Facility operation control method, program, storage medium, and facility operation control device

Abstract

To flexibly and spontaneously adapt an initially planned operation rate according to situation.SOLUTION: A facility operation control method executed by a computer includes the steps of: acquiring initial facility operation plan information indicating an initial operation rate which is a facility operation rate based on an initial plan, and electric power cost information indicating a power procurement cost associated with time; generating operation information indicating an actual operation plan for the facility on the basis of the initial facility operation plan information and the electric power cost information; and outputting the operation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a facility operation control method, a program, a storage medium, and a facility operation control device. [Background technology]

[0002] Producing industrial products using manufacturing facilities requires a considerable amount of electricity. With the recent spread of solar power generation systems, electricity is now supplied in the market through a variety of means. During the day, especially on sunny days, surplus electricity can be generated by power supply based on solar power generation, etc. On the other hand, during summer nights, the demand for electricity for air conditioning increases, and the power supply can become tight.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an operation planning device for a power plant. The device acquires adjustment capability information on at least one of upward adjustment capability and downward adjustment capability as supply and demand adjustment capability, formulates an operation plan for power generation equipment and energy storage equipment so as to ensure supply and demand adjustment capability based on the adjustment capability information, acquires adjustment capability information on upward adjustment capability as adjustment capability information, includes profits from selling upward adjustment capability in the operation costs of the power plant, and formulates the operation plan so as to minimize the operation costs of the power plant.

[0004] Non-Patent Document 1 describes that when supplying electricity, particularly when the electricity supply and demand is tight, retail electricity suppliers and specified wholesale suppliers send a signal to consumers to initiate a demand response (DR), and that retail electricity suppliers etc. pay rewards to consumers based on the consumer's performance in implementing DR. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-035277 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] “Energy Resource Aggregation Business Handbook”, [online], Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, [Retrieved May 29, 2023], Internet < https: / / www.enecho.meti.go.jp / category / saving_and_new / advanced_systems / vpp_dr / files / erab_handbook.pdf> Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Regarding facilities, there is an issue of needing to flexibly set the initially planned operating rate depending on the situation. In addition, demand response (DR) for consumers is based on requests for DR from retail electricity suppliers, etc., and consumers are not allowed to voluntarily change their power usage plans.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a facility operation control method, program, storage medium, and facility operation control device that can flexibly and spontaneously adapt the initially planned availability rate of a facility according to the situation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The facility operation control method, program, storage medium, and facility operation control device according to the present invention are provided to achieve the above object and have the following configuration.

[0010] (1) An equipment operation control method according to one aspect of the present invention is executed by a computer and includes the steps of acquiring initial equipment operation plan information indicating an initial operation rate, which is an equipment operation rate based on an initial plan, and power cost information indicating a power procurement cost associated with a time; generating operation information indicating an actual operation plan for equipment based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information; and outputting the operation information.

[0011] (2) In the aspect of (1) above, the power cost information indicates a first power procurement cost in a first time slot and a second power procurement cost in a second time slot, the facilities include production facilities and power generation facilities, the initial operating rates include an initial production facility operating rate and an initial power generation facility operating rate, the operation information indicates a production facility operating rate that is the operating rate of the production facility and a power generation facility operating rate that is the operating rate of the power generation facility, and when the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, the method further includes at least one of the following steps: when the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, setting the production facility operating rate to be higher than the initial production facility operating rate in the first time slot; when the second power procurement cost is smaller than the first power procurement cost, setting the power generation facility operating rate to be higher than the initial power generation facility operating rate in the second time slot.

[0012] (3) In the above aspect (2), the first electricity procurement cost includes a first power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility, and a first electricity selling price corresponding to the electricity purchase price from the market, and the second electricity procurement cost includes a second power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility, and a second electricity selling price corresponding to the electricity purchase price from the market.

[0013] (4) In the above aspect (3), the step of outputting the operation information further includes a step of outputting purchase and sale instruction information instructing the purchase and sale of electricity, and if the first power generation cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, the purchase and sale instruction information instructs the sale of electricity during the second time period.

[0014] (5) In the above aspect (3), the method further comprises a step of generating incentive information based on the power cost information, the initial equipment operation plan information, and the operation information, and the step of outputting the operation information further comprises a step of outputting the incentive information, the incentive information indicating rebate points calculated based on the difference between the first power procurement cost and the second power procurement cost, the rebate points being economic benefits.

[0015] (6) In the above aspect (5), the step of outputting the operation information further includes a step of outputting purchase and sale instruction information instructing the purchase and sale of electricity, and if the first electricity procurement cost is smaller than the second electricity procurement cost, the purchase and sale instruction information instructs the sale of electricity during the second time period.

[0016] (7) A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 when executed on a computer or a processor.

[0017] (8) A storage medium according to one aspect of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

[0018] (9) An equipment operation control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is an equipment operation control device including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the equipment operation control device to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to (1) to (9), it is possible to provide a facility operation control method, program, storage medium, and facility operation control device that can flexibly and spontaneously adapt the initially planned availability rate according to the situation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a facility operations control system S according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a change over time in the power selling price and power during operation of the facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an equipment operation control device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a production facility 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a power generation facility 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 6] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an electricity trading control server device 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 7] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by an equipment operation control device 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 3 is an example of a diagram showing the change over time in the power selling price and the power when the facility is in operation in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by an equipment operation control device 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by an equipment operation control device 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by an equipment operation control device 10 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of each device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments of the facility operation control method, program, storage medium, and facility operation control device of the present invention will be described. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Two or more of the multiple features described in the embodiments may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, the same reference numbers are used for identical or similar components, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted.

