbon-based material or a second metal material with a positive standard electrode potential are brought into contact with the electrolyte, and utilizes electrons generated by electrolysis of a substance contained in the electrolyte when the voltage is generated.

[0019] "Electrolyte" generally refers to a substance that ionizes into cations and anions when dissolved in a solvent. In the present invention, however, "electrolyte" refers to a substance present between the negative and positive electrodes in a battery, such as ion-containing water or soil that retains moisture. The standard electrode potential is expressed with the potential of the standard hydrogen electrode as the reference (0 V). Therefore, the standard state electromotive force of a battery made by combining a standard hydrogen electrode with the electrode to be measured is equal to the standard electrode potential of the electrode to be measured.

[0020] (10) In the present invention, it is preferable that the power generation device further includes a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater, and that electricity can be generated by immersing the negative electrode and the positive electrode in the rainwater stored in the rainwater storage device.

[0021] (11) In the present invention, the second metal material is preferably copper, silver, gold, platinum, or stainless steel.

[0022] (12) In the present invention, the first metallic material is preferably magnesium, aluminum, or zinc.

[0023] (13) In the present invention, it is preferable that at least one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode is coated with a film of a conductive material, a semiconductor material, or an intercalation compound.

[0024] (14) In the present invention, the continuous renewable energy device preferably uses moist soil as the electrolyte.

[0025] (15) In the present invention, the continuous renewable energy device preferably uses moist soil in which plants grow as the electrolyte.

[0026] (16) In the present invention, it is preferable to further include a soil temperature measuring device that measures the soil temperature within the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed, and a moisture content measuring device that measures the moisture content of the soil within the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed. In the present invention, "within the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed" means within an area located in the same environment as the soil used as the electrolyte.

[0027] (17) In the present invention, when the control device predicts the amount of power supply to be supplied from the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, it is preferable that the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device based on the underground temperature and the water content in addition to the environmental information.

[0028] (18) In the present invention, it is preferable that a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater is further provided, and when the water content is low, the rainwater stored in the rainwater storage device is supplied to the continuous renewable energy device.

[0029] (19) In the present invention, it is preferable to further include a temperature measuring device that measures the atmospheric temperature within the area where the solar panels are installed, and an illuminance measuring device that measures the solar illuminance within the area where the solar panels are installed. "Within the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed" means within an area located in the same environment as the solar panels.

[0030] (20) In the present invention, when the control device predicts the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, it is preferable that the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device based on the atmospheric temperature and the solar illuminance in addition to the environmental information.

[0031] (21) In the present invention, it is preferable that the power storage device further comprises a power monitoring device capable of monitoring at least the power stored in the power storage device.

[0032] (22) In the present invention, when controlling the power supply to the plurality of hydrogen production devices, it is preferable that the control device determines the number of hydrogen production devices to be in operation during the certain period based on the predicted total power amount during the certain period and the power stored in the power storage device.

[0033] (23) In the present invention, it is preferable that the hydrogen production system further includes a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater, and that when sunny days are predicted to continue based on the environmental information, rainwater is supplied from the rainwater storage device to the continuous renewable energy. In this case, it is preferable that the hydrogen production system according to the present invention supplies rainwater from the rainwater storage device to the continuous renewable energy when sunny days are predicted to continue for a predetermined number of days or more based on the environmental information. It is also preferable that the hydrogen production system according to the present invention supplies rainwater from the rainwater storage device to the continuous renewable energy even when no rainfall or snowfall is predicted to continue for a predetermined number of days or more based on the environmental information.

[0034] (24) In the present invention, it is preferable that the system further comprises a hydrogen storage device for storing hydrogen produced by the plurality of hydrogen production devices.

[0035] (25) In the present invention, when a subsystem including the discontinuous renewable energy device, the continuous renewable energy device, the power storage device, and the plurality of hydrogen production devices is provided in each of a plurality of different regions and the subsystems in the plurality of regions are controlled, it is preferable that the control device calculates the total power prediction value based on environmental information corresponding to the target region in which the subsystem to be controlled is installed, among the environmental information.

[0036] (26) In the present invention, when the control device uses environmental information of areas other than the target area when calculating the total power prediction value in the subsystem of the target area, it is preferable to weight the environmental information of areas closer to the target area more heavily than the environmental information of areas farther from the target area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] In the hydrogen production system according to the present invention, the control device predicts the amount of power supply for a certain period of time based on environmental information, thereby calculating a predicted total power amount, which is the sum of the amounts of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device for that period of time, and controls the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices based on the predicted total power amount. As a result, the hydrogen production system according to the present invention controls the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices based on the power supply predictions from the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device, thereby enabling the hydrogen production devices to operate efficiently even when the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device or the continuous renewable energy device fluctuates due to environmental conditions. Furthermore, the hydrogen production system according to the present invention allows the hydrogen production devices to operate efficiently without necessarily requiring a large-capacity power storage device to provide a stable power supply. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0038] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen production system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the influence of weather on the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a first configuration example of the continuous renewable energy device shown in FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a second configuration example of the continuous renewable energy device shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a third configuration example of the continuous renewable energy device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the electrode unit shown in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the electrical energy obtained when the electrolyte is changed in a continuous renewable energy device. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the influence of weather on the amount of power generated by the continuous renewable energy device shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen production system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation example 1 of the continuous renewable energy device etc. shown in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation example 2 of the continuous renewable energy device etc. shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0040] [Embodiment 1] (Overall composition) Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen production system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the hydrogen production system 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a discontinuous renewable energy device 12 that generates electricity discontinuously using natural energy, a continuous renewable energy device 14 that generates electricity continuously using water present in the natural environment, and a plurality of hydrogen production devices 20 that produce hydrogen using the electricity.

[0041] The hydrogen production system 10 includes a power storage device 16 that stores the power generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the power generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14. The power storage device 16 includes a secondary battery and a capacitor.

[0042] The hydrogen production system 10 includes a discontinuous renewable energy device 12, a continuous renewable energy device 14, and a control device 18 that controls the supply of power output from a power storage device 16 to multiple hydrogen production devices 20. Environmental information 22, including weather forecasts, is supplied to the control device 18 from an external source via a network or the like. The control device 18 is configured using, for example, a CPU or the like that performs processing based on programs stored in various recording media or storage devices.

