Discharge amount distribution system, discharge amount distribution method, and discharge amount distribution program

Abstract

To reduce the possibility of feelings of unfairness arising among those who own battery storage systems. [Solution] A discharge amount distribution system is configured comprising: a discharge amount acquisition unit that acquires a discharge amount indicating the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged from N batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more); a target electrical energy acquisition unit that acquires a target electrical energy indicating the total amount of electrical energy to be discharged from the N batteries; and a distribution unit that designates the batteries in order of increasing discharge amount as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N), sets the discharge amount of the nth battery as the nth discharge amount, extracts the first discharge amount × N from the target electrical energy when the first discharge amount × N is less than the target electrical energy, distributes the first discharge amount × N to all the batteries, distributes the remainder of the target electrical energy after distribution to the second to the nth batteries, and sets the sum of the electrical energy distributed to each of the batteries as the discharge amount of each battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a discharge amount distribution system, a discharge amount distribution method, and a discharge amount distribution program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an operator such as an aggregator bundles the power charged in a plurality of storage batteries and provides it to consumers who need power, thereby controlling the balance between power demand and supply, and also utilizing the energy charged in the storage batteries. As a technology for bundling the power of distributed power sources such as storage batteries and providing it to others, for example, Patent Document 1, Patent Document 2, etc. are known.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When supplying the power charged in a storage battery to others, usually, a consideration is generated. Therefore, if the frequency of power supply from a specific storage battery is high and the frequency of power supply from a specific storage battery is low, the consideration paid to the owner of the former storage battery is large, and the consideration paid to the owner of the latter storage battery is small. For this reason, a sense of unfairness may arise among the owners of the storage batteries. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to reduce the possibility of a sense of unfairness arising among the owners of storage batteries.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above objective, the discharge amount distribution system comprises: a discharge amount acquisition unit that acquires a discharge amount indicating the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged from N batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more); a target electrical energy acquisition unit that acquires a target electrical energy indicating the total amount of electrical energy to be discharged from the N batteries; and a distribution unit that designates the batteries in ascending order of discharge amount as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N), designates the discharge amount in the nth battery as the nth discharge amount, distributes the target electrical energy equally to all the batteries if the first discharge amount × N is equal to or greater than the target electrical energy, extracts the first discharge amount × N from the target electrical energy, distributes the first discharge amount to all the batteries, distributes the remaining target electrical energy to the second to the nth batteries, and sets the sum of the electrical energy distributed to each of the batteries as the discharge amount of each battery.

[0006] In other words, in the discharge amount distribution system, if the first dischargeable amount × N is less than the target amount of power, all batteries are configured to discharge the first dischargeable amount. Therefore, the distribution is determined so that all batteries discharge at least the first dischargeable amount. Since the first dischargeable amount is the smallest dischargeable amount among the dischargeable amounts of multiple batteries, the maximum amount of power that can be discharged is distributed to the battery whose charge is that first dischargeable amount.

[0007] With the above configuration, the battery with the smallest discharge capacity among the multiple batteries will discharge the first discharge capacity, and batteries with a discharge capacity greater than the first discharge capacity will discharge power equal to or greater than the first discharge capacity. Therefore, there are no batteries that are dischargeable but not discharged, and the amount of power distributed is proportional to the discharge capacity. Consequently, the possibility of feelings of unfairness arising among battery owners can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the discharge amount distribution system. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart of the discharge amount distribution process. [Figure 3]This graph shows the dischargeable amounts of the first to the Nth batteries, represented as a bar graph. [Figure 4] Figures 4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating the distribution of power. [Figure 5] Figures 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating the distribution of power. [Figure 6] Figures 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams illustrating the distribution of power. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order. (1) Configuration of the discharge amount distribution system: (2) Discharge amount distribution process: (3) Other embodiments:

[0010] (1) Configuration of the discharge amount distribution system: Figure 1 shows the configuration of the discharge amount distribution system 10. In Figure 1, the exchange of signals and information is indicated by solid lines or solid arrows, and the exchange of power is indicated by dashed lines. The discharge amount distribution system 10 is a computer used by an administrator to manage the discharge amounts from multiple batteries. The discharge amount distribution system 10 can communicate with a cloud server 60 via the internet. The cloud server 60 can communicate with N batteries (the first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N) via the internet (N is an integer of 2 or more).

