Energy management method, program, and computer device

Abstract

To suppress reduction in maximum charge power of charging devices in energy management using a plurality of charging devices.SOLUTION: An energy management method includes determining whether it is within a target period (S11), and performing energy management within a target period by a target resource selected from a plurality of charging devices (S12 to S15). Performing the energy management comprises charging the target resource so as to perform the energy management within the target period, and reselecting the target resource from the plurality of charging devices so as to prevent each of the plurality of charging devices within the target period from reaching a target amount of charge.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an energy management method, a program, and a computer device. [Background technology]

[0002] JP 2020-156149 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a VPP system using electric vehicles. A VPP (Virtual Power Plant) is a mechanism that uses advanced energy management technology that utilizes the Internet of Things (IoT) to bundle a large number of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and remotely and centrally control these DERs to function as if they were a single power plant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-156149 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In energy management, multiple power storage devices (for example, power storage devices mounted on electric vehicles) may be used. In such a method, by simultaneously charging the multiple power storage devices, it becomes possible to perform energy management with a charging power greater than that of charging only one power storage device. However, if any of the power storage devices becomes fully charged during energy management, the maximum charging power of the multiple power storage devices (the upper limit power that the multiple power storage devices can charge) becomes smaller, and there is a possibility that the multiple power storage devices will not be able to charge the power required for energy management.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to suppress a decrease in the maximum charging power of a plurality of power storage devices in energy management using the power storage devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an embodiment of a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an energy management method as described below.

[0007] (Item 1) The energy management method includes determining whether or not a target period is in progress, and performing energy management during the target period using a target resource selected from a plurality of power storage devices. Performing energy management includes charging the target resource so that energy management is performed during the target period, and reselecting the target resource from the plurality of power storage devices so as to prevent each of the plurality of power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount during the target period.

[0008] In the above method, the target resource is reselected from the multiple power storage devices so as to prevent each of the multiple power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount during the target period (i.e., the period during which energy management is executed) (e.g., to prevent all of the multiple power storage devices from reaching a fully charged state). This prevents any of the power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount during the energy management. This process makes it possible to prevent a decrease in the maximum charging power of the multiple power storage devices in energy management using the multiple power storage devices.

[0009] The energy management method described in the above item 1 may have the configuration described in any one of items 2 to 5 below.

[0010] (Clause 2) The energy management method according to clause 1 further has the following features. In the energy management method, each of the plurality of power storage devices is mounted on a vehicle. Reselecting the target resource includes selecting the target resource using a remaining amount of power stored in each of the plurality of power storage devices and a scheduled departure time of the vehicle.

[0011] There is a concern that by reselecting a target resource (charging target) so as to prevent each of the plurality of power storage devices from reaching a fully charged state during the target period, it may not be possible to increase the remaining amount of stored power in the power storage devices to a target value by the scheduled departure time of the vehicle. In this regard, the above method selects a target resource using the remaining amount of stored power for each of the plurality of power storage devices and the scheduled departure time of the vehicle. Therefore, the above method makes it easier to achieve both preventing all of the plurality of power storage devices from reaching a fully charged state during the target period and increasing the remaining amount of stored power in the power storage devices to a target value by the scheduled departure time of the vehicle.

[0012] The scheduled departure time of each vehicle equipped with a power storage device may be after the target period has elapsed. Each vehicle may be an electric vehicle (xEV) that uses electricity as all or part of its power source. xEVs include BEVs (electric vehicles), PHEVs (plug-in hybrid vehicles), FCEVs (fuel cell vehicles), etc.

[0013] (Item 3) The energy management method according to item 2 further has the following features. Reselecting the target resource includes preferentially selecting, as the target resource, from a plurality of power storage devices, a power storage device with an earlier charging deadline. The charging deadline of a power storage device is a time that is backdated from the scheduled departure time of a vehicle equipped with the power storage device by the remaining charging time of the power storage device. The remaining charging time of a power storage device is a time required to increase the remaining amount of stored power of the power storage device to a target value.

[0014] As described above, by preferentially selecting the power storage device with the earliest charging deadline as the target resource, charging is preferentially performed on the power storage device with the nearest charging deadline for bringing the remaining amount of stored electricity to the target value by the scheduled departure time of the vehicle. This makes it possible to simultaneously prevent the remaining amount of stored electricity from becoming a full charge amount within the target period and raise the remaining amount of stored electricity to the target value by the scheduled departure time of the vehicle for each of the multiple power storage devices.

[0015] (Clause 4) The energy management method according to clause 3 further has the following feature: Reselecting the target resource includes determining whether or not the remaining charge time of the target resource selected according to the charge deadline has become equal to or shorter than a predetermined time, and reselecting the target resource from the multiple power storage devices when it is determined that the remaining charge time has become equal to or shorter than the predetermined time.

[0016] As described above, by determining the reselection condition (timing of reselection) of the target resource based on the remaining charge time, it becomes easier to reselect the target resource from multiple energy storage devices so that none of the multiple energy storage devices reach a fully charged state during the target period.

[0017] (Clause 5) The energy management method according to any one of clauses 1 to 4 further has the following features: Reselecting the target resource includes preferentially selecting, as the target resource, from a plurality of power storage devices, a power storage device whose remaining power storage amount is less than a predetermined first reference value, determining, for the target resource selected according to the remaining power storage amount, whether the remaining power storage amount has become equal to or greater than a second reference value that is set in advance and is equal to or greater than the first reference value, and reselecting the target resource from the plurality of power storage devices when it is determined that the remaining power storage amount has become equal to or greater than the second reference value.

[0018] According to the method, it becomes easier to ensure that each of the plurality of power storage devices has a remaining power storage amount that is at least equivalent to the first reference value during the target period, which makes it easier to use each of the plurality of power storage devices for a predetermined purpose after the target period has elapsed.

[0019] (Item 6) The energy management method according to any one of items 1 to 5 further includes the following features. The energy management method further includes canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a difference between the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output in the target period and the charge / discharge amount of the vehicle group required in the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the aforementioned power storage device.

[0020] (Item 7) The energy management method according to any one of items 1 to 6 further includes the following features. The energy management method further includes canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output in the target period by the charge / discharge amount of the vehicle group required in the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the aforementioned power storage device.

[0021] (Item 8) The energy management method according to any one of items 1 to 7 further includes the following features. The energy management method further includes canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a difference between the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output in the target period and the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group needs in the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the aforementioned power storage device.

[0022] (Item 9) The energy management method according to any one of items 1 to 8 further includes the following features. The energy management method further includes canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output in the target period by the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group needs in the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the aforementioned power storage device.

[0023] According to the energy management method described in any one of paragraphs 6 to 9 above, when a predetermined cancellation condition is satisfied, it is possible to cancel the process of suppressing each of a plurality of power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount within a target period. The cancellation condition is set so as to be satisfied in a situation where the suppression process is unlikely to be necessary or is not required.