[0043] The hydrogen production system 10 also includes a hydrogen storage device 24 that stores hydrogen produced by the multiple hydrogen production devices 20, and a rainwater storage device 26 that stores rainwater.

[0044] Here, since the continuous renewable energy device 14 continuously generates electricity by utilizing water present in the natural environment, when sunny days are predicted to continue based on the environmental information 22, rainwater is supplied to the continuous renewable energy device 14 from the rainwater storage device 26.

[0045] The supply of water from the rainwater storage device 26 can be realized, for example, when the control device 18 predicts that sunny days will continue based on the environmental information 22, by notifying those around it using audio, images, etc., and a worker who confirms this can open the discharge valve of the continuous renewable energy device 14.

[0046] In addition, the supply of water from the rainwater storage device 26 can be realized by the worker checking the environmental information 22 displayed on the monitor of the control device 18 and opening the discharge valve of the continuous renewable energy device 14 when it is displayed that sunny days are expected to continue.

[0047] In addition, the supply of water from the rainwater storage device 26 can be realized by the control device 18 automatically opening the discharge valve of the continuous renewable energy device 14 when the control device 18 predicts that sunny days will continue based on the environmental information 22.

[0048] In either case, in the first embodiment, the continuous renewable energy device 14, which continuously generates electricity using water present in the natural environment, is less likely to experience a situation in which water runs out and the power output drops significantly. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, the continuous renewable energy device 14 can be operated stably, resulting in a stable power supply. Therefore, the hydrogen production device 20 can be operated efficiently.

[0049] As will be described later, in the first embodiment, the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 is a solar power generation device or a wind power generation device, and the amount of power generated is likely to vary depending on environmental conditions such as weather, temperature, and wind, and power generation may stop. Furthermore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 is a battery that generates power using water present in the natural environment, and the amount of power generated is likely to vary depending on environmental conditions such as weather. However, the continuous renewable energy device 14 continues to generate power even when the environment changes.

[0050] Therefore, the control device 18 predicts the amount of power supply for a certain period of time in the future for at least one of the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 based on environmental information 22 including a weather forecast, thereby determining a predicted total amount of power, which is the sum of the amounts of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 for the certain period of time, and controls the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices 20 based on the predicted total amount of power.

[0051] For example, when controlling the power supply to multiple hydrogen production devices 20, the control device 18 determines the number of hydrogen production devices in operation during the certain period based on the predicted total power amount during the certain period, and supplies power to only a specified number of hydrogen production devices 20 during the certain period.

[0052] Therefore, since only a predetermined number of hydrogen production devices 20 corresponding to the predicted total power amount are operated, the hydrogen production devices 20 can be operated efficiently even if the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 or the continuous renewable energy device 14 fluctuates due to environmental conditions. As a result, the hydrogen production system 10 according to the first embodiment is a hydrogen production system that can efficiently operate the hydrogen production devices 20 based on the power supply predictions of the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14.

[0053] Furthermore, the hydrogen production system 10 according to the first embodiment is a hydrogen production system that can efficiently operate the hydrogen production device 20 without necessarily having a large-capacity storage device 16 as a storage device for stable power supply.

[0054] In embodiment 1, the control device 18 calculates a predicted total amount of electricity for a certain period of time based on, for example, the result of predicting the amount of electricity to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 for the future based on the environmental information 22, and the result of predicting the amount of electricity to be supplied from the continuous renewable energy device 14 for the future based on the environmental information 22, and controls the supply of electricity to the multiple hydrogen production devices 20 based on the predicted total amount of electricity.

[0055] That is, the control device 18 predicts the amount of power to be supplied for a certain period of time in the future for both the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 based on the environmental information 22. Therefore, the control device 18 can accurately predict the total amount of power.

[0056] Here, the continuous renewable energy device 14 has a smaller change in power generation amount due to environmental conditions than the discontinuous renewable energy device 12. Therefore, the control device 18 may obtain a predicted total amount of power for a certain period of time based on the result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 in the future based on the environmental information 22 and the current amount of power supply supplied from the continuous renewable energy device 14, and control the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices 20 based on the predicted total amount of power.

[0057] That is, the control device 18 may predict the amount of power supply for a certain period of time in the future based on the environmental information 22 including a weather forecast only for the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 out of the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14. In this case, the control device 18 can accurately predict the total power amount while reducing the load associated with the prediction process.

[0058] In the hydrogen production system 10 configured in this manner, for example, while the hydrogen production device 20 is not operating, at least one of the electricity generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 is charged to the storage device 16.

[0059] Therefore, when the control device 18 predicts the amount of power that can be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 based on environmental information including a weather forecast, if it determines that the power supply to the hydrogen production device 20 will be insufficient, it can supply power from the power storage device 16 to the hydrogen production device 20. Therefore, the power generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 can be used efficiently to operate the hydrogen production device 20.

[0060] In embodiment 1, both the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 continue to generate electricity even while the hydrogen production device 20 is stopped from operating, so while the hydrogen production device 20 is stopped from operating, both the electricity generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 are charged into the power storage device 16.

[0061] Therefore, it is possible to effectively utilize the electric power generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the electric power generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to stably and efficiently supply electric power to the hydrogen production device 20, and therefore it is possible to efficiently store hydrogen in the hydrogen storage device 24.

[0062] (Detailed configuration of the discontinuous renewable energy device 12) In the first embodiment, the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 is a solar power generation device 12a equipped with a solar panel 12b that receives sunlight. The solar power generation device 12a does not emit carbon dioxide and can provide clean electrical energy. Furthermore, the solar power generation device 12a is the most widespread of power generation devices that use renewable energy to generate electricity, and is therefore advantageous in terms of capital investment, etc.

[0063] The solar power generation device 12a does not generate power at least at night, and its power generation capacity fluctuates greatly depending on the weather, so it can be said to be a discontinuous renewable energy device 12. Note that a wind power generation device can also be used as a discontinuous renewable energy device 12 because it does not generate power when there is no wind.