[0011] The discharge amount distribution system 10 can communicate with the first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N via the cloud server 60. The first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N are secondary batteries capable of charging and discharging power. In this specification, the batteries will be referred to as the first battery 51, the second battery 52, ..., the nth battery 5N in order of increasing discharge capacity, as described later. That is, the battery with the smallest discharge capacity is the first battery 51, and the battery with the largest discharge capacity is the nth battery 5N.

[0012] The first to nth batteries 51 to 5N are connected to the power grid 70 via a control device (not shown), and can receive power from the power grid 70 and also discharge power to supply power to the power grid 70. In this embodiment, each of the first to nth batteries 51 to 5N belongs to a facility or house where a solar power generation device is installed, and can be charged with power generated by the solar power generation device or power supplied from the power grid 70.

[0013] The discharge amount distribution system 10 includes a control unit 20 equipped with a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., a storage medium 30, a communication unit 40, and a user interface unit 41. The communication unit 40 is a device for communicating with the cloud server 60. The user interface unit 41 includes an input unit that accepts input operations from an administrator using the discharge amount distribution system 10, and an output unit that outputs various types of information. The input unit may be implemented in various forms, such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel. The output unit may be implemented in various forms, such as a display or speaker.

[0014] The storage medium 30 records various programs and various data. In this embodiment, the storage medium 30 stores dischargeable amount data 30a. The dischargeable amount data 30a indicates the dischargeable amount of the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N. In this embodiment, the dischargeable amount is expressed in units of kWh, but the dischargeable amount may be defined by various methods. For example, it may be expressed as SOC (State of Charge), where 0% represents the state where the charged energy is at its lower limit and 100% represents the state where the charged energy is at its upper limit. In this case, SOC is converted to energy based on information such as the capacity of the battery.

[0015] In this embodiment, since the discharge amount distribution process described later is executed every 30 minutes, the available discharge amount data 30a is updated with the latest information every 30 minutes. The available discharge amount is the upper limit of the amount of power that can be specified by the administrator of the discharge amount distribution system 10 as the amount of power to be discharged from the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N, and may be determined by various methods. For example, it may be the amount of power charged in the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N, or it may be the amount of power obtained by subtracting the estimated power consumption by the battery owner from the charged power amount. Also, as the latter calculation method, various methods can be adopted, and a method of multiplying the charged power amount by a predetermined coefficient may be adopted. The predetermined coefficient may be a fixed value, or may be a value determined from, for example, the normal power consumption of each owner.

[0016] The control unit 20 executes various programs stored in the storage medium 30 and the ROM. As an example of this program, the control unit 20 can execute a discharge amount distribution program. When the discharge amount distribution program is executed, the control unit 20 functions as an available discharge amount acquisition unit 20a, a target power amount acquisition unit 20b, and a distribution unit 20c.

[0017] The available discharge amount acquisition unit 20a is a function of acquiring the available discharge amount indicating the amount of power that can be discharged from the N batteries. That is, the control unit 20, by the function of the available discharge amount acquisition unit 20a, transmits a request to acquire the available discharge amount to the cloud server 60 via the communication unit 40 at regular intervals (in this embodiment, every 30 minutes). The cloud server 60 communicates with the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N in response to the acquisition request, and acquires the current available discharge amount of each battery. In this specification, the available discharge amount in the nth battery is referred to as the nth available discharge amount (n is an integer from 1 to N). For example, the available discharge amount of the first battery 51 is the first available discharge amount, and the available discharge amount of the Nth battery 5N is the Nth available discharge amount. The cloud server 60 associates the identification information of each battery with the current available discharge amount of each battery, and transmits it to the discharge amount distribution system 10. The control unit 20 acquires the information via the communication unit 40, and stores it in the storage medium 30 as the available discharge amount data 30a.

[0018] The target power amount acquisition unit 20b has a function of acquiring a target power amount indicating the total power amount to be discharged from N storage batteries. The target power amount may be acquired by various methods. In the present embodiment, the administrator inputs the target power amount. That is, the administrator operates the input unit of the user I / F unit 41 to specify a desired target power amount. The control unit 20 acquires the specified target power amount by the function of the target power amount acquisition unit 20b.

