Power management system and power management method

Abstract

When externally controlling electrical equipment to create power demand at the required time, the goal is to increase the acceptance of external control of electrical equipment among multiple users. [Solution] The system comprises an input unit 30 configured to collect electricity market prices and information on multiple electrical devices from an external source; a processing unit 40 that calculates hourly supply and demand adjustment indicators based on the trend of electricity market prices, divides the day into one or more time zones using the time when the hourly supply and demand adjustment indicators exceed an arbitrary threshold as a dividing point, sets fixed monetary indicators for time zones, creates demand commands based on electricity market prices, and creates operation plans for each of the multiple electrical devices based on the demand commands and information on the multiple electrical devices; and an output unit 50 that outputs operation plans and operation commands based thereon to the multiple electrical devices based on the processing results of the processing unit 40.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power management system and a power management method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, with the increase in solar power generation, the number of time zones with surplus power during daytime on sunny days has been increasing. Therefore, the spot market price of power has become almost zero yen, or output suppression of solar power generation has occurred.

[0003] As a means to fill the time gap between power demand and supply, the introduction of an energy storage device can be mentioned, but the cost is high. As another means, there is a method of creating demand during the time zone when power is surplus (upward DR (Demand Response)).

[0004] Conventionally, heat pump water heaters have often been designed to operate from late at night to early morning. On the other hand, the hot water supply demand in households is concentrated at night when taking a bath. Also, the heat pump water heater is more efficient as the outside air temperature or the water temperature is higher. Therefore, operating the heat pump water heater during daytime is suitable in terms of both demand creation and energy saving.

[0005] However, conventional electrical appliances such as such heat pump water heaters are designed to achieve their original purpose (in the case of a heat pump water heater, storing hot water). That is, conventional electrical appliances are not designed assuming that they receive a command from the outside and operate to achieve another purpose (in this case, creating daytime demand).

[0006] Patent Document 1 describes an information processing device that "applies a demand forecast value required by a consumer during a certain time period, electricity rate information for that time period, and market price information for electricity during that time period to a planning model to create an operation plan for charging and discharging in a storage unit, an operation plan for power generation in a power generation unit, or an operation plan for heat storage in a heat pump, and outputs an operation plan." According to the information processing device described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to provide users (consumers) with information that enables them to achieve high profitability in order to realize power adjustment in the electricity market. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2024-37199 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 had a problem regarding user acceptance of external control of electrical equipment such as energy storage units that are owned or managed by the user.

[0009] For example, consider a scenario where multiple heat pump water heaters are treated as a single group of electricity demands. Each user may start operation at a different time, such as 10:00 AM or 12:00 PM. Spot market prices fluctuate in 30-minute intervals. Therefore, electricity rates linked to spot market prices would result in differences in the electricity costs paid by users, creating an unfair situation. Furthermore, in the case of heat pump water heaters, running them too early, too late, or too short can lead to hot water shortages, reducing the user's quality of life. If this becomes a regular occurrence, it could lead to aversion to external control, hindering the achievement of objectives.

[0010] Given the above circumstances, when externally controlling electrical equipment owned or managed by users to create electricity demand at the required time, it was desirable to increase the acceptance of multiple users regarding the external control of their electrical equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To solve the above problems, a power management system according to one aspect of the present invention includes: an input unit configured to collect electricity trading market prices and information on a plurality of electrical devices from an external source; a processing unit that calculates an hourly supply and demand adjustment index based on the trend of electricity trading market prices, divides the day into one or more time periods using the time when the hourly supply and demand adjustment index exceeds an arbitrary threshold as a delimiter, sets a fixed monetary index for each time period, creates a demand command based on the electricity trading market price, and creates an operation plan for each of the plurality of electrical devices based on the demand command and information on the plurality of electrical devices; and an output unit that outputs an operation plan and an operation command based thereon to the plurality of electrical devices based on the processing results of the processing unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to at least one aspect of the present invention, when externally controlling electrical equipment owned or managed by a user to create electricity demand at the required time, it is possible to increase the acceptance of external control of electrical equipment among multiple users. Other issues, configurations, and effects not mentioned above will be clarified by the following description of embodiments for carrying out the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure shows an example of the overall system configuration including a power management device and equipment to be managed according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of the hardware configuration of a power management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows an example of the functional configuration of a power management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4]It is a diagram showing a first example of power management based on electricity charges of a power management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a second example of power management based on electricity charges of a power management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing a third example of power management based on electricity charges of a power management device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] It is a diagram showing an example of demand allocation and operation time of each electrical device. [Figure 8] It is a diagram showing an example of conventional demand allocation and spot price. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing an example of demand allocation and time-based electricity charges according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a first example of power management based on incentives of a power management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] It is a diagram showing a second example of power management based on incentives of a power management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] It is a diagram showing a third example of power management based on incentives of a power management device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] It is a diagram showing a first example (electricity charge) of a display screen by a power management device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] It is a diagram showing a second example (incentive) of a display screen by a power management device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] It is a diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a system including a power management device and facilities to be managed according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] It is a diagram showing an example of power management based on a monetary index of a power management device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention (when considering system information).