[0064] In the solar power generation device 12a, when light hits the surface of the solar panel 12b, the energy of the light moves electrons and converts them into electrical energy, so the amount of solar radiation is closely related to electrical energy. The angle of incidence of solar radiation changes depending on the altitude and direction of the sun, and the amount of power generated is maximized when sunlight is at the optimal angle, i.e., at its zenith.

[0065] When wind blows, heat is dissipated from the surface of solar panel 12b, which tends to lower the temperature. In this case, the amount of power generated by solar power generation device 12a may increase. Humidity is generally considered to have little direct effect on the amount of power generated, but when humidity is high, water vapor or fog in the atmosphere may adhere to the surface of solar panel 12b, which may temporarily affect the amount of power generated.

[0066] As described above, the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 12a is likely to fluctuate depending on at least the weather, temperature, and wind, and the weather affects the amount of solar radiation. Therefore, the control device 18 predicts the amount of power to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 for a certain period of time in the future based on at least information related to the weather, temperature, and wind among the environmental information 22. Therefore, the control device 18 can grasp the amount of power to be supplied for a certain period of time in the future and appropriately control the power supply to the hydrogen production device 20.

[0067] Other environmental factors that affect the amount of power generation include the level of atmospheric pollution, the altitude and direction of the sun, and the shadow effect. Regarding the level of atmospheric pollution, pollutants and particles in the air can absorb and scatter sunlight, which can reduce the amount of power generation. As for the shadow effect, when a shadow cast by a building or tree falls on the solar panel 12b, the amount of power generation in that area decreases. However, since the level of atmospheric pollution and humidity have little effect, they are not used in predicting the amount of power supply in the first embodiment.

[0068] (Influence of Environmental Conditions on the Solar Power Generation Device 12a) Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the influence of weather on the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 12a shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the change over time in the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 12a on a sunny day and a rainy day. Fig. 2(B) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the change over time in the amount of power stored in the power storage device 16 on a sunny day and a rainy day.

[0069] On a clear day, the amount of solar radiation increases with sunrise, and the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 12a also increases accordingly, reaching its highest level at meridian. As the sun sinks further westward toward sunset, the amount of solar radiation decreases, and no power is generated after sunset. On a rainy day, even with clouds covering the sky, the solar power generation device 12a generates power using scattered light.

[0070] The amount of solar radiation varies depending on factors such as the region, weather, and season, and the amount of power generated also varies in proportion to the amount of solar radiation. The solar panel 12b is sensitive to heat, and the amount of power generated decreases on extremely hot days. For this reason, the solar power generation device 12a generates more power in spring than in summer, when hot days continue.

[0071] 2(B), the charging rate of the electricity storage device 16 from the solar power generation device 12a increases as the amount of solar radiation increases, and decreases as the amount of solar radiation decreases. Therefore, when there are consecutive rainy days, such as during the rainy season, the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 12a is low, and the hydrogen production device 20 cannot sufficiently supply the power required.

[0072] Therefore, in the first embodiment, data similar to that shown in Fig. 2(A) is accumulated regarding the weather, temperature, wind, etc. included in the environmental information 22, and the amount of power supply from the photovoltaic power generation device 12a is predicted. The prediction is affected by the installation environment and individual conditions, such as the season and installation location, but accuracy can be improved by accumulating and correcting the prediction data. Of course, the amount of power generation fluctuates depending on the performance of the installed device and changes over time, so it is preferable to understand the performance of each installed photovoltaic power generation device 12a and predict the amount of power generation for each photovoltaic power generation device 12a.

[0073] (Detailed configuration of the hydrogen production device 20) There are several methods for producing hydrogen using the hydrogen production device 20 shown in Figure 1. In the steam reforming method, hydrocarbons such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are heated and reacted with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This method is widely used on an industrial scale, but its drawback is the generation of carbon dioxide.

[0074] Electrolysis (electrohydrolysis) electrically decomposes water into hydrogen and oxygen. Photoelectrolysis utilizes sunlight, a renewable energy source. Therefore, electrolysis minimizes the impact on the environment and is therefore highly compatible with the solar power generation device 12a.

[0075] As described above, there are several methods for producing hydrogen, and it is desirable to produce hydrogen using a method suitable for solar power generation, but the present invention is not limited to this. Regardless of the type of hydrogen production device 20, there are large-scale devices and small-scale devices, and the required power (power consumption) also varies from large to small.

[0076] (Configuration of hydrogen storage device 24) 1, hydrogen produced in a hydrogen production device 20 is stored in a hydrogen storage device 24. There are various methods for storing hydrogen, and any of these methods may be used.

[0077] Pressure storage is a method of storing hydrogen in high-pressure containers. Composite materials such as carbon fiber and glass fiber are typically used for the containers, and by compressing the hydrogen, large amounts of hydrogen can be stored in a relatively small container.

[0078] Liquid storage is a method of storing hydrogen by liquefying it at low temperatures. Liquefied hydrogen has a very high energy density and can store a large amount of hydrogen in a relatively small container, but maintaining liquid hydrogen requires extremely low temperatures, which necessitates insulation and cooling equipment.

[0079] Storage using hydrogen storage materials involves the absorption of hydrogen by specific materials (e.g., metal hydrides, carbon nanotubes, etc.). In this method, hydrogen can be stored at relatively low pressure by adsorbing it into the storage material, and when hydrogen is needed, it can be released by heating, reducing pressure, or other methods.

[0080] Chemical storage is a method of storing hydrogen using specific chemical reactions, such as reacting hydrogen with metals or compounds to store it as a chemical bond, and then facilitating the reverse reaction to release hydrogen when needed.

[0081] (Configuration example 1 of continuous renewable energy device 14) FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a first configuration example of the continuous renewable energy system 14 shown in FIG. 1. In the continuous renewable energy system 14 shown in FIG. 3, the electrolyte 48 is soil containing moisture, rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater. Therefore, the electrolyte 48 is divided into soil-based and water-based. Soil also includes fields overgrown with weeds and other plants. In the first embodiment, a water-based electrolyte 48 such as rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater is used.

[0082] This configuration utilizes water, which is widely and commonly found in nature, and therefore places fewer restrictions on the location where the continuous renewable energy device 14 can be installed. In particular, if soil is used as the electrolyte 48, it is possible to generate electricity using the same principle as a microbial fuel cell by utilizing the microorganisms contained in the soil. Furthermore, because soil allows plants to grow, it is possible to generate electricity using the same principle as a plant battery.