[0019] The target power amount may be determined by various methods. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the administrator bids by specifying the discharge amount and price to be discharged to the power grid 70 from the current time to a reference time point in the past (for example, a specific time of the previous day) in the wholesale power market, and the price has been determined. The administrator inputs the target power amount based on the bid discharge amount, price, and the like. Of course, the target power amount may be automatically determined. For example, the bid discharge amount or a value obtained by multiplying the bid discharge amount by a predetermined coefficient may be used as the target power amount.

[0020] Also, in the present embodiment, in each of the discharge amount distribution processes performed every 30 minutes as described later, the same target power amount may be input, or different target power amounts may be input. Further, the target power amount may be the power amount discharged over a predetermined time period exceeding 30 minutes, or may be the power amount discharged within 30 minutes. In the former case, the target power amount cannot be discharged within 30 minutes, but by performing the process every 30 minutes, it becomes possible to adjust the target power amount according to the change in the dischargeable amount of the first storage battery 51 to the Nth storage battery 5N.

[0021] The distribution unit 20c has the function of distributing the target energy amount to each of the discharge amounts of the first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N so that the sum of the discharge amounts of the first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N equals the target energy amount. In this embodiment, the control unit 20 distributes the target energy amount to each battery as evenly as possible using the function of the distribution unit 20c. To this end, the control unit 20 distributes the target energy amount evenly to each battery, but if the target energy amount is not reached even when the first battery, which has the smallest discharge capacity, discharges the maximum amount it can discharge, the first battery is excluded and the remaining target energy amount is distributed evenly. The same process is repeated until all of the target energy amount has been distributed.

[0022] Specifically, if the first dischargeable amount × N is equal to or greater than the target energy amount, the control unit 20 distributes the target energy amount equally to all batteries. In this case, the target energy amount can be distributed equally to all batteries even without using the entire dischargeable amount of the first battery 51, which has the smallest dischargeable amount. Therefore, the control unit 20 identifies the value obtained by dividing the target energy amount by N as the discharge amount for the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N.

[0023] On the other hand, if the first dischargeable amount × N is smaller than the target energy amount, the control unit 20 distributes the entire target energy amount by repeatedly distributing a portion of the target energy amount as the discharge amount of the batteries. First, the control unit 20 extracts the first dischargeable amount × N from the target energy amount and distributes the first dischargeable amount to all the batteries. If the first dischargeable amount × N is smaller than the target energy amount, even if the first battery 51, which has the smallest dischargeable amount, uses all of its dischargeable amount, and the other batteries also discharge at the same rate, it will not amount to the entire target energy amount. Therefore, the control unit 20 extracts the first dischargeable amount × N from the target energy amount and distributes the first dischargeable amount to all the batteries. As a result, all batteries are distributed so that they discharge at least the first dischargeable amount. Since it is not possible to distribute a discharge amount exceeding the first dischargeable amount to the first battery 51, distributing the first dischargeable amount to all batteries ensures that the target energy amount is distributed as evenly as possible.

[0024] Next, the control unit 20 distributes the remaining target energy after distribution to the second battery 52 to the nth battery 5N, and the sum of the energy distributed to each battery becomes the discharge amount of each battery. Specifically, the control unit 20 sets i to an integer from 2 to N and repeats the following process until all of the target energy is distributed to the batteries.

[0025] First, if (dischargeable amount of the i-th battery - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)-th battery) × (N - (i-1)) is greater than or equal to the remaining target energy after distribution, the control unit 20 distributes the remaining target energy after distribution divided by (N - (i-1)) to each of the i-th to N-th batteries.

[0026] For example, assuming i=2, if (second dischargeable amount - first dischargeable amount) × (N-1) is greater than or equal to the remaining target energy after distribution, the control unit 20 can distribute the target energy equally to all batteries without using all of the dischargeable amount in the second battery 52, which has the smallest dischargeable amount among the second battery 52 to the Nth battery 5N. Therefore, the control unit 20 distributes the remaining target energy after distribution divided by (N-1) to each of the second battery 52 to the Nth battery 5N.