[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a facility operations control system S according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] The facility operation control system S includes a facility operation control device 10, a production facility 30, a power generation facility 50a, a power generation facility 50b, and an electricity trading control server device 70. The facility operation control device 10 is connected to the electricity trading control server device 70 via a network NW. The electricity trading control server device 70 is connected to the power generation facility 50a and the power generation facility 50b via the network NW.

[0024] The equipment operation control device 10, the production equipment 30, and the power generation equipment 50a are each operated by a specified business operator G. The equipment operation control device 10 is a device that controls the operation of the production equipment 30 and the power generation equipment 50a. The production equipment 30 is equipment that produces products. In this specification, "production" and "manufacturing" may be read interchangeably.

[0025] The equipment operation control device 10 acquires initial equipment operation plan information indicating an initial operation rate, which is an equipment operation rate based on an initial plan, and acquires power price information indicating the power selling price. The equipment operation control device 10 acquires power generation cost information indicating the power generation cost of power generated by the power generation facility 50a. The power price information and power generation cost information can also be considered as power procurement costs and may be included in the power cost information. The equipment operation control device 10 manages the power supply to the production facility 30 and the operation of the power generated by the power generation facility 50a based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information.

[0026] The "electricity selling price" refers to the price of electricity traded in the market. When business operator G procures electricity from the market, the electricity selling price is equivalent to the electricity purchase price for business operator G. When business operator G sells electricity generated by power generation equipment 50a to the market, the "electricity selling price" literally corresponds to the price at which business operator G sells the electricity.

[0027] The production facility 30 is configured to receive power supply from a power generation facility 50a within the company, and is also configured to receive power supply via the wholesale electricity market from power generated by external power generation facilities 50b and the like via a power transmission line L. Conversely, the power generated by the power generation facility 50a may be sold and supplied to external parties via the wholesale electricity market via the power transmission line L.

[0028] The power generation facilities 50a and 50b are facilities that generate electricity by a predetermined method. The predetermined method may be any of thermal power generation, wind power generation, hydroelectric power generation, geothermal power generation, solar power generation, and nuclear power generation. The power generation facility 50b is an example of a power generation facility that is installed and operated outside the company of the business operator G.

[0029] The power trading control server device 70 is a device that distributes power price information indicating the power selling price associated with the time of day, and is operated at the wholesale power exchange. The power trading control server device 70 acquires information indicating the desired power selling price for each predetermined period from each business operator that operates the power generation facility 50a, the power generation facility 50b, etc. The desired power selling price is, in other words, the bid price at the time of power sale. The predetermined period may be, for example, each "frame" obtained by dividing 24 hours into 30-minute segments. In this case, the power trading control server device 70 acquires information indicating the power selling price for each of the 48 frames. The power trading control server device 70 may acquire information indicating the power generation amount and / or power generation plan of the power generation facility 50a from the facility operation control device 10.

[0030] The electricity trading control server device 70 aggregates desired electricity sales prices from multiple businesses, such as business G that has power generation facility 50a and another business that has power generation facility 50b, determines the electricity selling price in the market, and distributes information indicating the electricity selling price associated with the time to each business and electricity consumers, etc.

[0031] When business operator G procures electricity to supply to production facility 30 from the wholesale electricity market, the electricity procurement cost for business operator G is based on the selling price indicated by the electricity price information. When business operator G procures electricity to supply to production facility 30 from power generation facility 50a, which is its own facility, the electricity procurement cost for business operator G corresponds to the power generation cost indicated by the power generation cost information. Therefore, the electricity cost information may be defined as including at least one of the electricity price information and the power generation cost information. In other words, the electricity cost information represents the cost of electricity that business operator G procures when operating production facility 30.

[0032] The equipment operations control device 10 generates operation information indicating an actual equipment operation plan for at least one of the production equipment 30 and the power generation equipment 50a based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information. For example, the equipment operations control device 10 may set the time period during which the production equipment 30 is operated to be a time period during which the selling price of electricity is low based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information. In other words, the operation information may indicate the time period during which the production equipment 30 is operated.

[0033] Furthermore, based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information, the equipment operation control device 10 may use power generated by the power generation facility 50a, which is an in-house facility, as the power for operating the production equipment 30, or may procure power for operating the production equipment 30 from the market. In other words, the operation information may indicate a supplier of power for operating the production equipment 30. The operation information may be a combination of the time period during which the production equipment 30 is operated and the supplier of power for operating the production equipment 30.

[0034] Furthermore, the facility operations control device 10 may sell and supply the power generated by the power generation facility 50a to the market via the power transmission line L based on the initial facility operation plan information and the power cost information.

[0035] FIG. 2 is an example of a diagram showing the change over time in the power selling price and the power when the facility is in operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] 2, the horizontal axis represents time, the left vertical axis and broken line represent the electricity selling price, and the right vertical axis and bar represent the electricity when the production facility 30 is in operation.

[0037] The broken line in Figure 2 shows that the electricity selling price from midnight to around 7am is stable at a low price of roughly 35 to 45 yen / kWh, then continues to rise until around 2pm, remains high until around 7pm, and then continues to fall into the middle of the night.