[0083] To extract electrical energy from an electrolyte 48, the continuous renewable energy device 14 uses an electrode unit 140 including a negative electrode 30 primarily made of a first metal material 32 with a negative standard electrode potential, and a positive electrode 40 primarily made of a carbon-based material 44 or a second metal material 42 with a positive standard electrode potential. The carbon-based material 44 used in the positive electrode 40 is carbon, hard carbon, carbon graphite, carbon nanotubes, or charcoal. A negative electrode lead wire 36 is connected to the negative electrode 30, and a positive electrode lead wire 46 is connected to the positive electrode 40.

[0084] The continuous renewable energy device 14 operates as a battery in which, when the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 are arranged so that at least a portion of each of the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 is in contact with the electrolyte 48, a voltage corresponding to the difference between the standard electrode potential of the negative electrode 30 and the standard electrode potential of the positive electrode 40 is generated between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40.

[0085] More specifically, when the negative electrode lead wire 36 and the positive electrode lead wire 46 are electrically connected, an oxidation reaction occurs on the negative electrode 30 side, such as the metal used in the negative electrode 30 dissolving into the electrolyte 48 as metal ions, and the electrons generated during this reaction are collected by the negative electrode 30. When the electrons reach the positive electrode 40 via the negative electrode lead wire 36 and the positive electrode lead wire 46, a reduction reaction occurs at the positive electrode 40, such as the hydrogen ions in the electrolyte 48 becoming hydrogen gas.

[0086] Furthermore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 forms a battery that utilizes electrons generated by electrolysis of a substance contained in the electrolyte 48 when a voltage corresponding to the difference between the standard electrode potential of the negative electrode 30 and the standard electrode potential of the positive electrode 40 is generated between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40. Therefore, it is possible to obtain electricity from renewable energy by using water present in nature, and a larger current can be secured than with ordinary magnesium batteries.

[0087] More specifically, when the electrolyte 48 is rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater, the water, inorganic matter, and organic matter contained in the electrolyte 48 are electrolyzed when a voltage corresponding to the difference between the standard electrode potential of the negative electrode 30 and the standard electrode potential of the positive electrode 40 is generated. Therefore, when the negative electrode lead wire 36 and the positive electrode lead wire 46 are electrically connected, electrons generated during electrolysis are collected by the negative electrode 30 and then directed toward the positive electrode 40, contributing to an increase in current.

[0088] In this way, the continuous renewable energy device 14 generates electrical energy continuously, day and night, regardless of the weather, using the electrolyte 48, whose main material is a substance that exists in nature and contains at least water. Furthermore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 is excellent from the perspective of environmental protection, as it does not produce carbon dioxide.

[0089] In the first embodiment, the first metal material 32 used in the negative electrode 30 is, for example, magnesium, aluminum, or zinc. The standard electrode potential of magnesium is −2.34 V, the standard electrode potential of aluminum is −1.68 V, and the standard electrode potential of zinc is −0.76 V. With this configuration, the negative electrode 30 can be made of a relatively inexpensive metal material.

[0090] In the positive electrode 40, the second metal material 42 is, for example, copper, silver, gold, platinum, or stainless steel. The standard electrode potential of copper is +0.34 V, the standard electrode potential of silver is +0.80 V, the standard electrode potential of gold is +1.52 V, and the standard electrode potential of platinum is +1.19 V. Stainless steel is said to have a standard electrode potential close to that of copper. Therefore, the standard electrode potentials of copper, silver, gold, platinum, and stainless steel are positive values, and the standard electrode potential is significantly higher than that of the first metal material 32. Therefore, the difference in electrode potential between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 can be increased.

[0091] When a carbon-based material such as carbon, hard carbon, carbon graphite, carbon nanotubes, or charcoal is used for the positive electrode 40, the carbon-based material has a standard electrode potential of approximately 0V.

[0092] It is also possible to employ an embodiment in which a coating is formed on at least one of the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40. In the first embodiment, the coating 34 is formed on the negative electrode 30, while the positive electrode 40 is not formed with a coating.

[0093] In the negative electrode 30, the coating 34 is, for example, a film formed of a conductive material, a film formed of a semiconductor material, or a film formed of an intercalation compound. The coating 34 is a thin film formed by vapor deposition or the like. The coating 34 may also be a film formed of a resin containing at least one of a conductive material, a semiconductor material, and an intercalation compound, in which case the conductive material, the semiconductor material, and the intercalation compound are blended into the resin to a level that causes the coating 34 to exhibit conductivity.

[0094] When a conductive material is used for the coating 34, the conductive material is, for example, carbon, hard carbon, charcoal, ketjen black, a metal, or an anodic oxide of a metal. When a semiconductor material is used for the coating 34, the semiconductor material is, for example, tin oxide, titanium oxide, or a photocatalytic material. When an intercalation compound is used for the coating 34, the intercalation compound is, for example, graphite or carbon graphite. With this configuration, the first metal material 32 used for the negative electrode 30 is protected from corrosion and the like by the coating 34, thereby improving durability. Even in this case, electrons can pass through the coating 34, so operation as a battery is not impaired.

[0095] When photocatalytic materials as semiconductor materials are irradiated with light (mainly ultraviolet light), electrons are excited from the valence band to the conduction band, but experiments have shown that current flows even in the absence of light, such as in soil. This is thought to be because the application of a voltage between the electrodes excites electrons, which then move from the conduction band to magnesium, causing current to flow. Titanium oxide is a material that is widely used as a photocatalyst. Tin oxide is also a type of semiconductor material, and its properties can be improved by doping it with impurities, allowing current to flow.

[0096] Furthermore, when the first metal material 32 of the negative electrode 30 is magnesium or aluminum, durability may be further improved by forming an oxide film by anodizing.

[0097] Among the second metal materials 42 used for the positive electrode 40, silver, gold, platinum, and stainless steel are resistant to corrosion and can be used without treatment. In contrast, copper is prone to corrosion. Therefore, when copper is used for the positive electrode 40, it is preferable to form a coating of carbon, hard carbon, graphite, carbon graphite, or the like, as with the negative electrode 30.