[0027] On the other hand, if (dischargeable amount of the ith battery - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)th battery) × (N - (i-1)) is less than the remaining target energy after distribution, the control unit 20 repeatedly increases i from 2 to 1 until (dischargeable amount of the (ith battery) - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)th battery) is equal to or greater than the remaining target energy after distribution (dischargeable amount of the (i+1)th battery - dischargeable amount of the ith battery) × (Ni), and then distributes the remaining target energy after distribution divided by (Ni) to each of the (i+1)th battery to the Nth battery.

[0028] For example, assuming i=2, if (second dischargeable amount - first dischargeable amount) × (N-1) is less than the remaining target energy after distribution, the control unit 20 will use all of the dischargeable amount of the second battery 52, which has the smallest dischargeable amount among the second battery 52 to the Nth battery 5N, and even if the other batteries are discharged at the same rate, it will not reach the entire target energy. Therefore, the control unit 20 repeatedly distributes the second dischargeable amount - first dischargeable amount to each of the second battery 52 to the Nth battery 5N. During the repetition process, for example, if the third dischargeable amount - second dischargeable amount × (N-2) becomes greater than or equal to the remaining target energy after distribution, the repetition is stopped. In other words, the process is repeated until the remaining target energy can be distributed equally. If the difference between the third dischargeable amount and the second dischargeable amount × (N-2) is greater than or equal to the remaining target energy after distribution, the control unit 20 distributes the remaining target energy after distribution divided by N-2 to each of the third battery 53 to the Nth battery 5N. After the energy has been distributed to each of the batteries through the above process, the control unit 20 considers the sum of the energy distributed to each battery as the discharge amount of each battery.

[0029] The above process allows for the distribution of the target power amount to each battery as evenly as possible. Therefore, the possibility of feelings of unfairness arising among battery owners can be reduced.

[0030] (2) Discharge amount distribution process: Next, the discharge amount distribution process will be described in detail. Figure 2 is a flowchart of the discharge amount distribution process. In this embodiment, the control unit 20, using the function of the discharge amount acquisition unit 20a, sends a request to the cloud server 60 via the communication unit 40 at regular intervals (every 30 minutes in this embodiment) in parallel with the discharge amount distribution process. When such an acquisition request is made, the cloud server 60 sends the discharge amounts of the first battery 51 to the nth battery 5N, which are the first discharge amounts to the nth discharge amounts. The control unit 20 acquires this information via the communication unit 40 and stores it in the storage medium 30 as discharge amount data 30a.

[0031] Meanwhile, the control unit 20 performs discharge amount distribution processing at regular intervals (every 30 minutes in this embodiment). When the discharge amount distribution processing starts, the control unit 20 determines whether or not a control start trigger has occurred (step S100). The control start trigger is a condition for performing the discharge amount distribution processing and can be defined by various methods. Here, it is assumed that the control start trigger is the occurrence of a situation in which the owner of the storage battery can benefit from discharging.

[0032] A more specific example would be a system where the trigger for starting control is when the market price of electricity is greater than or equal to the sum of the electricity rate and the incentive. The battery owner can use the electricity charged to the battery by solar power generation for self-consumption, and can also receive electricity from the power grid 70 for self-consumption or to charge the battery. When receiving electricity from the power grid 70, the battery owner pays an electricity rate to the supplier according to the amount of electricity supplied.

[0033] On the other hand, if the distribution is determined by the administrator and the determined amount of electricity is discharged from the battery to the power grid 70, the administrator pays the battery owner compensation that includes an incentive on top of the electricity bill. This is because if the compensation for the electricity discharged from the battery is lower than the electricity bill, it becomes more advantageous to use the electricity stored in the battery for self-consumption rather than providing it to others via the power grid 70, thus eliminating any reason to discharge it to the power grid 70.

[0034] Therefore, if the control start trigger is set to a market price of electricity that is greater than or equal to the sum of the electricity charge and the incentive, the administrator can always receive compensation for discharge from the battery that is greater than or equal to the sum of the electricity charge and the incentive. As a result, the administrator can pass on the sum of the electricity charge and the incentive to the battery owner, thus avoiding a loss. Furthermore, if the market price is greater than the sum of the electricity charge and the incentive, the administrator can keep the difference between the two as their profit.