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an example of a mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiment") will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification and the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are given to common components or similar components, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Also, when there are a plurality of identical or similar components, different subscripts may be attached to the same reference numeral for description. In addition, when it is not necessary to distinguish these plurality of components, the subscripts may be omitted for description. The number of each component may be singular or plural unless otherwise specified.

[0015] <First Embodiment> First, a power management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an entire system including a power management device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and facilities to be managed. The power management device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example of the power management system of the present invention. For example, the power management device 1 is operated by an aggregator, a retail electricity business operator, or a general electricity business operator (power company).

[0016] The power management device 1 can transmit and receive information with, for example, a plurality of power generation facilities 2 (one unit in FIG. 1), consumer facilities 3, 4, and management devices 5 of consumer facilities 6, 7 via a public communication line N. The power management device 1 can transmit and receive information with a communication terminal 10 via the public communication line N. The communication terminal 10 is a smartphone, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), or the like. Each of the power generation facilities 2, consumer facilities 3 to 4, 6 to 7, and management device 5 has some kind of terminal, that is, a communication function.

[0017] The power generation facility 2 is, for example, a solar power generation facility or a wind power generation facility. Customer equipment 3-4, 6-7 are electrical devices such as heat pump water heaters, electric vehicle chargers, and stationary storage batteries (e.g., household storage batteries), and include at least one of these electrical devices. Examples of stationary storage batteries include not only household storage batteries but also grid-connected storage batteries. These are examples of electrical devices particularly suitable for time shifts in demand. Thus, the present invention can use a variety of electrical devices as customer equipment that consumes electricity.

[0018] The management device 5 is, for example, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) or a BEMS (Building Energy Management System). The management device 5 manages the operation of the customer equipment 6 and 7. The customer equipment 6 and 7 may communicate with the management device 5 and the power management device 1 using communication protocols such as ECHONET Lite (ECHONET is a registered trademark).

[0019] Furthermore, customer equipment 3-4, 6-7 may communicate with the communication terminal 10 via a public communication line N using a dedicated application for the communication terminal 10. Alternatively, customer equipment 3-4, 6-7 may communicate with the management device 5 or the power management device 1 via a separately installed communication device (not shown). Customer equipment 3-4, 6-7 may also communicate with the communication terminal 10 via a dedicated application and a communication device. The communication device can be a commercially available remote control device, for example, one that utilizes infrared communication. The communication device connects to electrical equipment (customer equipment, etc.) inside a building such as a house and communicates with the external management device 5 or power management device 1.

[0020] Power management device 1 may communicate with higher-level power management devices or management devices installed for other purposes. Higher-level power management devices are, for example, power management devices that manage multiple other consumers, or power management devices that manage large-scale consumers. Higher-level power converters are devices that communicate with multiple lower-level power management devices and comprehensively manage the operation of power generation facilities, consumer facilities, etc., managed by the multiple lower-level power management devices. From another perspective, for example, higher-level power management devices manage consumers at the regional division level in Japan (e.g., Kanto region), while ordinary power management devices manage consumers at the local government level.

[0021] Next, the hardware configuration of the control system of power management device 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 shows an example of the hardware configuration of the control system of the power management device 1. The computer 20 shown in Figure 2 is an example of hardware used as a computer. In this embodiment, the power management device 1 realizes power management performed by the coordinated operation of each functional block shown in Figure 1 when the computer 20 (computer) executes a program.

[0022] Computer 20 comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, and non-volatile storage 24 connected to a system bus. Furthermore, computer 20 includes a display device 25, an input device 26, and a network interface 27. The CPU 21, ROM 22, and RAM 23 are examples of arithmetic units.

[0023] The CPU 21 reads the program code for the software that implements each function of the power management device 1 according to this embodiment from the ROM 22 (an example of a recording medium), loads it into the RAM 23, and executes it. Variables and parameters that occur during the calculation process of the CPU 21 are temporarily written to the RAM 23, and these variables and parameters are read out by the CPU 21 as appropriate. The functions of each functional block of the power management device 1 are realized when the CPU 21 executes the program code read from the ROM 22. However, other processors such as an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) may be used instead of the CPU 21.

[0024] Non-volatile storage 24 is an example of a recording medium that can store data used by a program or data obtained by executing a program. The OS (Operating System) or programs executed by the CPU 21 may be recorded on the non-volatile storage 24. Examples of non-volatile storage 24 include HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), SSDs (Solid State Drives), optical discs that utilize light or magnetism, or semiconductor memory cards.