[0098] In the first embodiment, rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater is used as the electrolyte 48, but artificially treated tap water or industrial water can also be used as the electrolyte 48.

[0099] (Configuration example 2 of continuous renewable energy device 14) 4, a case will be described in which the continuous renewable energy device 14 uses moist soil as the electrolyte 48. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a second configuration example of the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in FIG.

[0100] In the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in Figure 4, moist soil is used as the electrolyte 48, and binchotan charcoal is used for the positive electrode 40. For the negative electrode 30, a first metal material 32 such as lithium, magnesium, aluminum, or zinc can be used, but magnesium is used in consideration of safety and standard electrode potential. Therefore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 has the same characteristics as a magnesium battery in that it is possible to generate voltage due to the difference in electrode potential between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40.

[0101] However, magnesium is a metal that corrodes easily and quickly forms an insulating film when placed in soil. However, in the first embodiment, the negative electrode 30 has a coating 34 formed on the surface of the magnesium, which is made of a carbon-based conductive material, a semiconductor material such as titanium oxide, or an intercalation compound. Furthermore, in the negative electrode 30, a magnesium oxide film is formed below the coating 34 by anodizing. Therefore, direct contact between the surface of the negative electrode 30 and the electrolyte 48 is suppressed. Therefore, the first metal material 32 is less likely to form an insulating film due to a corrosion reaction.

[0102] Furthermore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 electrolyzes the water, inorganic matter, and organic matter in the soil used as the electrolyte 48 using a voltage generated by the difference in standard electrode potential between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40. The electrons generated during this process are collected by the negative electrode 30, and then transferred to the positive electrode 40 via an external circuit, generating electricity. In other words, the continuous renewable energy device 14 realizes a power generation principle that separates the generation of voltage and current, thereby enabling the generation of a large current. Furthermore, soil is suitable for the electrolyte 48 because it contains sufficient water, inorganic matter, and organic matter.

[0103] If magnesium is used for the negative electrode 30, the standard electrode potential is -2.3 V. If binchotan charcoal is used for the positive electrode 40, theoretically the voltage difference due to the standard electrode potential would be 2.3 V, but in reality losses occur and the voltage difference is around 1.5 V. The current value is determined by the size of the electrode, and the larger the electrode area, the greater the current. If binchotan charcoal is used for the positive electrode 40, the number of pieces will need to be increased.

[0104] (Configuration example 3 of continuous renewable energy device 14) 5, a case will be described in which soil in which plants grow is used as the electrolyte 48 in the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a third configuration example of the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in FIG.

[0105] 5, similar to the continuous renewable energy device 14 described with reference to Fig. 4, a negative electrode 30 made of magnesium on which a coating 34 is formed, and a positive electrode 40 made of binchotan charcoal are embedded in an electrolyte 48 made of soil. In the continuous renewable energy device 14 according to the first embodiment, plants grow in the soil.

[0106] In the continuous renewable energy device 14, power is generated first using a principle similar to that of a magnesium battery. In addition, since plants grow in the soil, sugars produced by plant photosynthesis and excreted from the roots can be used. In other words, the continuous renewable energy device 14 can also generate power using a principle similar to that of a microbial fuel cell or plant-based power generation.

[0107] More specifically, sugars decomposed by current-generating bacteria (such as Shewanella and Geobacter) in the soil release electrons. So-called microbial fuel cells extract these electrons using carbon felt.

[0108] In contrast, the continuous renewable energy device 14 applies a voltage that utilizes the difference in standard electrode potential between the electrodes, so in addition to the electrons released by the sugars produced by the current-producing bacteria, electrons are also released as a result of the electrolysis of organic matter containing sugars in the soil. As a result, in the continuous renewable energy device 14, many electrons flow through the negative electrode 30 to the positive electrode 40, making it possible to extract a large amount of electrical energy.

[0109] Moreover, because photosynthesis absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, clean electrical energy can be obtained. Fertilizer is also applied to the soil. Therefore, electrical energy can be obtained from the fertilizer components, increasing the amount of electrical energy that can be obtained. Furthermore, even when electrons are released during the decomposition process of water or chemical fertilizer components (inorganic substances), the electrons flow through the negative electrode 30 to the positive electrode 40, allowing electrical energy to be extracted.

[0110] In this way, in plant-based power generation, the only energy source is the electrons generated by current-generating bacteria, whereas in continuous renewable energy device 14, organic matter, water, and inorganic matter other than sugars can also be used as energy sources, making it possible to extract large amounts of electricity.

[0111] In plant-based power generation, the plants themselves do not generate electricity. The important thing is how to use them to obtain electrical energy. For this reason, it is necessary to understand how plants grow.

[0112] Plants absorb water and nutrients through their roots, and use sunlight through their leaves to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water absorbed through their roots into sugars such as starch through photosynthesis. 12 O6) and release oxygen into the air. Sugars are transported throughout the plant as nutrients by the phloem, helping the plant grow. Photosynthesis is a reaction process that converts light energy into chemical energy to produce the nutrients needed by plants.

[0113] The sugars produced by photosynthesis in plants are starch and other substances, but not all of them are used for plant growth; it is said that about 70% is left over and excreted from the roots. Mycorrhizal fungi that exist around the roots extend their hyphae widely from the roots into the soil, absorbing nutrients from the soil, especially phosphorus, and supplying them to the plant.

[0114] In addition, the roots supply mycorrhizal fungi with carbon compounds such as sugars, which are products of plant photosynthesis. Mycorrhizal fungi and plants have a symbiotic relationship. Mycorrhizal fungi contain current-generating bacteria (Shewanella, Geobacter, etc.), which break down and ionize sugars. In this way, using plants has the advantage of constantly providing a new source of electrical energy (sugars).

[0115] (Configuration example of electrode unit 140) Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrode unit 140 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 6, Fig. 6(A) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrode unit 140 using one flat plate-shaped negative electrode 30, and Fig. 6(B) is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electrode unit 140 using two plate-shaped negative electrodes 30 curved into semicircular shapes.

