Power Control System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a power control system that can manage multiple power control target areas in an integrated manner and optimize power supply and demand across the multiple power control target areas. [Solution] The system comprises multiple base EMSs and a wide-area EMS configured to be able to communicate with the multiple base EMSs, and the base EMSs are configured to be able to control multiple power control objects located within a power control target area, and the wide-area EMS is configured to determine a target usage amount for each base group including one or more base EMSs based on usage amount determination information, which is information for determining a target usage amount, which is a target value for power usage in the power control target area, and to transmit the determined target usage amount to the base EMS belonging to the base group, and the base EMS is configured to control the multiple power control objects so that power usage in the power control target area is below the target usage amount, and the usage amount determination information includes at least one of actual information, which is actual power usage in the power control target area, and external factor information that contributes to determining the target usage amount.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power control system. [Background technology]

[0002] Energy management systems (EMSs) capable of controlling multiple power control objects located within a power control area have been known for some time. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an EMS that controls a residential storage battery, a solar power generation system, a household load, and an electric vehicle. The EMS described in Patent Document 1 acquires information such as the remaining charge of the residential storage battery, the amount of power generated by the solar power generation system, the power consumption of the household load, the driving history of the electric vehicle, and the charge status of the on-board battery, and, based on this acquired information, smooths out the demand for electricity within the home so as to reduce the amount of electricity purchased from the electric power company. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-210004 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, conventional EMSs have the problem that they are only capable of managing one power control area and are unable to manage other power control areas in an integrated manner. Therefore, there is room for improvement in conventional EMSs in terms of integrated management of multiple power control areas and optimizing power supply and demand across all of the multiple power control areas.

[0005] The present invention relates to a power control system that can manage a plurality of power control target areas in an integrated manner and optimize the power supply and demand across the plurality of power control target areas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The power control system of the present invention comprises a plurality of base EMSs and a wide-area EMS configured to be able to communicate with the plurality of base EMSs, and the base EMSs are configured to be able to control a plurality of power control objects located within a power control target area, and the wide-area EMS is configured to determine the target usage for each base group including one or more of the base EMSs based on usage determination information, which is information for determining a target usage amount, which is a target value for power usage in the power control target area, and to transmit the determined target usage amount to the base EMS belonging to the base group, and the base EMS is configured to control the plurality of power control objects so that the power usage in the power control target area is equal to or less than the target usage amount, and the usage determination information includes at least one of actual information, which is the actual power usage in the power control target area, and external factor information that contributes to the determination of the target usage amount.

[0007] In the power control system according to the present invention, the external factor information may include power market price information in the area of ​​the base group or the power control target area.

[0008] The power control system according to the present invention may have at least one photovoltaic power generation device as the power control object, and the external factor information may include weather information in an area of ​​the base group.

[0009] In the power control system according to the present invention, the external factor information may include operation schedule information of the power control object.

[0010] The power control system according to the present invention may have at least one power storage device as the power control object, and the wide-area EMS may be configured to determine a charge / discharge plan for the power storage device for each base group based on the electricity market price information, and to transmit the determined charge / discharge plan to the base EMS belonging to the base group, and the base EMS may be configured to control the power storage device based on the charge / discharge plan.

[0011] The power control system according to the present invention may have at least one electric vehicle charger as the power control object, and the wide-area EMS may be configured to use the electricity market price information to determine a charging plan for electric vehicles using the electric vehicle charger for each of the plurality of power control target areas, and to transmit the determined charging plan to the corresponding base EMS, and the base EMS may be configured to control the electric vehicle charger based on the charging plan.

[0012] In the power control system according to the present invention, the wide-area EMS may be configured to store target charging end time information for electric vehicles and to acquire charging history information for electric vehicles from the base EMS as the history information, and the wide-area EMS may be configured to determine the charging plan using the electricity market price information, the target charging end time information, and the charging history information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the power control system of the present invention, it is possible to manage a plurality of power control target areas in an integrated manner and to optimize the power supply and demand across the plurality of power control target areas. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a power control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the inventions according to the claims, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention. Furthermore, in the present embodiments, the scale and dimensions of each component may be exaggerated, and some components may be omitted.

[0016] [Outline of the power control system] The power control system of this embodiment comprises multiple base EMSs (Energy Management Systems) and a wide-area EMS configured to be able to communicate with the multiple base EMSs. The wide-area EMS and the multiple base EMSs cooperate with each other, and each base EMS controls multiple power control objects located within a power control target area, making it possible to optimize power supply and demand across multiple power control target areas.