[0038] The broken lines and bars in Figure 2 show that there is an overlap between the peak hours of the electricity selling price and the power required for the operation of the production facility 30, i.e., the peak operating rate hours. Therefore, it can be seen that there is room to reduce the electricity costs required to operate the production facility 30 by avoiding the peak hours of the electricity selling price and the operating hours of the production facility 30. Furthermore, if the power generation costs of the power generation facility 50a, which is the company G's own power generation facility, are relatively low during hours when the electricity selling price is high, then in addition to supplying the electricity generated by the power generation facility 50a to the production facility 30, business operator G can make a profit by selling and supplying it to the market, and as a result, it can be seen that there is room to reduce the electricity procurement costs of the production facility 30.

[0039] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the equipment operations control device 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The equipment operations control device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a processing unit 12, a storage unit 13, a communication unit 14, and an output unit 15.

[0040] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information and data from the outside. The processing unit 12 processes and processes the information and data acquired from the outside. The storage unit 13 stores the information and data acquired from the outside and the information and data processed and processed by the processing unit 12. The communication unit 14 transmits and receives information and data to and from external devices. The output unit 15 outputs the information and data acquired from the outside to the outside.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the production facility 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] The production facility 30 includes an acquisition unit 31, a processing unit 32, a storage unit 33, a communication unit 34, and an output unit 35. These functions are similar to those of the acquisition unit 11, processing unit 12, storage unit 13, communication unit 14, and output unit 15 of the facility operation control device 10, but the information and data to be processed may be different from those of the facility operation control device 10.

[0043] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a power generation facility 50 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power generation facility 50 includes an acquisition unit 51, a processing unit 52, a storage unit 53, a communication unit 54, and an output unit 55. These functions are similar to those of the acquisition unit 11, processing unit 12, storage unit 13, communication unit 14, and output unit 15 of the facility operation control device 10, but the information and data to be processed may be different from those of the facility operation control device 10.

[0044] The power generation facility 50 further includes a power generation device 56 and a storage battery 57. The power generation device 56 includes a fuel storage unit 561, a boiler 562, a turbine 563, and a generator 564. The power generation device 56 may include an engine 565 instead of the boiler 562 and the turbine 563.

[0045] The fuel storage unit 561 stores the fuel required for power generation. The fuel may be any of gas, heavy oil, and radioactive materials. The boiler 562 burns the fuel, and the heat generated in the boiler 562 generates high-temperature, high-pressure steam from water. The steam generated in the boiler 562 drives a turbine 563, which rotates a generator 564, thereby generating electricity. If the power generation device 56 is equipped with an engine 565 instead of the boiler 562 and turbine 563, the engine 565 rotates the generator 564 to generate electricity.

[0046] The storage battery 57 may store the generated electricity. The generated electricity may be supplied to other facilities, such as the production facility 30, or may be supplied to the wholesale electricity market via the transmission line L. When the power generation facility 50 uses hydroelectric power, wind power, geothermal power, solar power, or the like, the power generation device 56 is appropriately configured using power generation means available in the city.

[0047] 6 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an electricity trading control server device 70 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electricity trading control server device 70 includes an acquisition unit 71, a processing unit 72, a storage unit 73, a communication unit 74, and an output unit 75. These functions are similar to those of the acquisition unit 11, processing unit 12, storage unit 13, communication unit 14, and output unit 15 of the facility operation control device 10, but the information and data to be processed may be different from those of the facility operation control device 10.

[0048] The hardware configurations of the facility operation control device 10, the production facility 30, the power generation facility 50, and the power trading control server device 70 will be described later.

[0049] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the equipment operation control device 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] In step S100, the equipment operation control device 10 acquires initial equipment operation plan information. The initial equipment plan information indicates an initial operation rate, which is an equipment operation rate based on an initial plan for the equipment. The initial equipment plan information may indicate an initial production equipment operation rate. The initial production equipment operation rate may be a correspondence relationship between an initial plan for the operation rate of the production equipment 30 and time. The initial production equipment operation rate may be a correspondence relationship between the power required to operate the production equipment 30 and time.

[0051] The initial equipment plan information may indicate an initial operation rate of the power generation equipment. The initial operation rate of the power generation equipment may be a correspondence relationship between an initial plan for the operation rate of the power generation equipment 50a and time. The initial operation rate of the power generation equipment may be a correspondence relationship between the power generated by the power generation equipment 50a and time. The initial equipment plan information may indicate an initial operation rate of the production equipment and an initial operation rate of the power generation equipment.

[0052] In step S101, the equipment operation control device 10 acquires power cost information. The power cost information indicates the power procurement cost associated with time. The power cost information indicates the power required for business operator G to procure the power required to operate the production equipment 30. The power cost information may be information such as that shown by the broken line in FIG. 2. The power cost information may further indicate the correspondence between the power generation cost of the power generation equipment 50a and time when business operator G operates the production equipment 30 using power generated by the power generation equipment 50a, which is its own in-house equipment.

[0053] In step S102, the processing unit 12 generates operation information based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information. The operation information indicates an actual operation plan for the equipment. The operation information may indicate an actual operation plan for the production equipment 30. The operation information may indicate a correspondence relationship between time and the power required when actually operating the production equipment 30. The operation information may also indicate an actual operation plan for the power generation equipment 50a. The operation information may indicate a correspondence relationship between time and the amount of power generated by the power generation equipment 50a.

[0054] In step S103, the output unit 15 outputs the operation information to the outside. The output unit 15 may output the operation information to the outside by displaying it on some kind of display device or display means. Note that the communication unit 14 may transmit the operation information to the outside. Then, the processing ends.