[0116] 6(A) and 6(B) uses a round rod of binchotan charcoal as the positive electrode 40, and a magnesium plate (first metal material 32) coated with a coating 34 and covered with a water-permeable insulating sheet 141 (protective film) as the negative electrode 30. Therefore, even if the electrode unit 140 is placed in soil or water and the negative electrode 30 and positive electrode 40 come into contact with each other, the water-permeable insulating sheet 141 can prevent a short circuit.

[0117] In the first embodiment, the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 are integrated by bundling them with a binding band 142. A negative electrode lead wire 36 is connected to the negative electrode 30, and a positive electrode lead wire 46 is connected to the positive electrode 40.

[0118] 6(A) uses one flat plate-shaped negative electrode 30, and one positive electrode 40 is arranged on each side so as to face each other. In the electrode unit 140 shown in FIG. 6(B), two semicircular curved plate-shaped negative electrodes 30 surround one positive electrode 40, and multiple positive electrodes 40 are arranged so as to surround the negative electrode 30 from the outside.

[0119] Such an integrated electrode unit 140 is easy to handle. Therefore, when soil is used as the electrolyte 48, it has the advantage that it can be simply buried in the soil. When water is used as the electrolyte 48, it has the advantage that it can be simply immersed in water.

[0120] (Relationship between electrolyte 48 and electrical energy) Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the electrical energy obtained when the electrolyte 48 is changed in the continuous renewable energy device 14. Note that Fig. 7 is data demonstrating that electrical energy can be obtained even when the electrolyte 48 is changed when the electrode unit 140 shown in Fig. 6 is used, and is not data comparing the magnitude of the electrical energy when the electrolyte 48 is changed.

[0121] As shown in FIG. 7, when the electrolyte 48 is water (tap water), the open circuit voltage is 1.47 V and the short circuit current is 3.57 mA / cm2 When chemical fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium) was dissolved in this tap water to make a chemical fertilizer solution, the open circuit voltage was 1.73 V and the short circuit current was 15.39 mA / cm. 2 Obtained.

[0122] The same experiment was also conducted when chemical fertilizer was mixed into the soil. In this case, the open circuit voltage was 1.47 V and the short circuit current was 5.84 mA / cm. 2 At this time, the soil was sufficiently moist. Furthermore, the electrical energy obtained after one week of planting the plants in the soil was 1.62 V open circuit voltage and 4.11 mA / cm short circuit current. 2 The reason for leaving it for a week was to store the sugars released from the roots during plant photosynthesis and to verify its effectiveness.

[0123] When soil is used as an electrolyte, the effectiveness naturally depends on the properties of the soil, so fertilizers can be either chemical or organic, such as chicken manure. Electrical energy also differs depending on the type of plant. Therefore, the data shown in Figure 5 is merely an example showing that both inorganic chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers are effective.

[0124] The electrical energy depends on the size and number of electrodes, and to obtain a large amount of power, the electrodes should be made larger and more numerous. Therefore, it is clear that the continuous renewable energy device 14 according to the first embodiment can be used as a power source for the hydrogen production device 20, and furthermore, the continuous renewable energy device 14 can generate electrical energy continuously, day and night, even in case of weather changes.

[0125] (Effect of Environmental Conditions on Continuous Renewable Energy Devices 14) Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the influence of weather on the amount of power generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 8(A) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the change over time in the amount of power generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 on a sunny day and a rainy day. Fig. 8(B) is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic diagram of the change over time in the amount of stored electricity in the continuous renewable energy device 14 on a sunny day and a rainy day.

[0126] As shown in Figure 8(A), the continuous renewable energy device 14 generates electricity continuously 24 hours a day, regardless of day or night or weather. When the electrolyte 48 is soil, the amount of electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 varies depending on the moisture content of the soil. For example, on rainy days, the soil contains a sufficient amount of rainwater, so the amount of electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 is high. In contrast, on sunny days, water evaporates from the soil, reducing the moisture content, and the amount of electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 decreases.

[0127] The amount of electricity stored in the electricity storage device 16 from the continuous renewable energy device 14 increases over time, as shown in Figure 8(B). The charging rate is high on rainy days and slower on sunny days. Even if the weather forecast is for sunny days, the amount of electricity generated will vary depending on the water content at that time, so it is necessary to predict the amount of electricity generated by taking into account how long the sunny days have continued.

[0128] Other environmental conditions also affect the power supplied to the hydrogen production device 20. When the electrolyte 48 is soil, the underground temperature is relatively stable compared to the atmospheric temperature, but it is also temperature-dependent. The underground temperature is much more stable than the atmospheric temperature, but is easily affected near the surface. Furthermore, when plants (such as weeds) grow in the soil, the soil is shaded by the leaves, so the underground temperature changes little even when sunlight hits the soil.

[0129] Therefore, in the first embodiment, data similar to that shown in Fig. 8(A) is accumulated regarding the weather, temperature, etc. included in the environmental information 22, and the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device 1 is predicted. The prediction is affected by the installation environment and individual conditions, such as the season and installation location, but accuracy can be improved by accumulating and correcting the prediction data. Of course, the amount of power generation fluctuates depending on the performance of the installed device and changes over time, so it is preferable to understand the performance of each installed continuous renewable energy device 14 and predict the amount of power generation for each continuous renewable energy device 14.

[0130] Here, since the water content of the electrolyte 48 in a water system such as a river is always constant, the amount of power generated by the continuous renewable energy system 1 is not greatly affected by weather, but the temperature (water temperature) changes depending on the air temperature. Therefore, the amount of power generated by the continuous renewable energy system 1 changes depending on the air temperature.

[0131] [Embodiment 2] 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a hydrogen production system 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment has a basic configuration in common with the first embodiment. Therefore, the components having corresponding functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0132] As shown in FIG. 9, a hydrogen production system 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention includes a discontinuous renewable energy device 12, a continuous renewable energy device 14, a power storage device 16, a hydrogen production device 20, a control device 18, a hydrogen storage device 24, and a rainwater storage device 26.

[0133] The hydrogen production system 10 further includes a soil temperature measuring device 71 that measures the soil temperature within the area where the continuous renewable energy device 14 is installed, and a moisture content measuring device 72 that measures the moisture content of the soil within the area where the continuous renewable energy device 15 is installed.

