Output control device

Abstract

To secure electric power contribution quantity regardless of time zone to increase contract quantity in a capacity market.SOLUTION: A limiting mode of power generation output is provided that limits each upper limit of power generation of a fuel cell 26 and / or discharge of a storage battery 28 only during a specific time zone. A difference between a power generation output during limiting and a rated power generation output is secured as a power contribution quantity. At that time, the limiting mode is not performed unconditionally, but the limiting mode is performed on condition that the same quantity as watthours of power generation opportunity loss of the fuel cell or watthours of discharge opportunity loss of a power storage system when the limiting mode is applied, is generated or discharged in a later time to enable offsetting. Therefore, a consumer side does not suffer a disadvantage. The condition can be selected from multiple conditions, or one condition uniquely determined by an enterprise is applied taking into account power consumption status of a consumer in which a fuel cell system or the power storage system is installed, and weather information or the like.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an output control device that outputs power in response to an adjustment force command.

Background Art

[0002] As a device for controlling energy such as electricity used in a house, a home appliance control device or a home appliance control system (HEMS "Home Energy Management System") is known as a conventional technology. In recent years, with the spread of small-scale power generation facilities installed in houses, buildings, etc., a technology of a virtual power plant (VPP "Virtual Power Plant") that controls these multiple small-scale power generation facilities and treats them as if they were a single power plant is known.

[0003] A small-scale power generation facility, for example, a household fuel cell system, includes a power generation device and a storage battery that stores the generated power.

[0004] An adjustment entity of the VPP (for example, a resource aggregator) can aggregate the power from a plurality of household fuel cell systems by commanding an adjustment force to the household fuel cell system and make it function as if it were a single power plant.

[0005] In a household fuel cell system, during a time period when the fuel cell and the storage battery reach the rated power generation output and the rated discharge output during normal times, the household fuel cell system has no room to increase the output. Even if there is a margin at other times and it can be utilized as the supply power of the power output amount, the approximate amount of the activation command power source in the capacity market is limited.

[0006] Note that the capacity market is a market for the purpose of ensuring the necessary power sources. As other markets, there are a supply-demand adjustment market (for the purpose of supply-demand balance adjustment) and a wholesale power market (for the purpose of kWh trading between power generation companies and retailers).

[0007] Patent Document 1 describes an energy storage system comprising: a fuel cell capable of generating electricity using fuel and supplying generated electricity to a residential load connected to a grid power source; a storage battery capable of being charged and discharged according to the electricity demand of the residential load after the power generated by the fuel cell has been supplied; a photovoltaic power generation unit capable of generating electricity using natural energy and charging the storage battery with the generated electricity; and a control unit that controls the operation of the fuel cell, wherein the control unit suppresses the power generated by the fuel cell when predetermined conditions set according to the buying and selling of electricity are met.

[0008] In other words, Patent Document 1 describes a basic control method that allows the power generated by the fuel cell to be suppressed when certain conditions are met. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0009] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-032067 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0010] However, the basic control described in Patent Document 1 is based on the broad concept of suppressing the power generated by fuel cells, but it does not involve leaving surplus capacity to generate the power necessary for a Virtual Power Plant (VPP). Therefore, even if there is surplus capacity at other times that can be used to supply power, it cannot solve the problem of the limited contracted amount of power source for activation commands in the capacity market.

[0011] The objective of this invention is to provide an output control device that can secure electricity contributions regardless of the time of day and increase the contracted volume in the capacity market. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A first embodiment of the output control device according to the present invention is an output control device for a fuel cell system that consumes electricity generated by a power generator and discharged from a storage battery in accordance with the load on the consumer side, and contributes a portion of the said electricity in response to an adjustment command in which the time period for contributing electricity and the amount of electricity to be contributed are set, and comprises a selection unit that selects either a normal mode in which power generation and discharge are performed in accordance with the load up to a preset rated output limit, or a limited mode in which power generation and discharge are performed in accordance with the load up to a limit lower than the rated output, and an output control unit that, when there is no request for the contribution of electricity, selects the normal mode in the selection unit, and when there is a request for the contribution of electricity, selects the limited mode in the selection unit within a predetermined determination period, on the condition that the amount of electricity contributed by power generation can be offset by power generation, and the amount of electricity contributed by discharge can be offset by discharge, and controls the output.