[0055] The storage unit 13 may store initial equipment operation plan information, power cost information, and operation information. Furthermore, the operation of the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a is controlled based on the operation information output or transmitted from the equipment operation control device 10. This operation information may be transmitted to the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a, and in this case, the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a controls the operation of each device based on the operation information.

[0056] FIG. 8 is an example of a diagram showing the change over time in the power selling price and the power when the facility is in operation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] The graph shown in FIG. 8 is an example of the results of the processing described using the flowchart in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8, the filled-in data series among the bars corresponds to the initial facility operation plan information and indicates the initial facility operation rate for the production facility 30. The broken lines correspond to the power cost information and indicate the correspondence between the power selling price in the market and time. These are the same as those in FIG. 2. Note that the actual power procurement cost includes the power selling price, but in addition to the power selling price, costs for using the power transmission line L and the like are also related to the power procurement cost. In some cases, the fees for using the power transmission line L are added to the power selling price in the transaction, and in other cases, the party selling the power bears the fees for using the power transmission line L and the like.

[0058] In Figure 8, the data series marked with diagonal lines correspond to operation information and indicate the correspondence between the time and the power required to operate the production equipment 30. As can be seen from Figure 8, the production equipment 30 was originally scheduled to operate from 14:00 to 18:00, but this has been changed to actually operate the production equipment 30 from 20:00 to 24:00. The operation related to this change is based on the data series (the data series marked with diagonal lines) generated based on the solid data series (initial equipment operation plan information) among the bars and the data series (power cost information) represented by the broken lines, i.e., the operation information.

[0059] This makes it possible to reduce power procurement costs by not operating the production facility 30 during times when the power selling price (the cost of procuring the power to supply to the production facility 30) is high, such as from 14:00 to 18:00, and instead operating the production facility 30 during times when the power selling price is low, such as from 20:00 to 24:00. Based on this processing, under the assumptions of Figure 8, the estimated power cost before the change was 878,409 yen, but after the change it was found that the power cost could be reduced to 285,988 yen, resulting in an expected power cost reduction effect of 592,421 yen, or 67.4%.

[0060] The above-mentioned times are merely examples, and the time periods can be selected appropriately from the viewpoint of operating the production facility 30 during times when the electricity selling price is low and avoiding operating the production facility 30 during times when the electricity selling price is high. When changing the operation of the production facility 30 from the initial plan, it is not necessary to consider only the electricity procurement cost, but at least one of the manufacturing process, delivery time, quality, etc. related to the process to be changed may also be taken into consideration.

[0061] As described above, the equipment operation control method according to the first embodiment is executed by a computer and includes the steps of acquiring initial equipment operation plan information indicating an initial operation rate, which is the equipment operation rate based on an initial plan, and power cost information indicating the power procurement cost associated with a time; generating operation information indicating an actual operation plan for the equipment based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information; and outputting the operation information.

[0062] This allows the initially planned facility availability rate to be flexibly adapted according to the situation and spontaneously, without being subject to requests from the power supplier.

[0063] (Second embodiment) FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the equipment operation control device 10 in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0064] The processing from step S1100 to step S1102 corresponds to the processing from step S100 to step S102.

[0065] Generally, power demand is not high during late night hours and the power selling price is low, so late night hours, for example, from 0:00 to 5:00, may be defined as the first time slot, and the period from 13:00 to 18:00, when power demand and power selling price are high, may be defined as the second time slot. The average value of the power selling price during the first time slot may be defined as the first power procurement cost (Cg_1), and the average value of the power selling price during the second time slot may be defined as the second power procurement cost (Cg_2).

[0066] In step S1103, the processing unit 12 compares the first power procurement cost with the second power procurement cost. If the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, the process proceeds to step S1104; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S1105. Note that the process of step S1103 may proceed to step S1104 if the difference between the second power procurement cost and the first power procurement cost is greater than a predetermined threshold, or proceed to step S1105 if the difference is not greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0067] In step S1103, the first power procurement cost and the second power procurement cost may be, but are not limited to, 2 yen / kWh and 20 yen / kWh, respectively.

[0068] In step S1104, the processing unit 12 sets the production equipment operation rate indicating the actual operation plan for the first time period included in the operation information to be higher than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate. In this case, the processing unit 12 may set the production equipment operation rate indicating the actual operation plan for the second time period to be lower than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate, and may further perform processing for these two different time periods together.

[0069] The processing unit 12 may set the operating power corresponding to the actual operation plan for the first time slot, for the production equipment operating rate included in the operation information, to be higher than the originally planned operating power. In this case, the processing unit 12 may set the operating power corresponding to the actual operation plan for the second time slot, for the production equipment operating rate included in the operation information, to be lower than the originally planned operating power, and may perform processing for these two different time slots together.

[0070] In step S1105, the processing unit 12 sets the operating power corresponding to the actual operation plan based on the initially planned operating power without any change.

[0071] In step S1106, the output unit 15 outputs the operation information. In addition to this, or instead of this, the communication unit 14 may transmit the operation information to the outside.

[0072] The storage unit 13 may store initial equipment operation plan information, power cost information, and operation information. Furthermore, the operation of the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a is controlled based on the operation information output or transmitted from the equipment operation control device 10. This operation information may be transmitted to the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a, in which case the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a control their respective operations based on the operation information.