[0134] Therefore, when predicting the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device 14 for a certain period of time based on the environmental information 22, the control device 18 can predict the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device 14 based on the underground temperature and water content in addition to information such as weather and temperature included in the environmental information 22. This can improve the accuracy of the prediction by the control device 18.

[0135] Furthermore, when the water content is low, the control device 18 supplies rainwater stored in the rainwater storage device 26 to the continuous renewable energy device 14. Therefore, a decrease in the amount of power generation caused by a lack of water in the soil is unlikely to occur.

[0136] The hydrogen production system 10 further includes a temperature measuring device 73 that measures the atmospheric temperature within the area where the solar panel 12b is installed, and an illuminance measuring device 74 that measures the solar illuminance within the area where the solar panel 12b is installed.

[0137] Therefore, when predicting the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 for a certain period based on the environmental information 22, the control device 18 can predict the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 based on the atmospheric temperature and solar irradiance in addition to information on weather, temperature, wind, etc. included in the environmental information 22. This can improve the accuracy of predictions by the control device 18.

[0138] The hydrogen production system 10 is provided with a power monitoring device 75 that can monitor at least the power stored in the power storage device 16. In the second embodiment, the power monitoring device 75 can also monitor the amount of power supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14. The power monitoring device 75 monitors the amount of power by detecting the voltage and current output from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14, and monitors the amount of power based on the voltage between the output terminals of the power storage device 16, etc.

[0139] Therefore, when controlling the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices 20, the control device 18 can determine the number of hydrogen production devices 20 to operate in a certain period of time based on the predicted total power amount, which is the sum of the power supply amounts from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14 in that period of time, and the power stored in the power storage device 16. Therefore, the maximum number of hydrogen production devices 20 can be operated based on the power supply amount of the entire system, including the power supply amount from the power storage device 16, and the hydrogen production devices 20 can be operated efficiently and stably.

[0140] [Installation example 1 of continuous renewable energy equipment 14, etc.] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an installation example 1 of the continuous renewable energy device 14 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 10, in the continuous renewable energy device 14, the soil in which the plants are growing serves as the electrolyte 48, and the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 are buried in the soil. The plants 50 may be weeds, and the continuous renewable energy device 14 can be installed in a wilderness. The sugars excreted from the roots 58 of the weeds serve as an energy source, so little maintenance is required.

[0141] In the discontinuous renewable energy device 12, the solar panel 12b of the solar power generation device 12a is installed facing the sun S. The solar panel 12b is installed facing the sun S with a support 60 erected on top of the rainwater storage device 26. Therefore, the solar panel 12b is installed above the rainwater storage device 26. According to this configuration, a large area is required to install the solar panel 12b, but since the rainwater storage device 26 is installed using part of that land, the land can be used effectively.

[0142] Furthermore, since the rainwater storage device 26 is installed under the solar panel 12b, it does not become overgrown with weeds, and the management and maintenance of the solar panel 12b is easy.

[0143] Furthermore, although rain is a temporary natural phenomenon and is unstable, rainwater 56 can be stored in the rainwater storage device 26, making it easy to supply water to the continuous renewable energy device 14 even if there is no river or sea nearby. For example, when the moisture content of the soil on which the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 are installed becomes low, rainwater can be supplied to the soil from the drain outlet 260 of the rainwater storage device 26.

[0144] [Installation example 2 of continuous renewable energy equipment 14, etc.] Fig. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a second installation example of the continuous renewable energy device 14 etc. shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 11 shows the continuous renewable energy device 14 installed in a river. The continuous renewable energy device 14 is not limited to being installed in a river, but may also be installed in the sea, a pond, or a lake.

[0145] In either case, the electrolyte 48 of the continuous renewable energy device 14 becomes abundant with water. Therefore, the rainwater 56 stored in the rainwater storage device 26 can be maintained in a stored state without being supplied to the continuous renewable energy device 14 or the like.

[0146] Therefore, electricity can be generated by immersing the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 40 in rainwater in the rainwater storage device 26. Therefore, the amount of electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device 14 can be increased.

[0147] The amount of electricity generated can be increased by adding salt to rainwater 56 to turn it into salt water. Also, the amount of electricity generated can be increased by adding chemical fertilizer to rainwater 56 and turning it into chemical fertilizer water.

[0148] [Embodiment 3] Although not shown in the drawings, the hydrogen production system 10 according to the third embodiment has the same basic configuration as the first and second embodiments, so the corresponding components are given the same reference numerals and a description of the common parts will be omitted.

[0149] A hydrogen production system 10 according to the third embodiment is provided with a subsystem including a discontinuous renewable energy device 12, a continuous renewable energy device 14, and a power storage device 16, in each of a plurality of different regions. A control device 18 is provided for each subsystem. Alternatively, the subsystems may be collectively installed in a center connected via a network. In either case, the third embodiment is applicable.

[0150] In the third embodiment, when controlling each of the subsystems in multiple regions, the control device 18 calculates a predicted total amount of power based on the environmental information 22 of the target region in which the subsystem to be controlled this time is installed.

[0151] Furthermore, when calculating the predicted total amount of power in the subsystem of the target area, the control device 18 can also use the environmental information 22 of areas other than the target area. In this case, the control device 18 weights the environmental information 22 of areas closer to the target area more than the environmental information 22 of areas farther from the target area. The weighting is set in advance in the environmental information 22 for each area for each of the multiple subsystems.

[0152] In the third embodiment, the environmental information 22 includes at least environmental information of the multiple regions where the subsystems are installed. Alternatively, the environmental information 22 may consist only of environmental information of the multiple regions where the subsystems are installed.

[0153] As described above, in the third embodiment, the control device 18 can also use environmental information 22 from areas other than the target area. In this case, the control device 18 weights the environmental information 22 from areas closer to the target area more than the environmental information 22 from areas farther from the target area, and therefore can predict with higher accuracy the future amount of power generation from the discontinuous renewable energy device 12 and the continuous renewable energy device 14. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the hydrogen production device 20 can be operated efficiently.

[0154] Furthermore, since it is possible to mutually link and utilize environmental information with subsystems outside the region, it is possible to take measures against localized heavy rainfall and disaster prevention measures against earthquakes, lightning, heavy snow, etc.