[0024] According to an embodiment according to another aspect, there is provided a program for causing a computer to execute the energy management method according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 9. In one embodiment, there is provided a computer device including a storage device that stores the program, and a processor that executes the program stored in the storage device. In another embodiment, there is provided a computer device that distributes the program. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the present disclosure, in energy management using a plurality of power storage devices, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the maximum charging power of these power storage devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an energy management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of tertiary control capability-2. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a process executed by a server (computer device) to operate a vehicle fleet as a regulating power of a power system. [Figure 4] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an energy management method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing details of a process relating to target resource selection shown in FIG. 4. [Figure 6]6 is a time chart showing a first example of a transition of the SOC of each resource when energy management is performed by the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 7] 6 is a time chart showing a second example of a transition of the SOC of each resource when energy management is performed by the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. [Figure 8] 6 is a time chart showing a third example of a transition of the SOC of each resource when energy management is performed by the method shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 . [Figure 9] 6 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the process shown in FIG. 5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and will not be described repeatedly.

[0028] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an energy management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to Fig. 1, the energy management system according to the embodiment performs energy management of a power system PG. This energy management system includes a group of vehicles 1, a group of EVSEs 2, and servers 300 and 700. EVSE stands for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.

[0029] The power system PG is a power grid constructed by power transmission and distribution facilities. A plurality of power plants are connected to the power system PG. The power system PG receives power supply from these power plants. The vehicle group 1 includes a plurality of electric vehicles (xEVs) that can operate as a regulating power for the power system PG. The EVSE group 2 includes a plurality of EVSEs that receive power supply from the power system PG. Each EVSE included in the EVSE group 2 is connected to a communication network NW via, for example, a communication line. The communication network NW is a wide area network constructed by, for example, the Internet and a wireless base station.

[0030] The server 700 corresponds to a computer belonging to a TSO (system operator) of the power system PG. The server 300 corresponds to a computer belonging to an aggregator. Each of the servers 300 and 700 is connected to a communication network NW via, for example, a communication line. The servers 300 and 700 are configured to be able to communicate with each other.

[0031] The server 300 may be a computer including a processor 310, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 320, and a storage device 330. The server 300 has a clock function. The server 300 may further include an HMI (Human Machine Interface) (not shown). The HMI may be a touch panel display. The processor 310 may be a CPU (Central Processing Unit), for example. The storage device 330 is configured to be able to save stored information. The storage device 330 may include a rewritable non-volatile memory. In the server 300, the processor 310 executes a program stored in the storage device 330, thereby executing various processes (for example, see FIGS. 3 to 8 described later). However, these various processes are not limited to being executed by software, and may also be executed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuits).

[0032] Identification information (vehicle ID) of each vehicle (hereinafter referred to as "vehicle 100" when no distinction is made) included in the vehicle group 1 is registered in advance in the server 300. The storage device 330 of the server 300 stores information about the vehicle 100 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "vehicle information"), distinguishing the information by the vehicle ID. The vehicle information includes specifications of the vehicle 100 (e.g., rated charging power), information indicating whether the vehicle 100 is electrically connected to the power system PG (plugged-in state), and information about the vehicle 100 in the plugged-in state (e.g., remaining power storage, scheduled departure time, and target charging value).

[0033] In this embodiment, the server 300 communicates with the vehicle 100 connected to the EVSE 200 (the vehicle 100 in a plugged-in state) via the EVSE 200 to acquire information about the vehicle 100. A user can set a scheduled departure time and a target charging value for the vehicle 100 through a user terminal 500 shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later. The scheduled departure time corresponds to the time when the vehicle 100 is scheduled to start traveling next time (i.e., the time when the vehicle 100 is scheduled to shift from a parked state to a traveling state). The target charging value in this embodiment corresponds to a target value of the remaining amount of electricity stored at the scheduled departure time, and can be expressed by an SOC value. Hereinafter, the SOC value indicating the target charging value is referred to as a "target SOC". The SOC (State Of Charge) indicates the remaining amount of electricity stored, and is, for example, a ratio of the current amount of electricity stored to the amount of electricity stored in a fully charged state, expressed as 0 to 100%.

[0034] Identification information (EVSE-ID) of each EVSE included in EVSE group 2 (hereinafter referred to as "EVSE 200" when no distinction is made) is registered in advance in server 300. Storage device 330 of server 300 stores information related to EVSE 200 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "EVSE information"), distinguishing it by EVSE-ID. The EVSE information includes the specifications of EVSE 200 (e.g., rated power supply), the communication address of EVSE 200, and the position of EVSE 200 (e.g., latitude and longitude).

[0035] The server 300 is configured to realize a VPP (Virtual Power Plant) by bundling a plurality of distributed energy resources (hereinafter also referred to as "DERs (Distributed Energy Resources)"). The VPP is a mechanism for remotely and integrally controlling a plurality of DERs to function as if they were a single power plant. For example, the vehicle 100 electrically connected to the EVSE 200 can function as a DER for the VPP. For this reason, the server 300 causes the vehicle 100 electrically connected to the EVSE 200 to execute energy management of the power system PG in response to a request from, for example, the server 700 (TSO). The server 300 may win a bid for the adjustment power requested by the TSO in the power market.

[0036] The server 300 is configured to automatically perform transactions (e.g., bidding and agreements) in the electricity market according to conditions (e.g., bidding conditions) predetermined by a user, and to manage a ledger (transaction records) related to the electricity transactions. The server 300 may perform settlements related to the electricity transactions. In the following, a tertiary control reserve-2 will be described as an example of a control reserve that is awarded in the electricity market.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an overview of tertiary control reserve-2. Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, tertiary control reserve-2 is a control reserve for the FIT (Feed-in Tariff) special system, and is traded in the supply and demand adjustment market. In the supply and demand adjustment market, electricity is traded as a commodity. Each commodity is bought and sold, for example, by a bidding method. Tertiary control reserve-2 corresponds to "RR-FIT" (Replacement Reserve for Feed-in Tariff), with a response time of 45 minutes or less and a duration of 3 hours (6 frames). In the supply and demand adjustment market, tertiary control reserve-2 is traded for each of 8 blocks that divide a day into 3-hour units.

[0038] Under the FIT Special Scheme, the TSO is responsible for imbalances in the power generation plan. The TSO predicts renewable energy output two days before the target block and determines the power generation plan value. The TSO then procures tertiary adjustment reserve-2 on the day before the target block to eliminate the renewable energy forecast error (the forecast error from two days before). Note that renewable energy refers to renewable energy (RE: Renewable Energy).

[0039] The server 300 makes a bid in the supply and demand balancing market during the period from 12:00 to 14:00 on the day before the target block. Specifically, the server 300 transmits bidding information (i.e., information indicating the bidding conditions) including the product (e.g., tertiary control capacity-2), block (one of the eight blocks), and bidding amount (ΔkW) to the supply and demand balancing market system. The results are then notified to the server 300 at 15:00 on the bidding day. When the bid product is sold, a contract is reached. The ΔkW contract amount corresponds to the successful bid amount.

[0040] A person (successful bidder) who wins a bid for tertiary control capacity-2 in the supply and demand adjustment market is obligated (contractual obligation) to adjust power within a range of the winning bid amount (hereinafter also referred to as the "winning bid range") set with respect to a reference value (kW). In this embodiment, the server 300 bids for the tertiary control capacity-2. Then, when the bid product is won, the server 300 registers the reference value in the supply and demand adjustment market system by a predetermined time t0 (for example, one hour before the start time of the target block for which the bid was won). The time t0 corresponds to the deadline for submitting the reference value. The example shown in FIG. 2 is an example in which the charging side control capacity is won. In this example, the charging side reference value is registered. The server 300 sequentially receives from the server 700 a target value (for example, the target value L1 shown in FIG. 2) that the server 700 arbitrarily requests within the winning bid range during the target block for which the bid was won (for example, the contract period t1 to t2 shown in FIG. 2).