[0025] The display device 25 is a monitor such as a liquid crystal display, and displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) screen or the results of calculations performed by the CPU 21. The input device 26 generates input signals in response to user operations and outputs them to the CPU 21. For example, the input device 26 can be a mouse, keyboard, or touch sensor, and the user can input information or instructions by operating the input device 26. The display device 25 and the input device 26 may be configured as an integrated touch panel.

[0026] The network interface 27 uses a communication device such as a NIC (Network Interface Card). The network interface 27 is connected to a public communication line N via a communication network such as a LAN or a dedicated line connected to the terminals of the NIC, and is capable of sending and receiving various types of data with external devices.

[0027] The control system hardware for the communication terminal 10 can also be configured using the computer 20. Furthermore, the control system hardware for the power generation equipment 2, customer equipment 3-4, management device 5, and customer equipment 6-7 can also be configured with hardware similar to the computer 20. Note that the computer 20 for the power management device 1, power generation equipment 2, customer equipment 3-4, management device 5, and customer equipment 6-7 does not necessarily have to include a display device 25 and an input device 26.

[0028] Next, the functional configuration of the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 shows an example of the functional configuration of the power management device 1. As shown in Figure 3, the power management device 1 comprises an input unit 30, a processing unit 40, and an output unit 50.

[0029] The input unit 30 is configured to accept and collect multiple types of information. The input unit 30 includes a market price information collection unit 31 and an electrical equipment information collection unit 32. The market price information collection unit 31 collects electricity trading market prices (spot rates, described later) or their predicted values ​​from an external source via a public communication line N. However, the processing unit 40 may calculate predicted values ​​for electricity trading market prices and use these predicted values ​​for electricity management. The electrical equipment information collection unit 32 collects information on multiple electrical devices (customer equipment) within the target area from an external source via a public communication line N.

[0030] Here, information regarding electrical equipment includes, for example, the settings used, actual usage, and power demand (power consumption) of the electrical equipment. Settings used include, for example, the heating temperature setting and the amount of hot water to be heated in the case of a heat pump water heater. Actual usage includes, for example, the hot water demand and the amount of hot water remaining in the tank (information that is not information about power itself, but can be used to estimate power) in the case of a heat pump water heater. Power demand is the actual power demand value for each electrical equipment. For example, the actual power demand value is the demand on the day before the target day or the demand under similar weather conditions. However, the processing unit 40 may learn the actual power demand values ​​of multiple electrical equipment over the past (for example, the last two weeks, the same period of the previous year, etc.) and calculate predicted power demand values ​​for the next day or the current day, and use those predicted power demand values ​​for power management.

[0031] The processing unit 40 is configured to perform various processes based on the information collected by the input unit 30. The processing unit 40 includes a time-based supply and demand adjustment index calculation unit 41, a time-based fixed monetary index calculation unit 42, and an electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit 43. The hourly supply and demand adjustment index calculation unit 41 calculates the hourly supply and demand adjustment index based, for example, on the trend of electricity trading market prices collected by the input unit 30. The time-of-day fixed monetary index calculation unit 42 divides the day into one or more time periods, using the time when the time-of-day supply and demand adjustment index exceeds an arbitrary threshold as a dividing point, and sets time-of-day fixed monetary indexes. The electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit 43 creates a demand command based on the electricity trading market price, and creates an operation plan for each electrical equipment based on the demand command and information on multiple electrical equipment.

[0032] The output unit 50 is configured to perform output processing on multiple electrical devices based on the processing results of the processing unit 40. The output unit 50 includes an operation plan notification unit 51 and an operation command unit 52. In this embodiment, the output unit 50 has a display function and a communication function, but these functions may be configured separately. The operation plan notification unit 51 outputs (notifies) the operation plan for each electrical device, created by the electrical device operation plan calculation unit 43, to at least one of the multiple electrical devices (customer equipment 3-4, 6-7), the management device 5, and the communication terminal 10. The operation plan is information on when the electrical device will be operated and when. The operation control unit 52 outputs operation commands to multiple electrical devices based on the operation plan for each electrical device. The operation commands are on / off commands (on signals and off signals) output to the electrical devices in order to realize the operation plan.

[0033] Next, an example of power management using a monetary indicator by the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6.

[0034] (Example 1 based on electricity rates) Figure 4 shows a first example of power management by electricity rates using the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment. The upper part of Figure 4 shows an example of the trend of spot rates, the middle part shows an example of the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part shows an example of electricity rates as a monetary indicator. In the upper part of Figure 4, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the electricity trading market price (indicated as "spot rate" in the figure). In the middle part of Figure 4, the fluctuation indicator is the fluctuation range and the number of fluctuations of the spot rate after smoothing in this embodiment.