[0035] In step S100, if it is determined that a control start trigger has occurred, the control unit 20 terminates the discharge amount distribution process. In this case, the administrator secures power from a resource different from the N batteries, for example, a power plant under the administrator's management. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S100 that a control start trigger has occurred, the control unit 20 acquires the target energy amount P1 using the function of the target energy amount acquisition unit 20b (step S105). That is, the administrator specifies the desired target energy amount P1 by operating the input unit of the user I / F unit 41. The control unit 20 acquires the specified target energy amount P1 using the function of the target energy amount acquisition unit 20b.

[0036] Next, the control unit 20 sets the dischargeable amount of the first battery 51 to MIN1 using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S110). Also, the control unit 20 sets the distribution amount CON1 to MIN1 × N using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S115). Figure 3 is a bar graph showing the dischargeable amounts of the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N, from the first dischargeable amount Pe1 to the Nth dischargeable amount Pen. As described above, the numbers 1 to N assigned to the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N indicate the order of increasing dischargeable amounts. Therefore, in step S110, the first dischargeable amount Pe1 is set to MIN1, and the value CON1, which is obtained by multiplying MIN1 by the number of batteries N, becomes the distribution amount processed at this stage.

[0037] In Figure 4A, the first dischargeable amounts Pe1 to the Nth dischargeable amounts Pen are shown side by side on the left, and an example of the target energy amount P1 is shown on the right. The distribution amount CON1 defined in step S115 is MIN1 × N, so the area of ​​the rectangle shown by the dashed line in Figure 4A represents the distribution amount CON1. ​​The target energy amount P1 is shown as a rectangle on the right side of Figure 4A, and the amount of energy corresponding to the area of ​​this rectangle is the target energy amount P1.

[0038] Next, the control unit 20 determines, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, whether the distributed amount CON1 is equal to or greater than the target energy amount P1 (step S120). If, in step S120, it is determined that the distributed amount CON1 is equal to or greater than the target energy amount P1, the control unit 20 distributes the target energy amount P1 equally to each of the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S125). Figure 4A shows an example where the distributed amount CON1 is equal to or greater than the target energy amount P1. In such a case, the control unit 20 distributes an energy amount of P1 / N to each battery, as shown in Figure 4B.

[0039] On the other hand, if in step S120 the distribution amount CON1 is not determined to be equal to or greater than the target energy amount P1, the control unit 20 distributes MIN1 to all of the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S130). Figures 5A and 5B show an example where the distribution amount CON1 is less than the target energy amount P1. When the distribution amount CON1 is less than the target energy amount P1, even if the first dischargeable amount Pe1 of the first battery 51 is distributed to all the batteries, the total will be less than the target energy amount P1. Therefore, the control unit 20 first distributes the first dischargeable amount Pe1 (=MIN1) to all the batteries so that each battery is responsible for at least the first dischargeable amount Pe1.

[0040] In this case, the control unit 20, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, excludes the first battery 51 from the distribution target (step S135), sets the variable i to 2 (step S140), and performs processing to distribute the remaining target energy after distribution to the second to Nth batteries.

[0041] In this process, first, the control unit 20, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, sets the remaining energy after distribution as Pi (step S145). That is, the control unit 20 obtains the remaining energy Pi after subtracting the distributed power in step S130 and step S170, which will be described later. In Figure 5B, when i=2, the remaining energy after distributing the first dischargeable amount Pe1 to N batteries, i.e., P1-MIN1×N, is shown as the remaining energy P2.

[0042] Next, the control unit 20, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, sets the i-th dischargeable amount - the (i-1)th dischargeable amount to MINi (step S150). In Figure 6A, i=2, indicating that the first battery 51 is excluded from the distribution target and the amount of energy to be distributed is P2. That is, in Figure 6A, the amount of energy already distributed within the target energy amount P1 is shown by a dashed rectangle, and the amount of energy distributed to each battery is shown by a dashed rectangle. Of the dischargeable amount, the amount of energy that has not been distributed and the amount of energy to be distributed P2 are shown by solid rectangles. In this example, MIN2 is the second dischargeable amount Pe2 - the first dischargeable amount Pe1.