[0041] In this embodiment, the server 300 selects a plurality of vehicles (for example, vehicles 100A-100C described later) to be allocated from the vehicle group 1 for the contract period t1-t2. Each selected vehicle maintains a plugged-in state during the contract period t1-t2. The server 300 then selects one or more vehicles from among the plugged-in vehicles as target resources (control targets) during the contract period t1-t2, and controls the target resources so that the selected target resources perform energy management of the power system PG. Specifically, the server 300 performs charging control of the target resources so that the actual charging power (actual value L2) of the target resources follows the target charging power (target value L1) from the server 700 during the contract period t1-t2. The difference between the reference value (kW) and the actual value L2 (kW) corresponds to the adjustment power (ΔkW) of the power system PG provided by the target resource.

[0042] The server 300 transmits a command value to the target resource according to the target value L1. If the target value L1 is changed during the contract period t1-t2, the server 300 changes the actual value L2 to that value (changed target value L1) within the response time of the product requirement. If the target value L1 continues at the same value during the contract period t1-t2, the server 300 maintains the actual value L2 at the target value L1 at least for the duration of the product requirement. After the contract period t1-t2 ends, the server 300 transmits the performance data (actual value L2) during the contract period t1-t2 to the server 700 (TSO's server). The TSO confirms that the successful bidder maintains a state in which it is possible to supply the ΔkW contract amount (successful bid amount) during the contract period t1-t2, and that the successful bidder adjusts according to the target value L1 within the successful bid range (response performance). If non-compliance with the product requirements is found in at least one of the evaluation of whether the ΔkW contracted amount can be supplied (Assessment I) and the evaluation of the response performance (Assessment II), the successful bidder will be imposed a specified penalty fee.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a process executed by the server 300 to operate the vehicle fleet 1 as the adjustment power of the power system PG that has been successful in a bid in the power market.

[0044] First, the configuration of each of the vehicle 100 included in the vehicle group 1 and the EVSE 200 included in the EVSE group 2 will be described. With reference to FIG. 3, the vehicle 100 includes a battery 110 and an electronic control unit (hereinafter, referred to as "ECU (Electronic Control Unit)") 150. The ECU 150 is, for example, a computer including a processor and a storage device. The vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle (xEV) configured to be able to run using power stored in the battery 110. The vehicle 100 may be a BEV without an internal combustion engine, or a PHEV with an internal combustion engine. A known vehicle power storage device (for example, a liquid secondary battery, an all-solid-state secondary battery, or a battery pack) can be adopted as the battery 110. Examples of the vehicle secondary battery include a lithium-ion battery and a nickel-metal hydride battery.

[0045] The main body of the EVSE 200 incorporates a control unit 210 and a circuit unit 220. The EVSE 200 further includes a charging cable 230 extending outward from the main body of the EVSE 200. The charging cable 230 is electrically connected to the circuit unit 220. The control unit 210 includes a processor and a storage device, and controls the circuit unit 220 according to instructions from the server 300. The circuit unit 220 includes a circuit for supplying power to the vehicle 100 (charging the battery 110). The charging cable 230 has a connector 240 (plug) at its tip.

[0046] The vehicle 100 further includes an inlet 120 to which a connector 240 can be detached. When the connector 240 of a charging cable 230 connected to a main body of the EVSE 200 is connected to the inlet 120 of the parked vehicle 100, the vehicle 100 is electrically connected to the EVSE 200 (hereinafter also referred to as a "plugged-in state"). On the other hand, for example, when the vehicle 100 is traveling, the vehicle 100 is not electrically connected to the EVSE 200 (hereinafter also referred to as a "plugged-out state").

[0047] EVSE 200 includes a connection detection circuit (not shown) that detects the state (plugged-in state / plugged-out state) of connector 240. The connection detection circuit outputs the state of connector 240 to control unit 210. Control unit 210 also acquires information indicating the operating status of EVSE 200 (e.g., input power from power system PG and output power to vehicle 100) from a sensor (not shown) included in circuit unit 220. During the operating period of EVSE 200, information related to EVSE 200 is sequentially transmitted from EVSE 200 to server 300.

[0048] The EVSE 200 and the power system PG are electrically connected. Therefore, the vehicle 100 in the plugged-in state is electrically connected to the power system PG. When charging the battery 110 in the plugged-in state, power is supplied from the power system PG to the EVSE 200, and a circuit unit 220 of the EVSE 200 converts the supplied power into power suitable for supplying power to the vehicle 100 and outputs the converted power to a connector 240 of a charging cable 230. In this case, the battery 110 is charged by the power input from the connector 240 to the inlet 120.

[0049] The vehicle 100 further includes a temperature adjustment device 130 that adjusts the temperature of the battery 110. The temperature adjustment device 130 includes, for example, a heater that heats the battery 110. However, without being limited thereto, the temperature adjustment device 130 may include an air blower (for example, a fan or a blower) that cools the battery 110 instead of or in addition to the heater. The temperature adjustment device 130 is controlled by the ECU 150. Before charging the battery 110, the ECU 150 adjusts the temperature of the battery 110 to within a predetermined temperature range by the temperature adjustment device 130. In this embodiment, the predetermined temperature range is a temperature range (hereinafter also referred to as a "charging range") in which the battery 110 can fully exhibit its inherent charging performance. If the temperature of the battery 110 deviates from the charging range, the charging power of the battery 110 may decrease.

[0050] The user terminal 500 is a portable terminal carried by a user of the vehicle 100. The user terminal 500 is configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle 100. In this embodiment, a smartphone equipped with a touch panel display is adopted as the user terminal 500. A smartphone has a built-in computer. However, this is not limited to this, and any terminal can be adopted as the user terminal 500. For example, a laptop, a tablet terminal, a portable game console, a wearable device (such as a smart watch, smart glasses, or smart gloves), an electronic key, or the like can also be adopted as the user terminal 500.

[0051] Next, a process related to energy management executed by the server 300 will be described. In this embodiment, the server 300 selects resources for energy management from the group of vehicles 1. The server 300, for example, sends a signal requesting energy management (hereinafter also referred to as a "VPP signal") to the user terminal 500 of the vehicle, and requests the user terminal 500 to reply with either acceptance or rejection. The VPP signal corresponds to a signal for implementing DR (demand response).

[0052] The VPP signal includes a vehicle binding period (i.e., a period during which the vehicle is bound for energy management). The binding period corresponds to a period during which energy management is performed, and is, for example, the contract period (adjustment period for a successful bid product) shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the binding period corresponds to an example of a "target period" according to the present disclosure. Hereinafter, the binding period is referred to as a "VPP period."