[0035] The processing unit 40 takes the electricity trading market price (spot rate) as input, performs processing such as smoothing as necessary, and then counts the number of times the spot rate fluctuates in a day (middle of Figure 4). Smoothing is a process that suppresses fine fluctuations in the spot rate, such as using a moving average over several hours or removing outliers. For example, if the fluctuation range of the spot rate per unit time exceeds a threshold, it is determined that the spot rate has fluctuated. The time when the spot rate fluctuates is defined as the fluctuation time. The fluctuations in the spot rate within a day are counted in order, such as the first fluctuation time, the second fluctuation time, and so on. In the example in Figure 4, there are 2 fluctuations in a day, with the first fluctuation time being 7:00 and the second fluctuation time being 14:00. In this calculation, the time step for the spot rate is 30 minutes (the same as the spot rate step), but any fixed time, such as 15 minutes or 1 hour, may also be used.

[0036] Next, the processing unit 40 sets the electricity rate as a monetary indicator according to the time of change. The monetary indicator may be the electricity rate, or it may be an incentive (reward) as described later. By appropriately setting the monetary indicator, the system encourages and entices the user to use (permit) external control and provides motivation for using external control.

[0037] The following section explains the case where the monetary indicator is electricity charges. Figure 4 shows an example for a sunny day on June 29th (a holiday). In this example, the spot rate increases at night, with a difference of approximately 12 yen compared to the daytime spot rate. Since there is a surplus of electricity generated by solar power during the daytime on sunny days, it is desirable to increase electricity demand between 7:00 and 14:00. Therefore, the electricity rate is set lower between 7:00 and 14:00. In the example in the lower part of Figure 4, the electricity rate is 5 yen / kWh between 7:00 and 14:00, and 40 yen / kWh at other times. Electricity rates are set higher than the electricity trading market price in order to make a profit.

[0038] As shown in the middle of Figure 4, the spot rate fluctuates around 7:00 AM (the first fluctuation time) and around 2:00 PM (the second fluctuation time). Based on the fluctuation in the spot rate, the processing unit 40 switches the electricity rate by dividing it into time periods, as shown in the lower part of Figure 4. The electricity rate in this embodiment is a fixed electricity rate (time-based fixed monetary index) calculated for each time period based on the fluctuation in the spot rate.

[0039] When electricity rates are used as a monetary indicator, retail electricity providers can have revenue opportunities as aggregators.

[0040] (Second example based on electricity rates) Figure 5 shows a second example of power management by electricity rates using the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment. The upper part of Figure 5 shows the trend of spot rates, the middle part shows the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part of Figure 5 shows an example of electricity rates as a monetary indicator.

[0041] In the example in Figure 5, July 9th was an extremely hot day, and spot rates soared from midday (especially after noon) into the evening (a price difference of approximately 17 yen). There were three fluctuations in the day. Based on the trend of spot rates, it is expected that electricity demand will be higher than the amount of electricity generated between 13:00 and 22:00, so the electricity rate for that time period is set at 50 yen / kWh. In addition, based on spot rates, the electricity rate from 8:00 to 13:00 is set at 30 yen / kWh, and the electricity rates from 0:00 to 8:00 and from 22:00 to 0:00 are set at 20 yen / kWh.

[0042] (Third example based on electricity rates) Figure 6 shows a third example of power management by electricity rates using the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment. The upper part of Figure 6 shows the trend of spot rates, the middle part shows the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part of Figure 6 shows an example of electricity rates as a monetary indicator.

[0043] In the example in Figure 6, the weather on May 31st is cloudy, and the number of fluctuations in the day is 0. On this day, the spot rate has a difference of approximately 2 yen throughout the 24 hours, and the range of fluctuation is small (almost flat). In such cases, there is no incentive to guide electricity demand to a specific time period, so the electricity rate is set at 35 yen / kWh throughout the 24 hours.

[0044] Figure 7 shows an example of demand allocation and the operating time of each electrical appliance (referred to as "appliance" in the figure). The horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents created demand. To stabilize grid supply and demand, suppose the demand required for a certain period of time in the regional power system is as shown in demand command 60 in Figure 7. Power management device 1 commands electrical equipment A to G in the regional power system to operate in accordance with this demand command 60. For example, electrical equipment A starts operating at 9:00 and stops operating at 13:00. Here, "region" refers to the area including the power system downstream of a single distribution station or substation. Alternatively, as in the fourth embodiment described later, "region" within the region may represent a municipality unit or a regional division unit.