[0013] According to the present invention, the selection unit selects either a normal mode in which power is generated and discharged in accordance with the load up to a preset rated output limit, or a limited mode in which power is generated and discharged in accordance with the load up to an output lower than the rated output limit.

[0014] In the output control unit, if there is no request for power contribution, the selection unit selects the normal mode. If there is a request for power contribution, the selection unit selects the limited mode, provided that the amount of electricity generated can be offset by the amount of electricity discharged from the battery within a predetermined determination period, thereby controlling the output of the fuel cell system.

[0015] This ensures that electricity contributions are secured regardless of the time of day, and increases the contracted volume in the capacity market. For example, if the predetermined judgment period is one day, the condition is met if the generation or discharge portion lost due to electricity contributions during a predetermined time period on the same day can be offset by a time period other than that predetermined time period. In other words, it is sufficient that the total amount of electricity and the total amount of discharge are the same within a day, regardless of whether or not electricity is generated.

[0016] A second aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, if a power generation shutdown is scheduled in the operation plan for the period following the determination period, the condition is determined to be met.

[0017] A third aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the first aspect, the condition is determined to be met when, in the operation plan for the period following the determination period, a power generation shutdown is scheduled and the period of said power generation shutdown is longer than or equal to a predetermined period.

[0018] A fourth aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to third aspects, the condition is determined to be met when the customer's load is within a predetermined range.

[0019] A fifth aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the condition is determined to be met when the remaining charge of the storage battery becomes empty based on the weather for the period following the determination period, or an operating plan based on factors including the electricity charges for the commercial power supply.

[0020] A sixth aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the condition is determined to be met if, even when output control is performed in the limiting mode, the remaining charge of the storage battery becomes empty, based on an operating plan that includes the weather for the period following the determination period or the electricity charges of the commercial power supply.

[0021] A seventh aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the condition is determined to be met when the charge level of the storage battery becomes empty during the determination period, based on a comparison of past power demand with the charge level of the storage battery.

[0022] The eighth aspect of the output control device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, when the frequency of the charge amount of the storage battery being empty is equal to or more than a predetermined value based on past operation results, it is determined that the condition is satisfied.

[0023] According to the present invention, it is possible to leave a margin for generating the power required for VPP.

[0024] Also, by setting the upper limit of at least one of power generation and power discharge, it is possible to determine whether it is necessary to implement output restriction without impairing the economic merits of consumers.

Effect of the Invention

[0025] As described above, in the present invention, it is possible to secure the power supply amount regardless of the time zone and increase the contracted amount in the capacity market.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026] [Figure 1] It is an overall configuration diagram of a virtual power generation system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram showing the flow of processing of an instruction system of a virtual power generation system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] (A) is a flowchart showing a power supply processing routine based on an adjustment power command in a power supply control device according to the present embodiment, (B) is a condition change routine, and (C) is an execution routine at the time of condition change. [Figure 4] (A) is a control flowchart showing the detailed flow of a condition change processing subroutine in step 106 of FIG. 3, and (B) is a front view of a condition change screen displayed on a monitor during condition change processing. [Figure 5] (A) is a power generation control characteristic diagram of a fuel cell in a restricted mode, and (B) is a power generation control characteristic diagram of a fuel cell in a normal mode.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] [Virtual Power Generation System] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the virtual power generation system 10 (VPP / Virtual Power Plant) according to this embodiment.

[0028] A virtual power generation system 10 generally refers to a system that bundles various power sources such as renewable energy, storage batteries, and private power generation devices to provide a stable power supply to a region as if there were one large power plant.

[0029] The virtual power generation system 10 according to this embodiment is a system that virtually controls, for example, power sources (fuel cell systems 16, described later) within the same area, and functions as a power infrastructure that replaces conventional large-scale power plants.

[0030] The virtual power generation system 10 consists of a power market 12 that can utilize the virtual power plant (such as a supply and demand adjustment market where general transmission and distribution operators adjust the supply and demand balance), multiple adjustment entities 14 that receive adjustment force commands (details described later) from the power market 12, and multiple power supply control devices 18 that control the power supply from the fuel cell system 16 based on the adjustment force commands from each of the multiple adjustment entities.

[0031] Furthermore, the electricity market 12 is not limited to general transmission and distribution companies, but also includes cases where, for example, companies specializing in the generation or retail sectors independently procure adjustment capabilities.