[0017] Examples of areas subject to power control include offices of transportation companies, logistics facilities, commercial facilities, buildings, factories, homes, stores, etc. In the following, this embodiment will be described taking as an example a case where the area subject to power control is an office of a transportation company.

[0018] [Overall configuration of power control system] 1, the power control system 1 includes a wide-area EMS 10 and a plurality of base EMSs 20 configured to be able to communicate with the wide-area EMS 10. Each base EMS 20 is configured to be able to control a plurality of power-controlled objects 30 installed within a sales office. Each base EMS 20 is electrically connected to a power grid (not shown) and the power-controlled objects 30 by wire or wirelessly.

[0019] Examples of power control objects 30 include, but are not limited to, at least one electric vehicle charger 31, at least one solar power generation device 32, at least one power storage device 33, and other power loads 34 (lighting, air conditioners, etc.) within the business office.

[0020] Each base EMS 20 is configured to transmit to the wide-area EMS 10 actual information on the actual power usage within the sales office, information on the power generation status of the solar power generation device 32, and information on the power storage status of the power storage device 33.

[0021] [Optimal control of power supply and demand using power control systems] The power control system 1 is capable of optimizing the power supply and demand across multiple sales offices by controlling the power control objects 30 in cooperation with the wide-area EMS 10 and multiple base EMSs 20. An example of control of the power control objects 30 by the wide-area EMS 10 and the base EMSs 20 will be described below.

[0022] <Power usage adjustment control> The wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a target usage amount for each base group including one or more base EMSs 20 based on usage amount determination information, which is information for determining a target usage amount, which is a target value for power usage at a sales office, and to transmit the determined target usage amount to the base EMSs 20 belonging to the base group. The wide-area EMS 10 is also configured to determine the target usage amount at predetermined time intervals, thereby further optimizing power supply and demand.

[0023] The base groups are groups classified according to power area (such as the Tokyo Electric Power Company area). For example, a base EMS 20 that manages sales offices in Tokyo belongs to the Tokyo Electric Power Company area group, and a base EMS 20 that manages sales offices in Osaka Prefecture belongs to the Kansai Electric Power Company area group. Note that the base groups may also be groups classified according to other conditions, such as prefectures or regions.

[0024] The usage amount determination information includes performance information received from each base EMS 20 and external factor information that contributes to determining the target usage amount. The external factor information is acquired by the wide-area EMS 10 from an external server or the like. Note that the usage amount determination information may be configured to include only either the performance information or the external factor information.

[0025] The external factor information includes electricity market price information (for example, electricity market price information provided by the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX)) in the area of ​​the base group (electricity area in this embodiment), weather information in the area of ​​the base group, and operation schedule information of the power control object 30. The operation schedule information of the power control object 30 includes, for example, operation schedule information of the electric vehicle charger 31, in other words, departure time information and return time information of transport vehicles (electric vehicles) present in the office, and planned driving distance information.

[0026] The external factor information may include only one or two of the electricity market price information, weather information, and operation schedule information. The electricity market price information and weather information may be information for the location of the sales office.

[0027] The wide-area EMS 10 determines the target usage amount for each specified time period by comprehensively taking into consideration the actual performance information and external factor information. The actual performance information provides the actual power usage amount for each time period at the sales office, and therefore contributes to determining the target usage amount for each time period, for example. The electricity market price information provides the electricity market price for each time period, and therefore contributes to determining the target usage amount intended for peak cutting or peak shifting, for example. The weather information provides weather information for each time period, and therefore contributes to understanding the predicted power generation amount by the solar power generation device 32, and ultimately contributes to determining the target usage amount intended for peak cutting or peak shifting. The operation schedule information of the power control target object 30 provides the predicted power usage amount for each time period at the sales office, and therefore contributes to determining the target usage amount for each time period, for example.

[0028] In addition, when taking the electricity market price information into consideration, an upper threshold and a lower threshold of the electricity market price may be used. Specifically, the wide-area EMS 10 may set different target usage amounts for a time period when the electricity market price exceeds the upper threshold, a time period when the electricity market price is between the upper threshold and the lower threshold, and a time period when the electricity market price is below the lower threshold.

[0029] The upper and lower thresholds of the electricity market price are preferably set for each electricity area. The upper and lower thresholds of the electricity market price may be set to predetermined values ​​or may be set as a predetermined difference value from the average value of the electricity market price.

[0030] The base EMS 20 is configured to control the multiple power control objects 30 so that the amount of power usage at the sales office is equal to or less than the target usage amount received from the wide-area EMS 10. Specifically, the base EMS 20 controls the multiple power control objects 30 so that the amount of power usage at the sales office is equal to or less than the target usage amount received from the wide-area EMS 10, taking into consideration the power usage status of the electric vehicle charger 31 and the power load 34, the power generation status of the solar power generation device 32, the power storage status of the power storage device 33, a charge / discharge plan described below, and a charging plan described below.