[0045] The allocation of demand to each electrical device is determined by considering various constraints. For example, suppose there is a reason to start electrical device A as soon as possible. In that case, the user of electrical device A uses a communication terminal 10, such as a smartphone, to transmit the constraints to the power management device 1. The power management device 1 considers the constraints specific to each electrical device and allocates demand to each electrical device in accordance with the demand command 60.

[0046] Such constraints may be determined by the power management device 1 and applied to each electrical appliance. For example, suppose electrical appliance A is a heat pump water heater, and the power management device 1 predicts that the hot water will run out around 3 PM based on information such as the hot water demand and the amount of hot water remaining in the tank for electrical appliance A, and determines that hot water storage should be completed by 1 PM. In this case, in order to improve user satisfaction, the power management device 1 will ask the user for confirmation regarding the operation of electrical appliance A to complete hot water storage by 1 PM. If the user agrees to the operation of electrical appliance A, the power management device 1 will set the requirement to complete hot water storage by 1 PM as a constraint for electrical appliance A.

[0047] Thus, when the electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit 43 of the processing unit 40 creates an operation plan by allocating demand to multiple electrical equipment, it is preferable to take into account time-series information of each electrical equipment (for example, in the case of a heat pump water heater, fuel demand, remaining hot water in the tank, etc.) as information about the multiple electrical equipment. This allows for appropriate demand allocation according to the circumstances and electrical characteristics of each electrical equipment.

[0048] In the example in Figure 7, for simplicity, it is shown that there is no difference in output between electrical devices, but in reality, the output differs between electrical devices. Also, the output of electrical devices (e.g., power consumption) is not always constant during operation. Power management device 1 may allocate demand considering the output characteristics (demand characteristics) of each electrical device. For example, in the case of heat pump water heaters, there are devices that operate to maximize efficiency rather than operating at a constant power consumption. Also, in the case of EV (Electric Vehicle) chargers, there is a charging method called CCCV (Constant Current Constant Voltage) charging. In CCCV charging, charging is performed with a constant current up to a certain battery voltage, and thereafter charging continues while maintaining a constant voltage.

[0049] Alternatively, the difference between the sum of the outputs of each electrical device and the demand command may be resolved using electrical devices capable of generating the desired demand. Examples of electrical devices capable of generating the desired demand include, but are not limited to, electric vehicle chargers, home battery storage systems, and grid-connected battery storage systems.

[0050] Figure 8 shows an example of conventional demand allocation and spot pricing. The upper part of Figure 8 shows an example of demand allocation, and the lower part shows an example of spot pricing trends. The spot pricing trends in the lower part of Figure 8 are the same as the example in the upper part of Figure 4. For example, suppose the demand required by the regional power grid is as shown in demand command 70 at the top of Figure 8. Based on demand command 70, the demand for electrical equipment A to G is allocated. If electricity rates are linked to spot rates, even for the same demand command 70, the rates for each electrical equipment will differ depending on the time of day, as shown at the bottom of Figure 8. For example, an unfair situation may arise where the spot rate (electricity rate per kWh) for electrical equipment A is high, while the spot rate for electrical equipment E is lower than that for electrical equipment A (electricity rate per kWh).

[0051] Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of demand allocation and hourly electricity rates according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The upper part of Figure 9 shows an example of demand allocation, and the lower part of Figure 9 shows an example of the trend of hourly electricity rates. Let's assume that the demand required by the regional power grid is as shown in demand directive 70 in the upper part of Figure 9. The allocation of demand for electrical equipment A to G based on demand directive 70 in the upper part of Figure 9 is the same as in the example in Figure 8. In Figure 9, the hourly electricity rate for the target time period (for example, 04:45 to 14:45) is a fixed rate. Therefore, it is fair to all electrical equipment A to G regardless of which time period within the target time period the demand is allocated to.

[0052] As described above, the power management device 1 (an example of a power management system) according to the first embodiment includes an input unit (input unit 30) configured to collect electricity trading market prices (spot rates) and information on multiple electrical equipment from an external source; a processing unit (processing unit 40) that calculates hourly supply and demand adjustment indicators (fluctuation indicators) based on the trend of electricity trading market prices, divides the day into one or more time zones using the time when the hourly supply and demand adjustment indicators (fluctuation indicators) exceed an arbitrary threshold as a dividing point, sets time-based fixed monetary indicators (e.g., electricity rates, incentives, etc.), creates demand commands based on electricity trading market prices, and creates operation plans for multiple electrical equipment based on the demand commands and information on multiple electrical equipment; and an output unit (output unit 50) that outputs operation plans and operation commands based thereon to multiple electrical equipment based on the processing results of the processing unit.