[0053] The VPP signal further includes information indicating the upper limit of the remaining amount of stored power at the start time of the VPP period (hereinafter, referred to as the "start SOC upper limit"). When the user terminal 500 receives the VPP signal, it displays the VPP period and the start SOC upper limit. The vehicle user can select either acceptance or rejection by operating the user terminal 500. When the server 300 receives a reply of acceptance from the user terminal 500, it determines the vehicle as a resource. The user's reply of acceptance means that the user promises the aggregator that he or she will comply with the request indicated by the VPP signal (for example, the VPP period and the start SOC upper limit). For this reason, the user of the vehicle 100 determined as a resource puts the vehicle 100 in a plugged-in state when the SOC of the battery 110 becomes equal to or lower than the start SOC upper limit by the start time of the VPP period, and maintains the vehicle 100 in the plugged-in state during the VPP period. That is, the scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100 determined as a resource is set after the VPP period. The VPP signal may further include incentive information, and the user terminal 500 may further display the incentive information. The server 300 may grant the incentive (e.g., cashable points) indicated by the VPP signal to the vehicle user who fulfills the promise (contract) with the aggregator. On the other hand, if the server 300 receives a rejection reply from the user terminal 500, the server 300 does not select the vehicle as a resource.

[0054] As described above, the server 300 selects the number of vehicles 100 required for energy management from the vehicle group 1. The server 300 determines the number of vehicles 100 required for energy management based on, for example, the successful bid amount (FIG. 2), the vehicle information (FIG. 1), and the EVSE information (FIG. 1). Below, an example will be described in which three vehicles 100A to 100C shown in FIG. 3 are selected as resources for energy management.

[0055] Each of the vehicles 100A to 100C has the above-mentioned configuration (battery 110, inlet 120, temperature adjustment device 130, and ECU 150). Hereinafter, the power storage devices (batteries 110) provided in the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C will be referred to as "battery 110A," "battery 110B," and "battery 110C," respectively. In addition, when energy management of the power system PG is performed, the EVSE 200 electrically connected to the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C will be referred to as "EVSE 200A," "EVSE 200B," and "EVSE 200C," respectively. Each of the EVSEs 200A to 200C has the above-mentioned configuration (control unit 210, circuit unit 220, charging cable 230, and connector 240).

[0056] The server 300 controls a target resource (control target) that is one or more vehicles 100 selected from the vehicles 100A to 100C (resources for energy management) to perform energy management within the VPP period. Specifically, the server 300 performs charging control of a power storage device (battery 110) provided in the target resource so that energy management is performed within the VPP period.

[0057] In this embodiment, server 300 controls vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C via EVSEs 200A, 200B, and 200C, respectively. Server 300 transmits command values ​​for the vehicles to the corresponding EVSEs (EVSEs connected to the vehicles). The command values ​​indicate charging power. Server 300 may determine the command values ​​so that the actual value (total charging power of batteries 110A to 110C) approaches a target value (request value from server 700).

[0058] In the plugged-in state, the control unit 210 of the EVSE 200 and the ECU 150 of the vehicle 100 perform wired communication via a communication line in the charging cable 230. In the EVSE 200, the circuit unit 220 executes charging of the battery 110 in accordance with a command from the control unit 210. While charging the battery 110, the control unit 210 receives the state of the battery 110 (e.g., temperature, current, voltage, and SOC) from the ECU 150 and controls the circuit unit 220 so that the charging power approaches a target value (a command value from the server 300).

[0059] 4 is a flowchart showing an energy management method according to this embodiment. In the flowchart, "S" means a step. The process shown in this flowchart is started by the server 300, for example, after the server 300 wins a bid for a product related to energy management (e.g., adjustment power) in the electricity market, at a time that is a predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes) before the start time of the contract period (VPP period) of the product.

[0060] 1 to 3 as well as FIG. 4, in S11, the server 300 judges whether the current time is within the VPP period. Before the VPP period, NO is judged in S11, and NO is also judged in S16 and S17 described below. This causes the judgment in S11 to be repeated. Then, when the start time of the VPP period arrives, YES is judged in S11, and the process proceeds to S12.

[0061] In this embodiment, in each of vehicles 100A to 100C, ECU 150 controls temperature adjustment device 130 to adjust the temperature of battery 110 to within a predetermined temperature range (e.g., a charging range) before the VPP period, and controls temperature adjustment device 130 so that the temperature of battery 110 is maintained within the predetermined temperature range during the VPP period.

[0062] In S12, server 300 determines whether the number of vehicles (the number of power storage devices) included in the target resource for energy management (VPP) is appropriate based on the requested value (target charging power) from server 700. If the number of vehicles selected as the target resource is neither too many nor too few for the target charging power, YES is determined in S12 and the process proceeds to S13. On the other hand, if the number of vehicles selected as the target resource is too few or too many for the target charging power, NO is determined in S12 and the process proceeds to S14. Note that in the initial processing routine, the target resource has not yet been selected, so NO is determined in S12 and the process proceeds to S14.

[0063] In S14, server 300 selects, from vehicles 100A-100C, the number of vehicles required to cover the target charging power as target resources. More specifically, vehicles among vehicles 100A-100C that are not target resources are set as selection candidates, and server 300 selects target resources from the selection candidates. In the initial processing routine, since none of vehicles 100A-100C are target resources, all of vehicles 100A-100C are selection candidates. FIG 5 is a flowchart showing the details of S14.

[0064] 1 to 3 as well as FIG. 5, in S21, the server 300 determines whether or not there is a vehicle 100 in which the SOC of the battery 110 is less than a predetermined reference value (hereinafter, referred to as "Th1") among the selection candidates. Hereinafter, a vehicle 100 in which the SOC of the battery 110 is less than Th1 is referred to as a "low SOC vehicle." Th1 is preset in a low SOC region (for example, a range greater than 0% and less than 50%). Th1 may be 5% or more and 45% or less, or 15% or more and 35% or less. Th1 corresponds to an example of a "first reference value" according to the present disclosure.

[0065] In this embodiment, the same Th1 is set for all of the vehicles 100A to 100C. However, this is not limiting, and Th1 may be a different value for each vehicle (each power storage device). A user of each vehicle may set Th1 for the vehicle 100 through the user terminal 500.

[0066] If a low SOC vehicle is included among the selection candidates (YES in S21), the server 300 selects the low SOC vehicle as the target resource in S22. If multiple low SOC vehicles are included among the selection candidates, the server 300 may select the low SOC vehicle with the lowest SOC of the battery 110 as the target resource. When multiple vehicles (resources) are selected as the target resource collectively, the server 300 may select the vehicles (resources) in ascending order of SOC of the battery 110.

[0067] In the next S23, the server 300 sets a reselection condition for the target resource (low SOC vehicle) selected in S22. In this embodiment, the server 300 sets a reselection condition that is established when the SOC of the battery 110 mounted on the target resource (low SOC vehicle) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined reference value (hereinafter, referred to as "Th2"). When the SOC of the battery 110 of the target resource reaches Th2 as a result of charging the battery 110, the reselection condition is established. On the other hand, while the SOC of the battery 110 of the target resource is less than Th2, the reselection condition is not established. Th2 corresponds to an example of a "second reference value" according to the present disclosure.

[0068] Th2 is preset in a low SOC region (for example, a range greater than 0% and less than 50%). However, Th2 is a value equal to or greater than Th1. In this embodiment, Th2 is set to the same value as Th1. However, this is not limited to this, and Th2 may be a value higher than Th1. Th2 may be a different value for each vehicle (each power storage device). A user of each vehicle may set Th2 for vehicle 100 via user terminal 500.

[0069] When the target resource and its reselection condition are determined by the processes of S22 and S23, the series of processes shown in FIG. 5 ends, and the process proceeds to S15 in FIG.