[0043] Next, the control unit 20 sets the distribution amount CONi to MINi × (N - (i-1)) using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S155). In Figures 6B and 6C, CON2, i.e., MIN2 × (N-1), when i = 2 is shown by the area of ​​the dashed rectangle. Figure 6B is an example where the energy P2 is greater than MIN2 × (N-1), and Figure 6C is an example where the energy P2 is less than MIN2 × (N-1).

[0044] Next, the control unit 20 determines, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, whether the distribution amount CONi is greater than or equal to the remaining energy Pi (step S160). If, in step S160, it is determined that the distribution amount CONi is greater than or equal to the remaining energy Pi, the control unit 20 distributes the remaining energy Pi equally to the remaining batteries to be distributed (step S165). For example, in the case shown in Figure 6C where i=2, the control unit 20 distributes P2 / (N-1) to each of the first battery 51 to the Nth battery 5N.

[0045] On the other hand, if in step S160 the distribution amount CONi is not determined to be greater than or equal to the remaining energy Pi, the control unit 20 distributes MINi to the i-th to N-th batteries using the function of the distribution unit 20c (step S170). In the example shown in Figure 6B, since the distribution amount CON2 is less than the remaining energy P2, the control unit 20 distributes MIN2 (= second dischargeable amount Pe2 - first dischargeable amount Pe1), which is the remaining energy that has not been distributed from the second dischargeable amount Pe2 in the second battery 52, to each of the second to N-th batteries 5N. The amount of energy distributed at this stage is added to the amount of energy already distributed. For example, since MIN1 has already been distributed to each of the second to N-th batteries 5N in step S130, the amount of energy distributed to each of the second to N-th batteries 52 will be MIN1 + MIN2. Through this process, it is possible to distribute the remaining energy Pi as evenly as possible.

[0046] Next, the control unit 20, using the function of the distribution unit 20c, excludes the i-th battery from the distribution target (step S175), increments the variable i (step S180), and repeats the process from step S145 onwards. Through the above process, the control unit 20 repeatedly increases i from 2 by 1 until (dischargeable amount of the (i+1) - dischargeable amount of the i-th battery) × (Ni) is equal to or greater than the remaining target energy after distribution. The energy obtained by dividing the remaining target energy after distribution by (Ni) is then distributed to each of the (i+1) to the Nth batteries.

[0047] For example, assuming the state where i=2 in Figure 6B, CON2≧P2, therefore in step S170, MIN2 is distributed to the second battery 52 to the nth battery 5N. Also, in the example shown in Figure 6B, the remaining energy after this distribution is the hatched portion, which is (third dischargeable amount Pe3 - second dischargeable amount Pe2) × (N-2) or more. Therefore, the value obtained by dividing the remaining energy by (N-2) is equally distributed to each of the remaining batteries, i.e., the third battery 53 to the nth battery 5N.

[0048] As described above, once the target power amount P1 is distributed to each battery, the control unit 20 determines the sum of the distributed power as the discharge amount for each battery. The control unit 20 then instructs the cloud server 60 to discharge each battery. Upon receiving this instruction, the cloud server 60 instructs each battery to discharge. As a result, each battery begins discharging to the power grid 70, up to the instructed discharge amount.

[0049] (3) Other embodiments: The above embodiments are merely examples for carrying out the present invention, and various other embodiments can be adopted. For example, the discharge amount distribution system may be implemented by multiple devices, or it may be implemented using a cloud server or the like. Furthermore, the discharge amount distribution system 10 may be able to communicate with N batteries without going through the cloud server 60.

[0050] Furthermore, at least a portion of the dischargeable amount acquisition unit 20a, the target power amount acquisition unit 20b, and the distribution unit 20c may be divided into multiple devices. Of course, some of the configurations of the above-described embodiment may be omitted, and the order of processing may be changed or omitted. Moreover, the storage battery is not limited to a battery that charges electricity generated by a solar power generation device. For example, it may be a storage battery mounted on a vehicle, or a battery that charges electricity generated by wind power generation, small-scale hydropower generation, biomass power generation, or geothermal power generation.