[0073] The first electricity procurement cost may include a first power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility 50a in a first time slot, and a first electricity selling price corresponding to the market electricity selling price in the first time slot, and the second electricity procurement cost may include a second power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility 50a in a second time slot, and a second electricity selling price corresponding to the market electricity selling price. Here, the market electricity selling price plus the usage fee for the transmission line L, etc. may be referred to as the "electricity purchase price." The first and second power generation costs are based on power generation by the power generation facility 50a, which is the business operator G's own facility, and the unit price of fuel required for power generation is set monthly and does not fluctuate over the course of any one day (24 hours), so it may be assumed that the power generation cost does not substantially fluctuate regardless of the time of day.

[0074] This allows for effective use of surplus power.

[0075] As a first modification of the processing in steps S1103 and S1104, consider a case where the first power procurement cost is the first power selling price and the second power procurement cost is the second power generation cost.

[0076] In this case, in step S1104, the processing unit 12 may set the power generation equipment availability rate included in the operation information, which indicates the actual operation plan for the first time slot, to be lower than the initial power generation equipment availability rate, which is the initially planned availability rate, or may set the power actually generated by the power generation equipment 50a to be lower than the power originally planned to be generated by the power generation equipment 50a. In other words, since procuring power from the market is more economical than generating power by the power generation equipment 50a during the first time slot, the operation of the power generation equipment 50a may be suppressed. This allows for effective use of the somewhat surplus power. In this case, for example, in step S1103, the first power selling price, which is the first power procurement cost, may be 2 yen / kWh, and the second power generation cost, which is the second power procurement cost, may be 15 yen / kWh.

[0077] As a second modification of the processing in steps S1103 and S1104, a case will be considered in which the first power procurement cost is based on the first power selling price and the second power procurement cost is based on the second power selling price.

[0078] In this case, in step S1104, the processing unit 12 may set the production equipment operation rate included in the operation information, which indicates the actual operation plan for the first time slot, to be higher than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate. In other words, the planned value of power required for actually operating the production equipment 30 may be higher than the initially planned value of power required for operating the production equipment 30. Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 12 may set the production equipment operation rate included in the operation information, which indicates the actual operation plan for the second time slot, to be lower than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate. In other words, the power required for actually operating the production equipment 30 may be lower than the initially planned value of power required for operating the production equipment 30. In this case, for example, in step S1103, the first electricity selling price corresponding to the first electricity procurement cost may be 20 yen / kWh, and the second electricity selling price corresponding to the second electricity procurement cost may be 80 yen / kWh.

[0079] This will help ease the tightness in the supply and demand of electricity.

[0080] As a third modification of the processing in steps S1103 and S1104, consider a case where the first power procurement cost is the first power generation cost and the second power procurement cost is the second power selling price.

[0081] In this case, in step S1104, the processing unit 12 may set the power generation equipment operation rate, which indicates the actual operation plan for the second time period, included in the operation information, to be higher than the initial power generation equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate, in other words, the planned value of the power actually generated by the power generation equipment 50a may be higher than the initially planned value of the power to be generated by the power generation equipment 50a. This is because the cost of power generated by the equipment 50a, which is owned by the business operator G, is lower than the cost of power procured from the market.

[0082] Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 12 may set the production equipment operation rate included in the operation information, which indicates the actual operation plan for the second time period, to be lower than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate, in other words, the power required for actually operating the production equipment 30 may be lower than the initially planned value of power required for operating the production equipment 30. In this case, for example, in step S1103, the first power generation cost, which is the first power procurement cost, may be 25 yen / kWh, and the second power selling price, which is the second power procurement cost, may be 28 yen / kWh.

[0083] As described above, in the equipment operation control method of the second embodiment, the power cost information indicates a first power procurement cost in a first time slot and a second power procurement cost in a second time slot, the equipment includes production equipment 30 and power generation equipment 50, the initial operating rates include an initial production equipment operating rate that is the initial operating rate of production equipment 30 and an initial power generation equipment operating rate that is the initial operating rate of power generation equipment 50, the operation information indicates a production equipment operating rate that is the actual operating rate of production equipment 30 and a power generation equipment operating rate that is the actual operating rate of power generation equipment 50, and when the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, the method further includes at least one of the following steps: when the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, setting the production equipment operating rate to be higher than the initial production equipment operating rate; when the second power procurement cost is smaller than the first power procurement cost, setting the power generation equipment operating rate to be lower than the initial production equipment operating rate; and when the first power procurement cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, setting the power generation equipment operating rate to be higher than the initial power generation equipment operating rate.

[0084] In addition, the first electricity procurement cost includes a first power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility 50, and a first electricity selling price corresponding to the electricity purchase price from the market, and the second electricity procurement cost includes a second power generation cost, which is the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility 50, and a second electricity selling price corresponding to the electricity purchase price from the market.

[0085] This allows the net operating costs of the facilities to be reduced by flexibly and voluntarily adapting the operating plans of the production facilities and / or power generation facilities based on the facility utilization rate based on the initial plan, the cost of electricity procured from the market, and the cost of generating electricity using the company's own power generation facilities.

[0086] (Third embodiment) FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the equipment operation control device 10 in the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] Steps S2100 to S2102 correspond to steps S100 to S102.

[0088] Regarding the processing in steps S2103 and S2104, a case will be considered in which the first power procurement cost is the first power generation cost and the second power procurement cost is the second power selling price.