[0070] On the other hand, if there is no low SOC vehicle among the selection candidates (NO in S21), the server 300 selects, from the selection candidates, the vehicle 100 with the shortest charging deadline for the battery 110 as the target resource in S24. When selecting multiple vehicles (resources) as the target resource collectively, the server 300 may select the vehicles (resources) in the order of the earliest charging deadline for the battery 110.

[0071] The charge deadline of the battery 110 is the time calculated by subtracting the remaining charge time of the battery 110 from the scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100. The remaining charge time of the battery 110 is the time required to increase the SOC of the battery 110 to a target SOC. In other words, the closer the SOC of the battery 110 is to the target SOC, the shorter the remaining charge time becomes. If the scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100 is constant, the longer the remaining charge time of the battery 110, the earlier the charge deadline of the battery 110. If the remaining charge time of the battery 110 is constant, the earlier the scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100, the earlier the charge deadline of the battery 110 becomes.

[0072] In the following, the target SOCs of batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C are denoted as "Th4," "Th5," and "Th6," respectively. Each of Th4 to Th6 is preset in a high SOC region (for example, a range of 70% to 100%). In this embodiment, each of Th4 to Th6 is set to an SOC value (100%) indicating a fully charged state. However, this is not limiting, and Th4 to Th6 may be different values ​​from each other.

[0073] In the next step S25, the server 300 judges whether the charging deadline of the target resource selected in S24 has passed. If the charging deadline of the target resource selected in S24 has not arrived (NO in S25), the process proceeds to S26. In S26, the server 300 sets a reselection condition for the target resource selected in S24. In this embodiment, the server 300 sets a reselection condition that is met when either the remaining charging time of the target resource becomes equal to or shorter than a predetermined time (hereinafter, referred to as "Th3") (first requirement) or the charging deadline of any of the vehicles 100A to 100C arrives (second requirement) is met, and that is not met when neither requirement is met. The reselection condition set in S26 is met when the remaining charging time of the target resource becomes equal to or shorter than Th3, and is therefore met before the battery 110 of the target resource reaches a fully charged state. The longer Th3 is, the greater the charging margin of the target resource (for example, the time that can be charged until the power storage device is fully charged) when the remaining charging time of the target resource becomes equal to or less than Th3. Th3 may be between 15 minutes and 1 hour, or may be about 30 minutes.

[0074] In this embodiment, the same Th3 is set for all of the vehicles 100A to 100C. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and Th3 may be a different value for each vehicle (each power storage device). For example, the server 300 may determine Th3 for a vehicle based on the scheduled departure time of the vehicle.

[0075] When the process of S26 is executed, the series of processes shown in Fig. 5 ends, and the process proceeds to S15 in Fig. 4. On the other hand, if the charging deadline of the target resource selected in S24 has passed (YES in S25), the process of S26 is not executed, the series of processes shown in Fig. 5 ends, and the process proceeds to S15 in Fig. 4. Since no reselection condition is set for a target resource whose charging deadline has passed, charging continues until the VPP period ends by the process of S15 described below.

[0076] 1 to 3 and FIG. 4 again, after server 300 selects a target resource by the process of S14, in S15, server 300 charges battery 110 of the target resource so that energy management is performed according to a requested value (target charging power) from server 700. Specifically, server 300 transmits a charging command to an EVSE corresponding to the target resource (at least one of vehicles 100A to 100C) so that the actual charging power of the target resource approaches the target charging power from server 700. In this way, server 300 charges the power storage device (at least one of batteries 110A to 110C) of one or more vehicles included in the target resource by the above-mentioned remote control (see FIG. 3).

[0077] When the process of S15 is executed, the process returns to the first step (S11). During the VPP period, the processes of S11 to S15 are repeated. In the second and subsequent processing routines, in S12, the server 300 determines whether the number of vehicles included in the target resource is sufficient based on whether the maximum charging power of the target resource (the upper limit power that the target resource can be charged with) is equal to or greater than the target charging power. The more vehicles selected as the target resource, the higher the maximum charging power of the target resource becomes. When all of the vehicles 100A to 100C are selected as the target resources, the sum of the rated charging power of the batteries 110A to 110C corresponds to the maximum charging power of the target resource.

[0078] The maximum charging power of the target resource being less than the target charging power means that the number of vehicles selected as the target resource is insufficient. In this case, NO is determined in S12, and the target resource is added by the process of S14 described above (see FIG. 5). Specifically, the server 300 selects, as the target resource, from among the vehicles 100A-100C that are not the target resource, the number of vehicles required to cover the target charging power. If the target charging power cannot be covered unless all of the vehicles 100A-100C are selected as the target resources, the server 300 selects all of the vehicles 100A-100C as the target resources.

[0079] Furthermore, in S12, server 300 determines whether the number of vehicles included in the target resource is too large, based on whether the maximum charging power of the target resource is equal to or greater than the target charging power even if the number of vehicles included in the target resource is reduced. If the number of vehicles included in the target resource is too large, NO is determined in S12, and the target resource is reselected by the process of S14 (see FIG. 5) described above. Specifically, all of vehicles 100A-100C are no longer target resources, and server 300 selects, as target resources, from vehicles 100A-100C, the number of vehicles necessary to cover the target charging power, again by the process of S14 (see FIG. 5) described above.

[0080] If the number of vehicles included in the target resource is sufficient (YES in S12), the server 300 determines in S13 whether or not the reselection condition for the target resource is satisfied. The reselection condition is set for each vehicle selected as the target resource by the process in Fig. 5 described above. Therefore, if the target resource includes multiple vehicles, the server 300 determines whether or not the reselection condition is satisfied for each vehicle.

[0081] When the reselection condition for the target resource is met (YES in both S12 and S13), the target resource is reselected in S14, even though the number of vehicles selected as the target resource (and thus the charging power by the target resource) is appropriate. Specifically, the vehicle for which the reselection condition is met is no longer a target resource. Then, the server 300 reselects the target resource from among the vehicles 100A-100C that are not target resources (including the vehicle for which the reselection condition is met) by the process of S14 described above (see FIG. 5).

[0082] In this embodiment, at a stage where there are vehicles with little remaining power among the vehicles 100A-100C (when energy management has just started), the vehicles with little remaining power are preferentially selected as target resources (S21-S23 in FIG. 5). Thereafter, when the remaining charge time of at least one of the batteries 110A-110C becomes Th3 or less due to charging of the power storage device (at least one of the batteries 110A-110C) of the target resource, reselection of the target resource is executed. In this embodiment, before each of the batteries 110A-110C becomes fully charged, the reselection condition is established, and reselection of the target resource is executed. This prevents each of the batteries 110A-110C from reaching a state where the target charge amount is reached (for example, a fully charged state). In reselecting the target resource, a vehicle (power storage device) with an earlier charging deadline is preferentially selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5). This makes it easier for the SOC of the battery 110 to increase to the target value (target SOC) by the scheduled departure time for each of the vehicles 100A to 100C.

[0083] Furthermore, when the charging deadline of any vehicle included in the target resource arrives, the target resource is reselected and that vehicle (the vehicle whose charging deadline has arrived) is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5). Even if charging of battery 110, which started at the charging deadline, continues until the end time of the VPP period, battery 110 will not be in a fully charged state at the end time of the VPP period. Then, charging continues even after the VPP period due to the processing of S31 described later, and the SOC of battery 110 reaches the target SOC at the scheduled departure time after the VPP period has elapsed. In this way, according to the processing shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, charging control according to the target SOC is easily executed for each of vehicles 100A-100C.