[0031] <Charging and discharging control of power storage devices> The wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a charge / discharge plan for the power storage devices 33 for each base group based on electricity market price information, and to transmit the determined charge / discharge plan to the base EMSs 20 belonging to the base group. For example, the wide-area EMS 10 determines a charge / discharge plan so as to actively charge the power storage devices 33 with grid power (power from the power grid) during time periods when the electricity market price is low, and to discharge the power storage devices 33 during time periods when the electricity market price is high. The base EMSs 20 are configured to control the power storage devices 33 based on the charge / discharge plan received from the wide-area EMS 10.

[0032] <Power distribution control> The wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a power distribution plan between each sales office based on the performance information received from each base EMS 20, information on the power generation status of the solar power generation device 32, information on the power storage status of the power storage device 33, and target usage, and to transmit the determined power distribution plan to the corresponding base EMS 20. For example, if there is a power surplus at sales office A and a power shortage at sales office B, the wide-area EMS 10 determines a power distribution plan to transfer power from sales office A to sales office B, and transmits the determined power distribution plan to the base EMS 20 that manages sales office A and the base EMS 20 that manages sales office B. The base EMS 20 that receives the power distribution plan is configured to transfer power based on the received power distribution plan.

[0033] The power may be transferred using an electric wire or by transporting the power storage device 33. When power is transferred by transporting the power storage device 33, the base EMS 20 notifies the user of the power distribution plan by displaying it on a display screen, and also links the power distribution plan to the transportation system of the transportation company.

[0034] <Charging control for electric vehicles> The wide-area EMS 10 is configured to use electricity market price information to determine a charging plan for electric vehicles using electric vehicle chargers 31 for each of a plurality of sales offices, and to transmit the determined charging plan to the corresponding base EMS 20. Specifically, the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to store target charging end time information for electric vehicles, and to acquire actual charging record information for electric vehicles from the base EMS 20 as actual record information, and to determine a charging plan using the electricity market price information, target charging end time information, and actual charging record information.

[0035] For example, the wide-area EMS 10 determines the output of the electric vehicle charger 31 so that charging of the electric vehicle is completed by the target charging end time by comprehensively considering these factors, such as determining the time periods when the electricity market price is low from the electricity market price information and determining the past charging status from the charging performance information. The base EMS 20 is configured to control the electric vehicle charger 31 based on the charging plan received from the wide-area EMS 10.

[0036] [Advantages of the power control system according to this embodiment] The power control system 1 of this embodiment comprises a plurality of base EMSs 20 and a wide-area EMS 10 configured to be able to communicate with the plurality of base EMSs 20, and the base EMS 20 is configured to be able to control a plurality of power control objects 30 located within a power control target area, and the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a target usage amount for each base group including one or more base EMSs 20 based on usage amount determination information, which is information for determining a target usage amount, which is a target value for power usage in the power control target area, and to transmit the determined target usage amount to the base EMSs 20 belonging to the base group, and the base EMS 20 is configured to control the plurality of power control objects 30 so that the power usage amount in the power control target area is below the target usage amount, and the usage amount determination information includes at least one of actual information, which is the actual power usage in the power control target area, and external factor information that contributes to the determination of the target usage amount.

[0037] According to the power control system 1 having such a configuration, the wide-area EMS 10 determines the target usage amount for each base group, and the base EMS 20 controls the power control objects 30 so that the power usage amount in the power control target area is below the target usage amount. This makes it possible to manage multiple power control target areas in an integrated manner and optimize the power supply and demand across the multiple power control target areas.

[0038] In the power control system 1 according to the present embodiment, the external factor information includes electricity market price information in the area of ​​the base group or the area subject to power control. With the power control system 1 having such a configuration, the wide-area EMS 10 can grasp the electricity market price for each time period from the electricity market price information, and therefore can set a target usage amount intended for peak cutting or peak shifting.

[0039] The power control system 1 according to this embodiment has at least one solar power generation device 32, and the external factor information includes weather information for the area of ​​the base group. With the power control system 1 having such a configuration, the wide-area EMS 10 can predict the amount of power generated by the solar power generation device 32 from the weather information, making it possible to set a target usage amount intended for peak cutting or peak shifting.

[0040] In the power control system 1 according to this embodiment, the external factor information includes operation schedule information for the power control target object 30. With the power control system 1 having such a configuration, the wide-area EMS 10 can predict the amount of power usage in the power control target area from the operation schedule information, thereby improving the accuracy of the target usage amount.