[0089] In this case, in step S2104, the processing unit 12 may set the power generation equipment operation rate, which indicates the actual operation plan for the second time slot, included in the operation information, to be higher than the initial power generation equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate, in other words, the planned value of the power actually generated by the power generation equipment 50a may be higher than the initially planned value of the power to be generated by the power generation equipment 50a. This is because the cost of power generated by the equipment 50a, which is owned by the business operator G, is lower than the cost of power procured from the market.

[0090] Additionally or alternatively, the processing unit 12 may set the production equipment operation rate included in the operation information, which indicates the actual operation plan for the second time period, to be lower than the initial production equipment operation rate, which is the initially planned operation rate, in other words, the power required for actually operating the production equipment 30 may be lower than the initially planned value of power required for operating the production equipment 30. In this case, for example, in step S2103, the first power generation cost, which is the first power procurement cost, may be 25 yen / kWh, and the second power selling price, which is the second power procurement cost, may be 100 yen / kWh.

[0091] The process in step S2105 corresponds to the process in step S1105.

[0092] In step S2106, the processing unit 12 outputs buying and selling instruction information that instructs the buying and selling of electricity. In this case, the buying and selling instruction information instructs the selling of electricity generated by the power generation facility 50a in the second time slot. This is because, compared to the third modification of the second embodiment, the cost of generating electricity by the power generation facility 50a in the second time slot is lower than the selling price of electricity procured from the market, and therefore, there is a significant economic benefit in supplying the electricity generated by the power generation facility 50a to the production facility 30 and selling the electricity to the market.

[0093] In step S2107, the output unit 15 outputs the operation information and the power selling instruction information. In addition to this, or instead of this, the communication unit 14 may transmit the operation information to the production facility 30. The processing unit 12 may generate information indicating the desired power selling price by calculating the desired power selling price to the wholesale power market based on the power selling instruction information using a predetermined algorithm. The communication unit 14 may transmit the generated information indicating the desired power selling price to the power buying and selling control server device 70.

[0094] As described above, in the equipment operation control method of the third embodiment, the step of outputting operation information further includes a step of outputting purchase and sale instruction information that instructs the purchase and sale of electricity, and if the first power generation cost is smaller than the second power procurement cost, the purchase and sale instruction information instructs the sale of electricity during the second time period.

[0095] This allows companies to flexibly and proactively adapt their production and / or power generation facility operation plans based on the facility utilization rate based on the initial plan, the cost of electricity procured from the market, and the cost of generating electricity using their own power generation facilities, thereby reducing the net operating costs of the facilities and alleviating the tightness of the power supply and demand balance.

[0096] The generation of the operational information may be based on the following cost minimization objective function.

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[0108] Since the electricity selling price in the market fluctuates depending on the time of transaction, the amount of electricity to be supplied to the production facility 30 and the time, the amount of electricity procured from the market and the time, the amount of various fuels used and the time, i.e., the amount of electricity generated by the power generation facility 50a and the time, and the electricity selling price and the time may be determined so as to minimize the above function, and as a result, operation information and / or electricity selling instruction information indicating an actual facility operation plan may be generated. The first time slot may be defined as a time slot when the electricity selling price is relatively cheap, and similarly, the second time slot may be defined as a time slot when the electricity selling price is relatively expensive.

[0109] (Fourth embodiment) FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the equipment operation control device 10 in the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0110] The processing in steps S3100 to S3103 corresponds to the processing in steps S100 to S103.

[0111] In step S3104, the processing unit 12 generates incentive information based on the difference between the first power procurement cost and the second power procurement cost. The incentive information indicates information related to equipment operation control based on the operation information and rebate points. The information related to equipment operation control based on the operation information is the same as that described in the first to third embodiments. When the first power procurement cost in the first time slot is lower than the second power procurement cost, the information related to equipment operation control based on the operation information instructs the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a to flexibly and voluntarily adapt the operation of the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a from the initial plan during at least one of the first time slot and the second time slot based on the initial equipment operation plan information and the power cost information.

[0112] The rebate points represent economic benefits. The rebate points may be points that can be exchanged for food, drink, or goods, or points that can be added to a salary or bonus. Depending on the setting indicated by the information related to the equipment operation control based on the operation information, the rebate points may be set to be larger as the net electricity procurement cost reduction effect of the production equipment 30 and / or the power generation equipment 50a is greater. It is expected that the larger the rebate points, the higher the motivation to implement equipment operation control.

[0113] The net power procurement cost may be defined as the power reduction effect before and after facility operation control when operating the production facility 30. When the production facility 30 is operated using power generated by the power generation facility 50a, the net power procurement cost may be defined as the value obtained by subtracting the sales price of the power generated by the power generation facility 50a from the sales price in the market, or the net power procurement cost may be defined as the value obtained by subtracting the sales price of the power generated by the power generation facility 50a from the cost of the power used to operate the production facility 30, out of the power costs generated by the power generation facility 50a.

[0114] The process in step S3105 corresponds to the process in step S1105.

[0115] In step S3106, the output unit 15 outputs the motivation information. The output unit 15 may display the motivation information on some kind of display device, or in this case, may display the motivation information in the form of a two-dimensional barcode. In addition to or instead of the processing of the output unit 15, the communication unit 14 may transmit the motivation information. The motivation information may be transmitted to a user terminal held by an employee of the business operator G, for example, or may be transmitted to an internal server of the business operator G.