[0053] According to the power management device 1 of the first embodiment described above, demand for multiple electrical devices is created in conjunction with the electricity trading market price (spot rate), and fixed monetary indicators are set for different time periods. In this embodiment, this contributes to the stabilization of the regional power grid and provides economic value to consumers (users). Therefore, when creating electricity demand at the necessary time by externally controlling electrical devices owned or managed by users, it is possible to increase the acceptance of external control of electrical devices among multiple users.

[0054] <Second Embodiment> As a second embodiment, a case where a monetary indicator for power management is used as an incentive will be explained with reference to Figures 10 to 12.

[0055] (Example 1 of incentives) Figure 10 shows a first example of incentive-based power management by the power management device 1 according to the second embodiment. The upper part of Figure 10 shows an example of the trend of spot charges, the middle part shows an example of the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part shows an example of the incentive reward amount as a monetary indicator. In the upper part of Figure 10, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the electricity trading market price (indicated as "spot charge" in the figure). The fluctuation indicator in the middle part of Figure 10 is the fluctuation range and the number of fluctuations of the monetary indicator.

[0056] The example in Figure 10 is the same as in Figure 4, a sunny holiday (June 29th), where the spot rate from morning to midday is around zero yen. There are two fluctuations per day. In this example, we want to increase electricity demand between 7:00 and 14:00. Therefore, in the case of an incentive, the reward amount should be set higher between 7:00 and 14:00. In the example in the lower part of Figure 10, the reward amount is 50 yen / kWh between 7:00 and 14:00, and the reward amount is 0 yen / kWh at other times. The incentive could be, for example, a discount on the monthly electricity bill, or the awarding of points or coupons.

[0057] Incentive rewards are determined comprehensively based on spot rates and other factors. Generally, the lower the spot rate, the higher the incentive reward. Also, the larger the daily difference in spot rates, the larger the difference in incentives. In addition, for example, the more solar power generation facilities connected to the same power grid in the same area, the higher the incentive reward will be.

[0058] (Second example using incentives) Figure 11 shows a second example of incentive-based power management by the power management device 1 according to the second embodiment. The upper part of Figure 11 shows an example of the trend of spot charges, the middle part shows an example of the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part shows an example of the incentive reward amount as a monetary indicator.

[0059] The example in Figure 11 is the same extremely hot day as in Figure 5 (July 9th), where spot rates surge from noon to night (a difference of approximately 17 yen). There are three fluctuations in the day. Based on the trend of spot rates, it is expected that electricity demand will be higher than the amount of electricity generated between 13:00 and 22:00, so the incentive reward amount for that time period is 0 yen / kWh. Also, based on spot rates, the incentive reward amount is set at 5 yen / kWh from 8:00 to 13:00, and at 15 yen / kWh from 0:00 to 8:00 and from 22:00 to 0:00.

[0060] (A third example of incentives) Figure 12 shows a third example of incentive-based power management by the power management device 1 according to the second embodiment. The upper part of Figure 12 shows an example of the trend of spot charges, the middle part shows an example of the calculation results of the fluctuation indicator, and the lower part shows an example of the incentive reward amount as a monetary indicator.

[0061] The example in Figure 12, like in Figure 6, has cloudy weather (May 31st) and zero fluctuations in the day. On this day, the spot price difference over 24 hours is approximately 2 yen, and the fluctuation range is small (almost flat). In such cases, there is no incentive to guide electricity demand to a specific time period, so the incentive reward amount is set to 0 yen / kWh over the 24 hours.

[0062] If monetary incentives are used, there is no need to change existing electricity contracts.

[0063] <Third Embodiment> Figure 13 shows a first example of the display screen of the power management device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The first example of the display screen is when the monetary indicator is electricity charges, and is an example that utilizes the first example of power management based on electricity charges of the first embodiment.

[0064] The power management device 1 displays input information (such as spot charges) and processing results (electricity charges, incentives, and operating time) on a monitor (display device 25) and a communication terminal 10. For example, the display screen 80 shown in Figure 13 displays items such as spot charges, hourly electricity charges, operating time of various equipment, and explanatory information. The "Spot Rate" section displays a graph showing the trend of spot rates for a day or several hours, as shown in Figures 4-6 and 10-12. The "Time-of-Use Electricity Rates" section displays electricity rates by time of day in a graph, serving as a monetary indicator. The "Operating Time of Various Equipment" section displays the operating time of one or more electrical devices being controlled. The "Explanation" section displays supplementary or detailed explanations regarding the spot rates, hourly electricity rates, and operating times of various equipment mentioned above. Figure 14 shows the explanation: "Tomorrow is expected to be sunny during the day, so the electricity rate from 7:00 to 14:00 will be a bargain at 5 yen / kWh. The heat pump water heater is scheduled to operate from 9:00 to 13:00."

[0065] The output unit 50 of the power management device 1 controls the display device 25 (see Figure 2) so that spot charges, time-based electricity charges (examples of fixed monetary indicators for different time periods), operating times of various equipment, and explanations of this information can be displayed.