[0032] A power adjustment command is a command information requesting power supply, which sets the response time from the receipt of the power adjustment command until the power is supplied, and the continuous period during which the required amount of power (requested power) is supplied continuously. The power market 12 outputs a power adjustment command to the adjustment entity 14.

[0033] Here, among the 12 electricity markets, the supply and demand adjustment market issues adjustment force commands, which consist of five types of adjustment forces as shown in Table 1 below, differing in the response time until electricity is supplied and the duration of continuous supply of a predetermined amount of requested electricity.

[0034] [Table 1]

[0035] In the electricity market 12 of the virtual power generation system 10 according to this embodiment, an adjustment command is sent out with the purpose of "tertiary adjustment power [1] (alternative representation of the circled number in [1])" as shown in Table 1, and power is supplied from the fuel cell systems 16 installed in each home under the control of the power supply control device 18.

[0036] Furthermore, the intended adjustment capacity is not limited to "tertiary adjustment capacity [1] (alternative notation for the circled number in [1])", but may also be primary and secondary adjustment capacity.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1, the coordination entity 14 is hierarchical, and in this embodiment, it consists of multiple aggregation coordinators 20 as the upper layer and multiple resource aggregators 22 as the lower layer, forming a two-tiered structure.

[0038] The number of hierarchical levels is not limited to two; there may be three or more levels. Furthermore, the aggregation coordinator 20 may directly control multiple resources 24 at a single level. A resource 24 is a collection of multiple fuel cell systems 16 and power distribution control devices 18 managed by a single resource aggregator 22.

[0039] The upper-level aggregation coordinator 20 is responsible for distributing the adjustment force commands requested from the electricity market 12 to the lower-level resource aggregator 22.

[0040] The resource aggregator 22 receives adjustment commands from the aggregation coordinator 20 for which it is responsible (for example, commands with the same response time and duration but different power requirements).

[0041] Each of the resources 24 connected to each of the multiple resource aggregators 22 is equipped with a power distribution control device 18.

[0042] The power distribution control device 18 manages the distribution of power output from the fuel cell system 16 to the resource aggregator 22.

[0043] The fuel cell system 16 is a cogeneration system that uses electricity from a commercial power source (not shown), electricity generated by the fuel cell 26, and electricity stored in the battery 28 to supply electricity to each household. While the fuel cell system 16 and the battery 28 system (energy storage system) are normally separate entities, in this embodiment, the fuel cell system 16 includes the battery 28 energy storage system.

[0044] The power generation by the fuel cell 26 and the charging and discharging of the storage battery 28 are centrally managed by the system control unit 29, including power from the commercial power supply, and the system supplies power that matches the amount of electricity consumed in the home.

[0045] In addition to controlling the power supply within the home by the system control unit 29, the power distribution control device 18 controls the power generated by the fuel cell 26 of the fuel cell system 16 and the power stored in the storage battery 28 to be used as power to be distributed to the resource aggregator 22 (distributed power), based on adjustment commands from the resource aggregator 22.

[0046] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram for controlling adjustment force commands for power supply to the power market 12 and monitoring power supply during power supply, by linking the power market 12, adjustment entities 14 (aggregation coordinator 20 and resource aggregator 22), and power supply control device 18 (power supply control entity from fuel cell system 16) as described in Figure 1.

[0047] Note that each block in the functional block diagram in Figure 2 does not limit the hardware configuration of each part, but rather classifies them by function, and some or all of them may be constructed with software that operates based on the adjustment force command control program and the power output monitoring control program.

[0048] Furthermore, since the multiple aggregation coordinators 20, multiple resource aggregators 22, and multiple resources 24 each have the same configuration, we will explain the configuration of one of them and omit the configuration explanations for the others.

[0049] (Aggregation Coordinator 20) The aggregation coordinator 20 is equipped with an adjustment power receiving unit 30 that receives adjustment power commands from the power market 12. The adjustment power commands received in this embodiment are the tertiary adjustment power [1] (alternative representation of the circled number in [1]) shown in Table 1.

[0050] The adjustment power receiving unit 30 sends the received adjustment power to the adjustment power distribution unit 32. The adjustment power distribution unit 32 distributes the adjustment power (requested power generation amount) according to the power contribution capacity (information obtained in advance) of the multiple resource aggregators 22 under its jurisdiction.

[0051] The adjustment power distribution unit 32 is connected to the transmission unit 34 and transmits the adjustment power (distribution adjustment power) of the allocated power request to the multiple resource aggregators 22 under its jurisdiction.