[0116] In step S3107, the acquisition unit 11 acquires a response to the motivation information. Instead of the acquisition unit 11, the communication unit 14 may receive the response to the motivation information. In this case, the communication unit 14 may receive the response from an in-house server of the business operator G, or from a user terminal available to an employee of the business operator G. The response to the motivation information indicates whether the user is positive or negative about "flexibly and voluntarily adapting the operation of the production facility 30 and / or the power generation facility 50a from the initial plan" indicated by "information regarding facility operation control based on operation information" included in the motivation information. In other words, it indicates whether the user accepts "flexibly and voluntarily adapting the operation of the production facility 30 and / or the power generation facility 50a from the initial plan." Here, the "user" refers to an employee of the business operator G, and more specifically, the person in charge of operating the production facility 30 and / or the power generation facility 50a.

[0117] In step S3108, the processing unit 12 determines whether or not the response to the motivation information is affirmative. If the response to the motivation information is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S3109; if not, the process proceeds to step S3105.

[0118] The processes in steps S3109 and S3110 correspond to the processes in steps S2106 and S2107, respectively.

[0119] As described above, the equipment operation control method of the fourth embodiment further includes a step of generating incentive information based on power cost information, initial equipment operation plan information, and operation information, and the step of outputting the operation information further includes a step of outputting the incentive information, where the incentive information indicates rebate points calculated based on the difference between the first power procurement cost and the second power procurement cost, and the rebate points are economic benefits.

[0120] This will motivate the operators of the production facility 30 to reduce the electricity procurement costs required to operate the production facility 30, and is expected to reduce the net electricity costs of the production facility 30 and the power generation facility 50a.

[0121] The reward for complying with a DR activation request as described in Non-Patent Document 1 is calculated based on a comparison of the amount of power consumption if the DR activation request is not complied with and the amount of power consumption if the DR activation request is complied with. However, the amount of power consumption if the DR activation request is not complied with may have to rely on an estimated value. Therefore, it may be difficult to ensure the validity of the reward. On the other hand, since there is an initial equipment operation plan for the production equipment 30 of the business operator G, the rebate points based on this embodiment can be calculated with higher validity.

[0122] Furthermore, the production facility 30 may include a plurality of different production lines. The plurality of different production lines may include a first production line and a second production line. The first production line may handle a small number of mass-produced products, while the second production line may handle a large number of products of each variety, each of which is manufactured in small quantities. In such a case, if the production plan for the first production line is stopped or changed, that is, if the production facility 30 is restarted, the operation and / or time required to optimize the operating conditions of the production facility 30 has a significant impact on production efficiency. Therefore, the operator of the production facility 30 may have little motivation to change the operating hours of the production facility 30 from the initial operating plan.

[0123] On the other hand, the second production line handles a large number of product types and does not produce a large number of each type of product, so changes to the operating conditions of the production equipment 30 due to changes in the type of product being produced are more likely to occur than in the first production line. Therefore, changes to the operating hours of the production equipment 30 from the initial operating plan may be more readily accepted by operators of the second production line of the production equipment 30 than by operators of the first production line.

[0124] Therefore, the reward points indicated by the motivation information may be set to be greater for employees belonging to the first production line than for employees belonging to the second production line.

[0125] This will motivate the operator of the first production line of the production facility 30 to reduce the electricity procurement costs required to operate the production facility 30, which is expected to reduce the net electricity costs of the production facility 30 and the power generation facility 50a.

[0126] Conversely, the rebate points indicated by the motivation information may be set higher for employees belonging to the second production line than for employees belonging to the first production line. Because the resetting of the operating conditions of the production equipment 30 may occur more frequently on the second production line than on the first production line, the operator of the second production line can be motivated to reduce the electricity procurement costs required to operate the production equipment 30, which is expected to reduce the net electricity costs of the production equipment 30.

[0127] <Hardware configuration> 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of each device according to this embodiment. The devices are the facility operation control device 10, the production facility 30, the power generation facility 50, and the power trading control server device 70. Each device is configured to include an input / output module I, a memory module M, and a control module P. The input / output module I is realized by including some or all of the communication module H11, the connection module H12, the pointing device H21, the keyboard H22, the display H23, the button H3, the microphone H41, the speaker H42, the camera H51, and the sensor H52.

[0128] The storage module M is realized by including a drive H7. The storage module M may further be configured to include a part or all of the memory H8. The control module P is realized by including the memory H8 and a processor H9. These hardware components are connected to each other via a bus so that they can communicate with each other, and are supplied with power from a power supply H6.

[0129] The connection module H12 is a digital input / output port such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus). In the case of a portable device, the pointing device H21, keyboard H22, and display H23 are touch panels. The sensor H52 is an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a GPS receiving module, a proximity sensor, etc. The power supply H6 is a power supply unit that supplies the electricity necessary to operate each device. In the case of a portable device, the power supply H6 is a battery.

[0130] The drive H7 is an auxiliary storage medium such as a hard disk drive or a solid state drive. The drive H7 may be a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM or flash memory, or a magneto-optical disk drive or a flexible disk drive. Furthermore, the drive H7 is not limited to being built into each device, but may also be an external storage device connected to the connector of the IF module H12.

[0131] The memory H8 is a primary storage medium such as a random access memory (RAM), or may be a cache memory. The memory H8 stores instructions when the instructions are executed by one or more processors H9.

[0132] The processor H9 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor H9 may be an MPU (Microprocessing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor H9 reads programs and various data from the drive H7 via the memory H8 and performs calculations to execute instructions stored in one or more memories H8.