[0066] Figure 14 shows a second example of the display screen of the power management device 1 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The first example of the display screen is when the monetary indicator is an incentive, and is an example in which the first example of power management by reward amount in the second embodiment is applied to point allocation.

[0067] The display screen 90 shown in Figure 14 shows the following items: spot charges, points per hour, operating hours for various equipment, and explanations. The "Spot Rate" section displays a graph showing the trend of spot rates for a day or several hours, as shown in Figures 4-6 and 10-12. The "Points by Time" section displays points earned by time as a monetary indicator, shown in a graph. The "Operating Time of Various Equipment" section displays the operating time of one or more electrical devices being controlled. The "Explanation" section displays supplementary or detailed explanations regarding the aforementioned spot charges, hourly points, and operating times for various equipment. Figure 14 shows the explanation: "Tomorrow is expected to be sunny during the day, so running the heat pump water heater between 7:00 and 14:00 will earn you points equivalent to 100 yen, making it a great deal. The heat pump water heater is scheduled to operate from 9:00 to 13:00."

[0068] The output unit 50 of the power management device 1 controls the display device 25 (see Figure 2) so that spot charges, time-based points (example of fixed monetary indicators for different time periods), operating times of various equipment, and explanations for this information can be displayed.

[0069] <Fourth Embodiment> As a fourth embodiment, an example that takes into account information on the local power grid will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16.

[0070] Spot rates (area prices) within Japan are calculated for each of the nine regions of the country, excluding Okinawa. Within these regions, for example, the Kansai region is quite large, with some areas experiencing sunny weather and others not. In other words, even within the same region for area pricing, there are areas with surplus electricity that require reductions in solar power output and areas without such surplus electricity. Therefore, area prices alone cannot accurately reflect the supply and demand situation of the power grid within a region.

[0071] Electricity trading market prices (spot rates) are determined the day before, but due to inaccurate weather forecasts or localized weather changes, they may not accurately reflect the supply and demand situation in a particular area, requiring correction. Therefore, the processing unit 40 modifies the monetary indicators used for supply and demand adjustment by taking into account actual or predicted values ​​of electricity usage in the regional power grid (e.g., hourly electricity demand). By actually incorporating information from the regional power grid into the calculations of the processing unit 40, it is possible to set monetary indicators that reflect the actual situation in the region, thereby increasing the economic value provided to consumers.

[0072] Figure 15 shows an example of the overall system configuration including the power management device 1A and the equipment to be managed according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The power management device 1A according to the fourth embodiment includes an input unit 30A, a processing unit 40, and an output unit 50. The difference between the power management device 1A of the fourth embodiment and the power management device 1 according to the first embodiment is that the input unit 30A includes a grid information collection unit 33 in addition to the market price information collection unit 31 and the electrical equipment information collection unit 32.

[0073] The grid information collection unit 33 collects actual or predicted values ​​of the power usage status of the regional power grid (hereinafter also referred to as "grid information") via the public communication line N. The grid information collection unit 33 outputs the collected actual or predicted values ​​of the grid information to the processing unit 40. However, the processing unit 40 may calculate predicted values ​​of the grid information within the target area and use these predicted values ​​for power management.

[0074] In the processing unit 40, the electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit 43 creates operation commands for multiple electrical devices based on the electricity trading market price (spot rate) as well as information on the electricity usage status of the regional power grid.

[0075] Figure 16 shows an example of power management using monetary indicators by the power management device 1A according to the fourth embodiment (when grid information is taken into consideration). The upper part of Figure 16 shows an example of calculation of fluctuation indicators before and after correction, and the lower part of Figure 16 shows an example of incentives (reward amounts) before and after correction.

[0076] For example, suppose a certain region has a surplus of power generation compared to other regions within the same service area in terms of area pricing, and the time period in which this surplus occurs is slightly delayed. In this case, as shown in the upper part of Figure 16, the monetary indicators (electricity rates, incentives, etc.) are adjusted so that the difference in values ​​is larger and the time period of fluctuation is slightly delayed. In the upper part of Figure 16, the trend of the monetary indicators before adjustment is shown by a solid line, and the trend of the monetary indicators after adjustment is shown by a dashed line. The monetary indicators before adjustment are modeled after the first example of power management according to the second embodiment.

[0077] As a result, the incentive (reward amount) increases from 50 yen / kWh to 70 yen / kWh compared to before the revision, and the time when the incentive is applied is delayed by one hour. This allows for a more time-shifted shift in the demand of individual consumers to better suit local conditions. This contributes to supply and demand adjustment in the local power grid and helps avoid curtailing of solar power generation output. Therefore, it contributes to an increase in the use of renewable energy in the region.