[0041] The power control system 1 according to this embodiment has at least one power storage device 33 as a power control target 30, and the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a charge / discharge plan for the power storage device 33 for each base group based on electricity market price information and to transmit the determined charge / discharge plan to the base EMS 20 belonging to the base group, and the base EMS 20 is configured to control the power storage device 33 based on the charge / discharge plan. The power control system 1 having such a configuration actively charges the power storage device 33 with grid power (power from the power grid) during time periods when the electricity market price is low, and discharges the power storage device 33 during time periods when the electricity market price is high, thereby reducing the use of grid power and reducing power costs.

[0042] The power control system 1 according to this embodiment has at least one electric vehicle charger 31 as a power control object 30, and the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to use electricity market price information to determine a charging plan for electric vehicles using the electric vehicle charger 31 for each of a plurality of power control target areas, and to transmit the determined charging plan to the corresponding base EMS 20, which is configured to control the electric vehicle charger 31 based on the charging plan. The power control system 1 configured in this way can avoid charging (use of grid power) during times when the electricity market price is high, thereby reducing electricity costs.

[0043] In the power control system 1 according to this embodiment, the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to store target charging end time information for electric vehicles and to acquire charging history information for electric vehicles as actual performance information from the base EMS 20, and the wide-area EMS 10 is configured to determine a charging plan using electricity market price information, target charging end time information, and charging history information. The power control system 1 configured in this way allows charging to be performed without acquiring remaining energy information for electric vehicles, and does not require expensive electric vehicle chargers 31, thereby reducing system costs.

[0044] [Variations] The power control system according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the wide area EMS 10 is configured to formulate the charge / discharge plan and the charging plan. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the base EMS 20 may be configured to formulate the charge / discharge plan and the charging plan.

[0046] In the above-described embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the wide-area EMS 10 determines a charging plan using electricity market price information, target charging end time information, and charging performance information. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the charging plan may be determined using, for example, electricity market price information, target charging end time information, and remaining energy information of an electric vehicle.

[0047] It is clear from the claims that the above-mentioned modifications are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 1: Power control system 10: Wide-area EMS 20: Base EMS 30: Power control object 31: Electric vehicle charger 32: Solar power generation equipment 33: Power storage device 34: Power load

Claims

1. A plurality of base EMSs; a wide-area EMS configured to be able to communicate with the plurality of base EMSs; Equipped with the base EMS is configured to be able to control a plurality of power control targets provided within a power control target area, the wide-area EMS is configured to determine the target usage for each base group including one or more of the base EMSs based on usage determination information, which is information for determining a target usage that is a target value for power usage in the power control target area, and to transmit the determined target usage to the base EMS belonging to the base group, the base EMS is configured to control the plurality of power control targets so that the amount of power consumption in the power control target area is equal to or less than the target amount of power consumption, the usage amount determination information includes at least one of actual power usage information that is actual power usage in the power control target area and external factor information that contributes to determination of the target usage amount; the external factor information includes operation schedule information of the power control target, The power control object includes at least one electric vehicle charger, the operation schedule information of the power control object includes at least departure time information and planned driving distance information of the electric vehicle as operation schedule information of the electric vehicle charger; The wide-area EMS is configured to predict the amount of power usage in the power control target area based on the operation schedule information. Power control system.

2. The external factor information includes electricity market price information in the area of ​​the base group or the power control target area. The power control system of claim 1 .

3. The power control object includes at least one photovoltaic power generation device, The external factor information includes weather information in the area of ​​the base group. The power control system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The operation schedule information of the electric vehicle charger includes return time information of the electric vehicle. The power control system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The power control object includes at least one power storage device, the wide-area EMS is configured to determine a charge / discharge plan for the power storage device for each base group based on the electricity market price information, and to transmit the determined charge / discharge plan to the base EMS belonging to the base group, The base EMS is configured to control the power storage device based on the charge / discharge plan. The power control system of claim 2 .

6. The wide-area EMS is configured to use the electricity market price information to determine a charging plan for electric vehicles using the electric vehicle chargers for each of a plurality of power control target areas, and to transmit the determined charging plan to the corresponding base EMS, The base EMS is configured to control the electric vehicle charger based on the charging plan. The power control system of claim 2 .

7. the wide-area EMS is configured to store target charging end time information for the electric vehicle and to acquire charging record information for the electric vehicle from the base EMS as the record information; The wide-area EMS is configured to determine the charging plan using the electricity market price information, the target charging end time information, and the charging record information. The power control system of claim 6.

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