[0084] If the VPP period has elapsed (NO in S11), the server 300 determines in S16 whether the SOCs of all the batteries 110A-110C have reached the target SOC. Hereinafter, the battery 110 having an SOC lower than the target SOC is referred to as an "uncharged battery."

[0085] If an incompletely charged battery is present among the batteries 110A-110C (NO in S16), the server 300 determines in S17 whether the charging deadline of the incompletely charged battery has passed. If the charging deadline of the incompletely charged battery has not arrived (NO in S17), the process returns to S11, and NO is determined again in S16. Therefore, the determination in S17 is repeated until the charging deadline of the incompletely charged battery arrives. If there are multiple incompletely charged batteries, the determination in S17 is executed for each incompletely charged battery.

[0086] When the charging deadline for the partially charged battery arrives (YES in S17), in S18, the server 300 transmits a signal (hereinafter referred to as a "charging start command") to the vehicle (any of vehicles 100A to 100C) equipped with the partially charged battery to instruct the vehicle to start charging control to increase the SOC of the partially charged battery to the target SOC.

[0087] ECU 150 of the vehicle that has received the charging start command starts the process related to the charging control (a series of processes from S31 to S33). ECU 150 executes charging of battery 110 (an incompletely charged battery) in S31. Subsequently, ECU 150 determines whether or not the SOC of battery 110 has become equal to or higher than a target SOC in S32. While the SOC of battery 110 has not reached the target SOC (NO in S32), ECU 150 executes charging of battery 110 in S31. Then, when the SOC of battery 110 reaches the target SOC (YES in S32), ECU 150 transmits a signal indicating that charging of battery 110 has been completed (hereinafter referred to as a "charging completion notification") to server 300 in S33. When the process of S33 is executed, charging control by the vehicle that has received the charging start command (a series of processes from S31 to S33) ends. When the server 300 receives a charging completion notification from the vehicle, it determines that charging of the incompletely charged battery provided in the vehicle has been completed.

[0088] After the server 300 transmits the charge start command (S18), the process returns to S16. When the SOCs of all the batteries 110A-110C reach the target SOC by executing the above-mentioned charge control processes (the series of processes from S31 to S33) for all the batteries that have not yet been charged, the determination in S16 is YES, and the series of processes shown in FIG. 4 ends.

[0089] Fig. 6 is a time chart showing a first example of the SOC transition of each resource when energy management is executed by the method shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In Fig. 6, lines L1A, L1B, and L1C show the SOC transition of batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C, respectively. In the example shown in Fig. 6, the requested value (target charging power) from the server 700 is constant within the VPP period (contract period t1 to t2), as shown by line L11. This target charging power can be covered by one vehicle 100 (one battery 110).

[0090] 6, in this example, when the VPP period starts, at t21 (=t1), vehicle 100B is selected as a target resource (S22 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110B is executed (S15 in FIG. 4). At t1, vehicles 100A and 100B are low SOC vehicles, and the SOC of battery 110B is lower than the SOC of battery 110A.

[0091] After that, when the SOC of battery 110B reaches Th2 (=Th1) at t11, the reselection condition for vehicle 100B (S23 in FIG. 5) is met, and the target resource is reselected (FIG. 5). As a result, vehicle 100A is selected as the target resource at t11 ​​(S22 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110A is performed instead of battery 110B. At t11, only vehicle 100A corresponds to a low SOC vehicle. When the SOC of battery 110A reaches Th2 at t12, the reselection condition for vehicle 100A (S23 in FIG. 5) is met, and the target resource is reselected (FIG. 5). However, vehicle 100A is again selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110A continues. At t12, the charging deadline and remaining charging time of the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C are tc1, tc2, and tc3, and ΔT11, ΔT21, and ΔT31, respectively. Among tc1 to tc3, tc1 (the charging deadline of the vehicle 100A) is the earliest.

[0092] Thereafter, at t22, when the remaining charging time (ΔT12) of battery 110A becomes equal to or shorter than Th3, the reselection condition for vehicle 100A (S26 in FIG. 5) is met, and a new target resource is selected (FIG. 5). As a result, at t22, vehicle 100B is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110B is performed instead of battery 110A. The charging deadlines of vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at t22 are tc4, tc2, and tc3, respectively. Of tc2 to tc4, tc2 (the charging deadline for vehicle 100B) is the shortest.

[0093] Thereafter, at t31, when the remaining charging time (ΔT22) of battery 110B becomes equal to or less than Th3, the reselection condition for vehicle 100B (S26 in FIG. 5) is met, and the target resource is reselected (FIG. 5). As a result, at t31, vehicle 100C is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110C is performed instead of battery 110B. The charging deadlines of vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at t31 are tc4, tc5, and tc3, respectively. Of tc3 to tc5, tc3 (the charging deadline of vehicle 100C) is the earliest.

[0094] Thereafter, when the charging deadline (tc4) of vehicle 100A arrives, the reselection condition (S26 in FIG. 5) of vehicle 100C is satisfied, and the target resource is reselected (FIG. 5). As a result, at tc4, vehicle 100A is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and charging of battery 110A is performed instead of battery 110C. Charging of battery 110A continues (S15 and S31 in FIG. 4) until the SOC of battery 110A reaches the target SOC (Th4) (i.e., until scheduled departure time t4 of vehicle 100A). The charging deadlines of vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at tc4 are tc4, tc5, and tc6, respectively. Of tc4 to tc6, tc4 (the charging deadline of vehicle 100A) is the earliest.

[0095] After the VPP period has elapsed (after t2), when the charging deadline (tc5) of the vehicle 100B arrives, charging of the battery 110B is performed in parallel with charging of the battery 110A. Charging of the battery 110B is continued until the SOC of the battery 110B reaches the target SOC (Th5) (i.e., until the scheduled departure time t5 of the vehicle 100B) (S31 in FIG. 4). Furthermore, when the charging deadline (tc6) of the vehicle 100C arrives, charging of the battery 110C is further performed. Charging of the battery 110C is continued until the SOC of the battery 110C reaches the target SOC (Th6) (i.e., until the scheduled departure time t6 of the vehicle 100C) (S31 in FIG. 4). In this manner, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the remaining charge amounts of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C increase to the target values ​​(Th4, Th5, and Th6), respectively, by the scheduled departure times of the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C.

[0096] 6, none of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C are fully charged during the VPP period, and all of them are in a chargeable state. Therefore, during the VPP period, as shown by line L12, the maximum charging power of the batteries 110A to 110C corresponds to the total value of the rated charging power of the batteries 110A to 110C.

[0097] Fig. 7 is a time chart showing a second example of the SOC transition of each resource when energy management is performed by the method shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In Fig. 7, lines L2A, L2B, and L2C show the SOC transition of batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C, respectively. In the example shown in Fig. 7, the request value (target charging power) from the server 700 changes within the VPP period (contract period t1 to t2) as shown by line L21. The target charging power for each of the periods t1 to t41 and t43 to t2 can be met by one vehicle 100 (one battery 110), but the target charging power for the period t42 to t43 can only be met by three or more vehicles 100 (three or more batteries 110).