[0133] The input / output module I realizes an acquisition unit 11, a communication unit 14, an output unit 15, an acquisition unit 31, a communication unit 34, an output unit 35, an acquisition unit 51, a communication unit 54, an output unit 55, an acquisition unit 71, a communication unit 74, and an output unit 75.

[0134] The control module P realizes a processing unit 12, a processing unit 32, a processing unit 52, and a processing unit 72. In this specification and the like, the descriptions of the facility operation control device 10, the production facility 30, the power generation facility 50, and the power trading control server device 70 may be replaced with descriptions of control units P10, P30, P50, and P70, respectively, and the descriptions of each of these devices may be replaced with descriptions of the control module P.

[0135] The drive H7 or the memory H8 realizes the storage unit 13, the storage unit 33, the storage unit 53, and the storage unit 73.

[0136] While the embodiments and modifications have been described above in detail with reference to the drawings as one aspect of the present invention, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiments and modifications, and design changes within the scope of the present invention are also included. Furthermore, various modifications of one aspect of the present invention are possible within the scope of the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, configurations in which elements described in the above embodiments and modifications are substituted with elements that achieve the same effect are also included.

[0137] For example, one aspect of the present invention may be realized by combining some or all of the above-described embodiments.

[0138] The particular order or hierarchy of operations in the processes / flowcharts disclosed above is exemplary. Based on appropriate design, the particular order or hierarchy of operations in the flow charts may be rearranged. Furthermore, some operations may be combined or omitted. The disclosure of the claimed methods presents elements of various operations in an exemplary order, and is not limited to the particular order or hierarchy presented.

[0139] For example, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" include any combination of A, B, and / or C, and may include multiple As, multiple Bs, or multiple Cs. Specifically, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C," "one or more of A, B, or C," "at least one of A, B, and C," "one or more of A, B, and C," and "A, B, C, or any combination thereof" may be A only, B only, C only, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, and any such combination may include one or more members of A, B, or C. [Explanation of symbols]

[0140] S...facility operation control system, 10...facility operation control device, 30...production facility, 50...power generation facility, 70...electricity trading control server device, 11...acquisition unit, 12...processing unit, 13...storage unit, 14...communication unit, 15...output unit, 31...acquisition unit, 32...processing unit, 33...storage unit, 34...communication unit, 35...output unit, 36...production facility, 51...acquisition unit, 52...processing unit, 53...storage unit, 54...communication unit, 55...output unit, 56...power generation facility, 561...fuel storage unit, 562...boiler, 563...turbine, 57...storage battery

Claims

1. An equipment operation control method executed by a computer operated by a business operator, a step of acquiring an initial availability rate, which is an availability rate based on an initial plan for equipment managed or owned by the business operator, and power cost information indicating a correspondence relationship between time of day and power procurement costs, the initial plan being an equipment operation plan formulated in advance for the equipment; generating, after the equipment operation plan is formulated, operation information indicating an operation rate that will be the basis for actually operating the equipment based on the initial operation rate and the power cost information; and outputting the operation information, The facilities include production facilities that are facilities used to produce products and power generation facilities, The initial availability rate includes an initial availability rate of a production facility and an initial availability rate of a power generation facility, the initial production equipment operation rate is an operation rate based on the initial plan for the production equipment, and has a correspondence relationship with the time; the initial operating rate of the power generation facility is an operating rate based on the initial plan for the power generation facility, and has a correspondence relationship with the time; the operation information indicates a production equipment operation rate, which is an operation rate that serves as a basis for actually operating the production equipment, and a power generation equipment operation rate, which is an operation rate that serves as a basis for actually operating the power generation equipment, the production facility operation rate has a correspondence relationship with the time, the power generation facility availability rate has a correspondence relationship with the time, generating the operation information based on the initial operation rate and the power cost information, If the power cost information indicates that a first power procurement cost in a first time slot is lower than a second power procurement cost in a second time slot different from the first time slot in the given day, setting the production facility operation rate in the first time slot to a first corrected production facility operation rate that is greater than the initial production facility operation rate in the first time slot; setting the production facility operation rate in the second time slot to a second corrected production facility operation rate that is smaller than the initial production facility operation rate in the second time slot; a first process including at least one of: setting the power generation equipment availability rate during the first time slot to a first corrected power generation equipment availability rate that is lower than the initial power generation equipment availability rate during the first time slot; setting the power generation facility availability rate during the second time slot to a second corrected power generation facility availability rate that is greater than the initial power generation facility availability rate during the second time slot; and a second process including and the first electricity procurement cost includes a first power generation cost, which is a power generation cost by the power generation facility, and a first electricity selling price, which corresponds to a power purchase price from the market; the second electricity procurement cost includes a second power generation cost, which is a power generation cost by the power generation facility, and a second electricity selling price, which corresponds to the electricity purchase price from the market; The step of outputting the operation information further includes a step of outputting buying and selling instruction information that instructs the business operator to buy and sell electricity based on the electricity cost information, When the power cost information indicates that the first power generation cost is lower than the second power selling price, the buying and selling instruction information includes power selling instruction information that is information instructing the power generated by the power generation facility to be sold during the second time period. Equipment operation control methods.

2. A program for executing the facility operation control method according to claim 1 when executed on a computer or a processor.

3. A storage medium storing a program that, when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute the facility operation control method according to claim 1.

4. An equipment operation control device including a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the equipment operation control device to perform the equipment operation control method of claim 1. Equipment operation control device.

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