[0051] Furthermore, there may be cases where a discharge amount greater than the distributed discharge amount is instructed. For example, as shown in Figure 4A, when CON1 ≥ P1, the discharge amount distributed to each battery is P1 / N as shown in Figure 4B. In this case, the control unit 20 may instruct all batteries to discharge MIN1. With this configuration, even if the power charged in the batteries decreases due to self-consumption, the possibility that each battery can discharge P1 / N can be increased. Also, if a discharge amount exceeding the dischargeable amount is instructed, the upper limit of the amount of power to be discharged becomes the dischargeable amount, so when a discharge of the dischargeable amount is instructed, a discharge exceeding the dischargeable amount may be instructed.

[0052] The dischargeable amount acquisition unit only needs to have the function of acquiring the dischargeable amount, which indicates the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged, from N batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more). In other words, the dischargeable amount acquisition unit only needs to be able to acquire the dischargeable amount of each battery in order to distribute the discharge amount up to the dischargeable amount. The dischargeable amount only needs to be the amount of electrical energy to be distributed, and in a system that evaluates the amount of electrical energy in 30-minute increments, as in the embodiment described above, it is sufficient to acquire the dischargeable amount in 30-minute increments, but it may also be acquired in shorter or longer time units.

[0053] The target power acquisition unit only needs to have the function of acquiring a target power amount that indicates the total amount of power to be discharged from N batteries. In other words, the target power acquisition unit only needs to be able to acquire the total amount of power to be distributed to N batteries as the target power amount. The target power amount may be determined manually by the administrator, as in the embodiment described above, or it may be determined automatically based on various indicators. As for the latter, for example, a configuration can be adopted in which all or part of the amount of power that the administrator should provide to the market based on supply and demand or bidding results before the distribution of power is carried out becomes the target power amount.

[0054] The distribution unit distributes the target energy to each of the N batteries. In this process, the distribution unit designates the batteries in ascending order of discharge capacity as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N), and designates the discharge capacity of the nth battery as the nth discharge capacity. If the first discharge capacity × N is equal to or greater than the target energy, the target energy is distributed equally to all batteries. If the first discharge capacity × N is less than the target energy, the first discharge capacity × N is extracted from the target energy, and the first discharge capacity is distributed to all batteries. The remaining target energy after distribution is then distributed to the second to the nth batteries, and the sum of the energy distributed to each battery is the discharge capacity of each battery.

[0055] The distribution unit determines the discharge amount for each battery if the first dischargeable amount × N is equal to or greater than the target energy amount, i.e., if the target energy amount can be distributed equally to all batteries. On the other hand, if the first dischargeable amount × N is less than the target energy amount, the distribution unit distributes the energy so that all batteries discharge at least the first dischargeable amount. Furthermore, batteries 2 through N, which have a dischargeable amount greater than the first dischargeable amount, are distributed an amount of energy equal to or greater than the first dischargeable amount.

[0056] In the distribution of energy between the second and nth batteries, the same approach as for the first battery may or may not be used. In the former case, if the amount of energy remaining after deducting the first dischargeable amount is considered the dischargeable amount for the second to nth batteries, and the amount of energy that has not been distributed from the target energy is considered the target energy, then distribution can be carried out using the same approach as for the first battery. Alternatively, the same approach as for the first battery may be repeatedly applied until the distribution is complete, or the distribution in the second to nth batteries may not be carried out using the same approach as for the first battery. In the latter case, distribution may be carried out using any method, for example, a method of distributing so that a certain percentage of the dischargeable amount is discharged.

[0057] Furthermore, embodiments of the invention may also be programs or methods. Moreover, such systems, programs, and methods can be implemented as a single device or through multiple devices, encompassing various forms. They can also be modified as appropriate, such as being partly software and partly hardware. Furthermore, the invention also functions as a recording medium for a program that controls the system. Of course, the recording medium for the software may be a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory, or any recording medium developed in the future; the same principle applies. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0058] 10...Discharge amount distribution system, 20...Control unit, 20a...Dischargeable amount acquisition unit, 20b...Target power amount acquisition unit, 20c...Distribution unit, 30...Storage medium, 30a...Dischargeable amount data, 40...Communication unit, 41...User I / F unit, 51~5N...1st battery~Nth battery, 60...Cloud server, 70...Power system