[0098] 7, in this example, t1 (t21) to t12 are the same as the example shown in FIG. 6. Then, at t12, vehicle 100A is selected again as the target resource, and charging of battery 110A continues. However, in the example shown in FIG. 7, the target charging power is 0 from t41 to t42 (line L21). Therefore, charging of any of batteries 110A to 110C is not performed during the period from t41 to t42. Then, at t42, when the target charging power reaches a value that requests charging of three batteries 110, it is determined that the number of target resources is insufficient (NO in S12 in FIG. 4), and vehicles 100B and 100C are selected as target resources in addition to vehicle 100A (S14 in FIG. 4).

[0099] Thereafter, when the target charging power decreases at t43 (line L21), it is determined that there are too many target resources (NO at S12 in FIG. 4), and a reselection of target resources (FIG. 5) is performed. As a result, at t43, vehicle 100B is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and instead of charging batteries 110A to 110C, charging of only battery 110B is performed. The charging deadlines of vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at t43 are td1, td2, and td3, respectively. Of td1 to td3, td2 (the charging deadline of vehicle 100B) is the shortest.

[0100] After that, when the remaining charging time (ΔT23) of the battery 110B becomes equal to or shorter than Th3 at t32, the reselection condition (S26 in FIG. 5) of the vehicle 100B is satisfied, and the target resource is selected again (FIG. 5). However, the vehicle 100B is selected again as the target resource, and the charging of the battery 110B continues. The charging deadlines of the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at t32 are td1, td4, and td3, respectively. Among td1, td3, and td4, td4 (the charging deadline of the vehicle 100B) is the earliest. Then, the remaining charging time of the battery 110B becomes shorter as the battery 110B is charged, and at the timing (t33) when the charging deadline of the vehicle 100B becomes later than td3, the vehicle 100C is selected as the target resource (S24 in FIG. 5), and the charging of the battery 110C is performed instead of the battery 110B.

[0101] Thereafter, when the end time (t2) of the VPP period arrives, charging of the battery 110C is temporarily stopped. Then, when the charging deadlines (td1, td4, td5) of the vehicles 100A, 100B, 100C arrive, charging of the batteries 110A, 110B, 110C is executed (S31 in FIG. 4). As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 7, none of the batteries 110A, 110B, 110C is fully charged during the VPP period, and all of them are in a chargeable state (line L22). Therefore, even if the target charging power becomes large in the latter half of the VPP period (t42), the batteries 110A to 110C can be charged according to the target charging power.

[0102] Fig. 8 is a time chart showing a third example of the SOC transition of each resource when energy management is performed by the method shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. In Fig. 8, lines L3A, L3B, and L3C show the SOC transition of batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C, respectively. In the example shown in Fig. 8, as shown by line L31, the request value (target charging power) from server 700 requests charging only in the first part (period t1 to t50) of the VPP period (agreed period t1 to t2).

[0103] Referring to FIG. 8, in this example, t1 (t21) to t12 are the same as the example shown in FIG. 6. Then, at t12, the vehicle 100A is again selected as the target resource, and charging of the battery 110A continues. However, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the target charging power becomes 0 after t50 (line L31). Therefore, charging of any of the batteries 110A to 110C is not performed during the period from t50 to t2. After that, when the end time (t2) of the VPP period arrives, charging of each of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C is started simultaneously (S31 in FIG. 4). The charging deadlines of the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C at t2 are te1, te2, and te3, respectively, and all of the charging deadlines have already passed at the time of t2. In the example shown in Fig. 8, the remaining charge of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C does not rise to the target values ​​(Th4, Th5, and Th6) by the scheduled departure times of the vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C. However, during the VPP period, the battery 110 (S22 in Fig. 5) whose remaining charge is equal to or less than Th1 and the battery 110 (S24 in Fig. 5) whose charging deadline is soon are preferentially selected as target resources, thereby preventing each of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C from reaching the target charge amount during the VPP period, and the remaining charge of each of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C at the scheduled departure times (t4, t5, and t6) approaches the target values ​​(Th4, Th5, and Th6). In the example shown in FIG. 8, none of the batteries 110A, 110B, and 110C reach a fully charged state during the VPP period, and all are in a chargeable state (line L32).

[0104] As described above, the energy management method according to this embodiment includes the processes shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Specifically, the energy management method includes determining whether or not it is within a target period (VPP period) (S11 in Fig. 4), and performing energy management within the target period using a target resource selected from a plurality of power storage devices (batteries 110A, 110B, 110C) (S12 to S15 in Fig. 4). Performing energy management includes charging the target resource so that energy management is performed within the target period (S15 in Fig. 4), and reselecting the target resource from the plurality of power storage devices so as to prevent each of the plurality of power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount within the target period (S14 in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0105] The reselection of the target resource includes preferentially selecting, as the target resource, a power storage device having a remaining amount of stored power that is less than a predetermined first reference value (Th1) from among the multiple power storage devices (S22 in FIG. 5), determining whether the remaining amount of stored power for the target resource selected according to the remaining amount of stored power has become equal to or greater than the first reference value (Th1) and equal to or greater than a second reference value (Th2) that is set in advance (S13 in FIG. 4, S23 in FIG. 5), and selecting, from the multiple power storage devices, a power storage device having a remaining amount of stored power that is less than a predetermined first reference value (Th1) (S13 in FIG. 4, S23 in FIG. 5). This includes reselecting the target resource (S14 in FIG. 4), preferentially selecting a storage device with an earlier charging deadline as the target resource from among the multiple storage devices (S24 in FIG. 5), determining whether the remaining charging time for the target resource selected according to the charging deadline has become equal to or less than a predetermined time (Th3) (S13 in FIG. 4, S26 in FIG. 5), and reselecting the target resource from the multiple storage devices when it is determined that the remaining charging time has become equal to or less than the predetermined time (Th3) (YES in S13 in FIG. 4) (S14 in FIG. 4).

[0106] According to the above method, in energy management using a plurality of power storage devices, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the maximum charging power of the power storage devices. For example, it becomes easier to secure a contract amount during the contract period (see FIG. 2).

[0107] The processes shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 may be modified as appropriate. For example, S21 to S23 may be omitted. Furthermore, the process of S24 may be modified so that the target resources are selected in order of earliest scheduled departure time, not in order of earliest charging deadline. Furthermore, the reselection condition may also be modified as appropriate. For example, the process of S26 may be modified so that a reselection condition that requires that the remaining amount of stored power of the target resource has increased by a predetermined amount is set, instead of the above-mentioned first requirement. Furthermore, the second requirement may be omitted.

[0108] The process shown in Fig. 9 may be adopted instead of the process shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the process shown in Fig. 5. In the process shown in Fig. 9, S25A is added between S25 and S26 of the process shown in Fig. 5.