[0155] [Other embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications and applications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0156] S Sun, 10 Hydrogen production system, 12 Discontinuous renewable energy device, 12a Photovoltaic power generation device, 12b Solar panel, 14 Continuous renewable energy device, 16 Power storage device, 18 Control device, 20 Hydrogen production device, 22 Environmental information, 24 Hydrogen storage device, 26 Rainwater storage device, 30 Negative electrode, 32 First metal material, 34 Coating, 36 Negative electrode lead wire, 40 Positive electrode, 42 Second metal material, 44 Carbon-based material, 46 Positive electrode lead wire, 48 Electrolyte, 50 Plant, 56 Rainwater, 58 Root, 60 Support, 71 Soil temperature measuring device, 72 Water content measuring device, 73 Temperature measuring device, 74 Illuminance measuring device, 75 Power monitoring device, 141 Water-permeable insulating sheet, 140 Electrode unit, 142 Cable tie, 260 Drain outlet

Claims

1. A discontinuous renewable energy device that generates electricity discontinuously by utilizing natural energy; A continuous renewable energy device that generates electricity continuously by utilizing water present in the natural environment; a power storage device that stores the power generated by the continuous renewable energy device and the power generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device; a plurality of hydrogen production devices that produce hydrogen using electric power; a control device that controls the supply of electric power output from the continuous renewable energy device, the discontinuous renewable energy device, and the power storage device to the plurality of hydrogen production devices; Equipped with The control device predicts the amount of power supply for a certain period of time in the future for at least one of the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device based on environmental information including a weather forecast, thereby determining a total power prediction value which is the sum of the amounts of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device and the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period of time, and controls the power supply to the multiple hydrogen production devices based on the total power prediction value.

2. The hydrogen production system of claim 1, characterized in that the control device calculates the total power prediction value based on a result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, and a result of predicting the amount of power supply to be supplied from the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information.

3. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein the control device calculates the predicted total power amount based on a result of predicting the amount of power supply for the certain period to be supplied from the discontinuous renewable energy device based on the environmental information and a current amount of power supply supplied from the continuous renewable energy device.

4. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein the control device determines the number of operating hydrogen production devices when controlling the power supply to the plurality of hydrogen production devices.

5. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the electricity generated by the discontinuous renewable energy device and the electricity generated by the continuous renewable energy device is stored in the power storage device during a period when the hydrogen production device is not operating.

6. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein the discontinuous renewable energy device is a solar power generation device equipped with solar panels.

7. Further provided is a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater; The hydrogen production system according to claim 6, wherein the solar panel is installed above the rainwater storage device.

8. The hydrogen production system according to claim 6, characterized in that when predicting the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device based on at least information regarding weather, temperature, and wind among the environmental information.

9. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, characterized in that the continuous renewable energy device is a battery that uses moist soil, rainwater, river water, lake water, pond water, or seawater as an electrolyte, and that utilizes a voltage generated corresponding to the difference between the standard electrode potential of the negative electrode and the standard electrode potential of the positive electrode when a negative electrode made of a first metal material with a negative standard electrode potential and a positive electrode made of a carbon-based material or a second metal material with a positive standard electrode potential are brought into contact with the electrolyte, and that utilizes electrons generated by electrolysis of a substance contained in the electrolyte when the voltage is generated.

10. Further provided is a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater; 10. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein the negative electrode and the positive electrode are immersed in rainwater stored in the rainwater storage device, thereby generating electricity.

11. 11. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein the second metal material is copper, silver, gold, platinum, or stainless steel.

12. 11. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein the first metal material is magnesium, aluminum, or zinc.

13. 11. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the negative electrode and the positive electrode is coated with a film of a conductive material, a semiconductor material, or an intercalation compound.

14. 10. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein the continuous renewable energy device uses moist soil as the electrolyte.

15. 10. The hydrogen production system according to claim 9, wherein the continuous renewable energy device uses moist soil in which plants grow as the electrolyte.

16. a soil temperature measuring device for measuring the soil temperature in the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed; a moisture content measuring device that measures the moisture content of the soil within the area where the continuous renewable energy device is installed; The hydrogen production system according to claim 14 or 15, further comprising:

17. 17. The hydrogen production system according to claim 16, wherein when predicting the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the continuous renewable energy device based on the underground temperature and the water content in addition to the environmental information.

18. Further provided is a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater; The hydrogen production system according to claim 16, wherein when the water content is low, the rainwater stored in the rainwater storage device is supplied to the continuous renewable energy device.

19. a temperature measuring device for measuring the atmospheric temperature within the area where the solar panel is installed; an illuminance measuring device for measuring the solar illuminance within the area where the solar panel is installed; The hydrogen production system according to claim 6, further comprising:

20. 20. The hydrogen production system of claim 19, wherein when predicting the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device for the certain period based on the environmental information, the control device predicts the amount of power supply from the discontinuous renewable energy device based on the atmospheric temperature and the solar illuminance in addition to the environmental information.

21. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, further comprising a power monitoring device capable of monitoring at least the power stored in the power storage device.

22. The hydrogen production system of claim 21, characterized in that when controlling the power supply to the plurality of hydrogen production devices, the control device determines the number of hydrogen production devices to be in operation during the certain period based on the predicted total power amount during the certain period and the power stored in the storage device.

23. Further provided is a rainwater storage device for storing rainwater; The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein when sunny days are predicted to continue based on the environmental information, rainwater is supplied from the rainwater storage device to the continuous renewable energy source.

24. 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrogen storage device that stores hydrogen produced by the plurality of hydrogen production devices.

25. a subsystem including the discontinuous renewable energy device, the continuous renewable energy device, the electricity storage device, and the plurality of hydrogen production devices is provided in each of a plurality of different regions; 2. The hydrogen production system according to claim 1, wherein, when controlling the subsystems in the plurality of regions, the control device calculates the predicted total amount of electric power based on the environmental information corresponding to the target region in which the subsystem to be controlled is currently installed.

26. The hydrogen production system according to claim 25, characterized in that, when using environmental information of areas other than the target area to calculate the total power prediction value in the subsystem of the target area, the control device weights environmental information of areas closer to the target area more heavily than environmental information of areas farther from the target area.

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