Claims

1. A dischargeable amount acquisition unit that acquires the dischargeable amount, which indicates the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged, from N storage batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more), A target energy acquisition unit acquires a target energy amount that indicates the total amount of energy to be discharged from N of the aforementioned storage batteries, The batteries are designated as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N) in order of increasing discharge capacity, and the discharge capacity of the nth battery is defined as the nth discharge capacity. If the first dischargeable amount × N is equal to or greater than the target amount of energy, the target amount of energy is distributed equally to all of the batteries. If the first dischargeable amount × N is less than the target energy amount, the first dischargeable amount × N is extracted from the target energy amount, and the first dischargeable amount is distributed to all of the batteries. A distribution unit that distributes the remaining target amount of energy after distribution to the second to the Nth battery, and sets the sum of the energy amounts distributed to each of the batteries as the discharge amount of each battery, A discharge amount distribution system equipped with the following features.

2. The aforementioned distribution unit is If the first dischargeable amount × N is smaller than the target energy amount, and the first dischargeable amount × N is extracted from the target energy amount and distributed to all of the storage batteries, then, if i is an integer from 2 to N, If (dischargeable amount of the i-th battery - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)-th battery) × (N - (i-1)) is greater than or equal to the remaining target energy after distribution, the remaining target energy after distribution is divided by (N - (i-1)) and the resulting energy is distributed to each of the i-th to N-th batteries. If (dischargeable amount of the i-th battery - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)th battery) × (N - (i-1)) is less than the remaining target energy after distribution, the process of distributing (dischargeable amount of the i-th battery - dischargeable amount of the (i-1)th battery) to each of the i-th to N-th batteries is performed. The process is repeated by increasing i from 2 by 1 until (the (i+1) dischargeable amount - the i-th dischargeable amount) × (N - i) is equal to or greater than the remaining amount of the target energy after distribution. The remaining amount of the target energy after distribution is divided by (N-i) and distributed to each of the (i+1) to the Nth battery. The sum of the amounts of electrical energy distributed to each of the aforementioned batteries is defined as the discharge amount of each of the aforementioned batteries. The discharge amount distribution system according to claim 1.

3. A dischargeable amount acquisition step is performed to obtain the dischargeable amount, which indicates the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged from N batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more), A target energy acquisition step to obtain a target energy amount that indicates the total amount of energy to be discharged from N of the aforementioned storage batteries, The batteries are designated as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N) in order of increasing discharge capacity, and the discharge capacity of the nth battery is defined as the nth discharge capacity. If the first dischargeable amount × N is equal to or greater than the target amount of energy, the target amount of energy is distributed equally to all of the batteries. If the first dischargeable amount × N is less than the target energy amount, the first dischargeable amount × N is extracted from the target energy amount, and the first dischargeable amount is distributed to all of the batteries. A distribution step in which the remaining amount of the target energy after distribution is distributed to the second to the Nth battery, and the sum of the energy amounts distributed to each of the batteries is the discharge amount of each of the batteries, A method for distributing discharge amount, including the method described above.

4. Computers, A dischargeable amount acquisition unit that acquires the dischargeable amount, which indicates the amount of electrical energy that can be discharged, from N storage batteries (where N is an integer of 2 or more). A target energy acquisition unit that acquires a target energy amount indicating the total amount of energy to be discharged from N of the aforementioned storage batteries. The batteries are designated as the nth battery (where n is an integer from 1 to N) in order of increasing discharge capacity, and the discharge capacity of the nth battery is defined as the nth discharge capacity. If the first dischargeable amount × N is equal to or greater than the target amount of energy, the target amount of energy is distributed equally to all of the batteries. If the first dischargeable amount × N is less than the target energy amount, the first dischargeable amount × N is extracted from the target energy amount, and the first dischargeable amount is distributed to all of the batteries. A distribution unit that distributes the remaining target amount of energy after distribution to the second to the Nth battery, and sets the sum of the energy amounts distributed to each of the batteries as the discharge amount of each battery. A discharge amount distribution program that functions as such.

Images