[0109] In S25A, the server 300 judges whether a predetermined cancellation condition is satisfied. The cancellation condition is satisfied when a value obtained by subtracting the charge / discharge amount of the vehicle group required in the VPP period from the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output in the VPP period (the difference between the two) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and may not be satisfied otherwise. Alternatively, the cancellation condition is satisfied when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output in the VPP period by the charge / discharge amount of the vehicle group required in the VPP period (the difference between the two) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and may not be satisfied otherwise. Alternatively, the cancellation condition is satisfied when a value obtained by subtracting the charge / discharge output of the vehicle group required in the VPP period from the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output in the VPP period (the difference between the two) is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and may not be satisfied otherwise. Alternatively, the cancellation condition is satisfied when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output in the VPP period by the charge / discharge output of the vehicle group required in the VPP period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and may not be satisfied otherwise. The vehicle group may be, for example, vehicles 100A, 100B, and 100C. The charge / discharge amount and charge / discharge output of the vehicle group required during the VPP period may be the contracted amount (awarded amount). In this modification, the VPP period also corresponds to an example of the "target period" according to the present disclosure.

[0110] If the release condition is not satisfied (NO in S25A), a reselection condition is set in S26, and the series of processes shown in FIG. 9 ends. On the other hand, if the release condition is satisfied (YES in S25A), the reselection condition is not set (S26), and the series of processes shown in FIG. 9 ends. As a result, reselection to prevent the power storage device (e.g., batteries 110A, 110B, 110C) from reaching the target charge amount is not performed (see FIG. 4). The satisfaction of the release condition means that the process of preventing the power storage device from reaching the target charge amount is released. By releasing the suppression process, the number of times charging is turned on and off can be reduced.

[0111] In the above embodiment, the server 300 controls the EVSE 200 to control charging of the battery 110. However, the server 300 may remotely control a charger mounted on the vehicle 100 while directly transmitting a command to the vehicle 100 (for example, while communicating wirelessly with the vehicle 100) without going through the EVSE 200. The server 300 may perform energy management by controlling the charger mounted on each vehicle to switch between charging (ON) / stopping (OFF) instead of controlling the charging power to follow a target value. In a form in which the server 300 and the vehicle 100 communicate wirelessly with each other, the server 300 may successively receive information indicating the position and state of the vehicle 100 from the vehicle 100 in real time and successively update the vehicle information. The server 300 may predict a scheduled departure time of the vehicle 100 by using the information received from the vehicle 100.

[0112] In the above embodiment, the on-premise server (server 300) functions as a computer that executes energy management of the power system PG (external power source). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the functions of server 300 (particularly, functions related to energy management) may be implemented on the cloud by cloud computing.

[0113] The power system PG (external power source) is not limited to a large-scale AC grid, and may be a microgrid or a DC (direct current) grid. The number of vehicles included in the vehicle group 1 is arbitrary, and may be 3 or more and less than 30, 30 or more and less than 100, or 100 or more. The number of EVSEs included in the EVSE group 2 is also arbitrary. The EVSE group 2 may include multiple types of EVSEs (e.g., normal chargers and quick chargers). The EVSE group 2 may include at least one of public EVSEs (e.g., EVSEs installed in commercial facilities, car dealerships, or highway parking areas) and non-public EVSEs (e.g., home EVSEs).

[0114] The configuration of the vehicle used for power adjustment (energy management) is not limited to the configuration described above (see FIG. 3). The vehicle may be configured to perform both power adjustment by charging and power adjustment by discharging (e.g., reverse power flow). The vehicle may be a PHEV equipped with a hydrogen engine or a biofuel engine. The vehicle may be equipped with a solar panel, may have a flying function, or may be configured to be capable of contactless charging. A vehicle that performs contactless charging may be considered to be in a state equivalent to the above-mentioned "plugged-in state" when the alignment of the power transmission unit (e.g., power transmission coil) on the power supply equipment side and the power receiving unit (e.g., power receiving coil) on the vehicle side is completed. The vehicle is not limited to a four-wheeled passenger car, but may be a bus or truck, or may be a three-wheeled BEV.

[0115] The number of power storage devices used for energy management is not limited to three and can be changed as appropriate. A resource equipped with a power storage device for energy management is not limited to an automobile, and may be a vehicle other than an automobile (railroad car, ship, airplane, etc.), an unmanned mobile body (automated guided vehicle, agricultural machine, walking robot, drone, robot cleaner, space probe, etc.), or a stationary power storage system. The resource may include a power conversion circuit (for example, an inverter that performs AC / DC conversion) that performs power conversion for the input and output of the power storage device.

[0116] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1 Vehicle group, 2 EVSE group, 100, 100A, 100B, 100C vehicles, 110, 110A, 110B, 110C batteries, 120 inlet, 130 temperature control device, 150 ECU, 200, 200A, 200B, 200C EVSE, 210 control unit, 220 circuit unit, 230 charging cable, 240 connector, 300 server, 310 processor, 320 RAM, 330 storage device, 500 user terminal, PG power system.

Claims

1. Determine whether the item is within the target period; performing energy management during the target period using a target resource selected from a plurality of power storage devices; Including, The performing of the energy management includes: Charging the target resource such that energy management is performed during the target time period; reselecting the target resource from among the plurality of power storage devices so as to prevent each of the plurality of power storage devices from reaching a target charge amount during the target period; An energy management method comprising:

2. Each of the plurality of power storage devices is mounted on a vehicle, The reselection of the target resource includes: selecting the target resource using a remaining amount of power stored in each of the plurality of power storage devices and a scheduled departure time of the vehicle; The energy management method of claim 1 , comprising:

3. The reselection of the target resource includes: selecting, from the plurality of power storage devices, a power storage device having a short charging deadline as the target resource with priority; Including, the charging deadline of the power storage device is a time that is calculated by subtracting a remaining charging time of the power storage device from a scheduled departure time of the vehicle equipped with the power storage device, The energy management method according to claim 2 , wherein the remaining charge time of the power storage device is a time required for increasing a remaining amount of stored electricity of the power storage device to a target value.

4. The reselection of the target resource includes: determining whether the remaining charging time of the target resource selected according to the charging deadline is equal to or less than a predetermined time; reselecting the target resource from among the plurality of power storage devices when it is determined that the remaining charge time has become equal to or shorter than the predetermined time; The energy management method according to claim 3 , comprising:

5. The reselection of the target resource includes: selecting, from the plurality of power storage devices, a power storage device having a remaining amount of stored power that is less than a predetermined first reference value as the target resource with priority; determining whether the remaining amount of stored power of the target resource selected according to the remaining amount of stored power has become equal to or greater than the first reference value and equal to or greater than a second reference value that is preset; reselecting the target resource from the plurality of power storage devices when it is determined that the remaining power storage amount has become equal to or greater than the second reference value; The energy management method according to claim 2 , comprising:

6. The energy management method includes: canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a difference between the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output during the target period and the charge / discharge amount required for the vehicle group during the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; Further comprising: The energy management method according to claim 1 , wherein each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the power storage device.

7. The energy management method includes: canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge amount that the vehicle group can output during the target period by the charge / discharge amount required for the vehicle group during the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; Further comprising: The energy management method according to claim 1 , wherein each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the power storage device.

8. The energy management method includes: canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a difference between the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output during the target period and the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group needs during the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; Further comprising: The energy management method according to claim 1 , wherein each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the power storage device.

9. The energy management method includes: canceling the inhibition of reaching the target charge amount when a value obtained by dividing the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group can output during the target period by the charge / discharge output that the vehicle group needs during the target period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; Further comprising: The energy management method according to claim 1 , wherein each vehicle included in the vehicle group is equipped with the power storage device.

10. A program causing a computer to execute the energy management method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A computer device comprising: a storage device that stores the program according to claim 10; and a processor that executes the program.

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