[0078] Furthermore, the processing unit 40 may predict the usage status of the local power grid based on weather information for the relevant area. Even without grid information, the supply and demand situation of the grid can be predicted to a certain extent from weather information. Weather information includes, for example, solar radiation, wind speed, and wind direction. The grid information collection unit 33 collects weather information in real time from online sources such as public communication lines N or from actual measurement data from measuring instruments installed in the relevant area, and passes it to the processing unit 40. The processing unit 40 uses the predicted values ​​of the predicted grid information in the calculations of the electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit 43.

[0079] In the first to fourth embodiments, the time-of-day fixed monetary indicator calculation unit 42 may change the monetary indicator (electricity charges, incentives, etc.) according to the degree of contribution to the supply-demand balance. This can improve user satisfaction and lead to user retention. Here, the degree of contribution refers to the extent to which the consumer's electrical equipment contributes to demand creation, and measures can be taken to make the monetary indicator more advantageous when the electrical equipment contributes to demand creation above a certain level. The degree of contribution can be the amount of demand (total output of electrical equipment or the number of target equipment), the period (for example, continuing for more than one year), etc.

[0080] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various other modifications and applications are possible as long as they do not depart from the gist of the invention as described in the claims. For example, the embodiments described above are detailed and specific in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those comprising all the components described. Furthermore, it is possible to add, replace, or delete other components in the configuration of each embodiment.

[0081] Furthermore, some or all of the above configurations, functions, and processing units may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Broadly defined processor devices such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) may be used as hardware.

[0082] Furthermore, each component of the power management device according to the above embodiment may be implemented on any hardware, as long as the respective hardware can send and receive information from each other via a network. Also, the processing performed by a certain processing unit may be implemented by a single piece of hardware, or by distributed processing by multiple pieces of hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1,1A…Power management device, 2…Power generation equipment, 3~4,6~7…Customer equipment, 5…Management device, 6…Customer equipment, 10…Communication terminal, 20…Computer, 30,30A…Input unit, 31…Market price information collection unit, 32…Electrical equipment information collection unit, 33…System information collection unit, 40…Processing unit, 41…Hourly supply and demand adjustment index calculation unit, 42…Time-based fixed monetary index calculation unit, 43…Electrical equipment operation plan calculation unit, 50…Output unit, 51…Operation plan notification unit, 52…Operation command unit

Claims

1. An input unit configured to collect electricity trading market prices and information on multiple electrical devices from an external source, A processing unit calculates an hourly supply and demand adjustment index based on the trend of the aforementioned electricity trading market price, divides the day into one or more time periods using the time when the hourly supply and demand adjustment index exceeds an arbitrary threshold as a dividing point, sets a fixed monetary index for each time period, creates a demand command based on the aforementioned electricity trading market price, and creates an operation plan for each of the multiple electrical devices based on the demand command and information on the multiple electrical devices, The system includes an output unit that outputs the operation plan and operation commands based thereon to a plurality of electrical devices based on the processing results of the processing unit. Power management system.

2. The processing unit generates operation commands for multiple electrical devices based on the electricity trading market price and information on the electricity usage status of the local power grid. The power management system according to claim 1.

3. The processing unit uses information on the power usage status of the local power grid collected by the input unit, or calculates a predicted value for the power usage status of the local power grid based on weather information within the target area. The power management system according to claim 2.

4. The electrical equipment includes at least one of a heat pump water heater, an electric vehicle charger, and a stationary battery. The power management system according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned fixed monetary indicator by time of day is electricity charges. The power management system according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned fixed monetary indicators by time of day are incentives. The power management system according to claim 1.

7. The processing unit, when creating the operation plan for the multiple electrical devices, incorporates time-series information of each electrical device as information about the multiple electrical devices. The power management system according to claim 1.

8. The processing unit changes the monetary indicator according to the degree to which the electrical equipment contributed to demand creation. The power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The output unit is controlled to display the electricity trading market price, the fixed monetary index for each time period, the operating time of the electrical equipment, and explanations of this information on the display unit. The power management system according to claim 1.

10. A power management method using a power management system having a computing device for executing a program and a recording medium for recording the program, The process involves collecting electricity trading market prices and information about multiple electrical devices from external sources. Based on the trends in the aforementioned electricity trading market price, an hourly supply and demand adjustment index is calculated, and the day is divided into one or more time periods using the time when the hourly supply and demand adjustment index exceeds an arbitrary threshold as a dividing point, and a fixed monetary index for each time period is set. Furthermore, a demand command is created based on the aforementioned electricity trading market price, and an operation plan for each of the multiple electrical devices is created based on the demand command and information on the multiple electrical devices. The process includes outputting the operation plan and operation commands based thereon to a plurality of electrical devices. Power management methods.

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