[0052] Allocation adjustment capacity, in principle, is a system that requests a portion of the total amount of electricity required, with the same response time and duration.

[0053] Furthermore, the allocation adjustment power transmitted to multiple resource aggregators 22 may be varied in response time and duration over time, so as a whole, it may satisfy the tertiary adjustment power [1] (alternative representation of the circled number in [1]) received by the aggregation coordinator 20 from the electricity market 12.

[0054] Furthermore, the aggregation coordinator 20 includes an upper-level power information monitoring unit 35 that monitors power-related information (power information) collected from multiple resource aggregators 22 via power supply lines (not shown).

[0055] The upper-level power information monitoring unit 35 monitors the adjustment capacity based on power information from each resource aggregator 22, and aggregates the respective power information to contribute to the power market 12. The power market 12 provides the power set by the tertiary adjustment capacity [1] (alternative representation of the circled number in [1]) to power consumers.

[0056] (Resource Aggregator 22) The resource aggregator 22 is equipped with a distribution adjustment power receiving unit 36, which receives the distribution adjustment power from the transmission unit 34 of the aggregation coordinator 20 mentioned above.

[0057] The distribution adjustment force receiving unit 36 ​​is connected to the selection unit 38 and transmits the received distribution adjustment force.

[0058] The selection unit 38 selects the power distribution control device 18 belonging to the resource 24 that the resource aggregator 22 is responsible for. The power distribution control device 18 monitors the capacity (information obtained in advance) of the fuel cell system 16 that it is responsible for.

[0059] The selection unit 38 transmits the adjustment power (individual adjustment power) for the requested amount of power to each of the power supply control devices 18 selected by the selection unit 38 via the distribution adjustment power transmission unit 40.

[0060] Furthermore, the resource aggregator 22 includes a lower-level power information monitoring unit 42 that monitors power-related information (power information) collected from multiple resources 24 via power supply lines (not shown).

[0061] The lower-level power information monitoring unit 42 monitors the adjustment capacity based on the power information received from each power distribution control device 18 of the resource 24, and aggregates the respective power information and provides it to the aggregation coordinator 20.

[0062] (Resource 24) Resource 24 is a collection of power distribution control devices 18 managed by a single resource aggregator 22.

[0063] Each power supply control device 18 controls the power supply from the fuel cell system 16.

[0064] The fuel cell system 16 comprises a system control unit 29, a fuel cell 26, and a storage battery 28. The system control unit 29 controls the electricity consumed in the house (home, etc.) where the fuel cell system 16 is installed. It comprehensively controls electricity from a commercial power source (not shown), electricity generated by the fuel cell 26 using, for example, city gas as a raw material, and the charging and discharging of the storage battery 28, which mainly charges surplus electricity generated by the fuel cell 26 and discharges it as needed, thereby ensuring the electricity consumed in the house.

[0065] On the other hand, the power distribution control device 18 controls the distribution of power from the fuel cell system 16 based on the adjustment capacity (individual adjustment capacity) requested by the resource aggregator 22, separate from the power consumed within the house.

[0066] (Flow of normal operation control for virtual power generation system 10) The power supply control device 18 starts the power generation device based on the adjustment power command and supplies the requested amount of power. At this time, power generation from the fuel cell 26 and discharge from the storage battery 28 are used in combination.

[0067] Upon receiving adjustment command information from the electricity market 12, the type of adjustment is identified, and the allocation adjustment is commanded to each resource aggregator.

[0068] Upon receiving a distribution adjustment command from the aggregation coordinator 20, the system selects a power distribution control device 18 that will respond from the resource 24 it is responsible for, commands the selected power distribution control device 18 to adjust its individual power, and monitors the system.

[0069] When the system receives an individual adjustment command from the resource aggregator 22, it transfers part or all of the control performed by the system control unit 29 of the fuel cell system 16 to the power output control device 18.

[0070] The fuel cell 26 starts up if it is not generating power, and if it is generating power, it checks the amount of electricity stored in the battery 28, checks the amount of electricity generated by the fuel cell 26, and supplements the electricity from the battery 28 according to the amount of electricity generated. In other words, any amount of electricity that is insufficient from power generation is supplemented by discharging the battery 28.

[0071] Once the predetermined adjustment time (corresponding to the duration period) has elapsed (for example, the duration period is 3 hours in the case of the tertiary adjustment power [1] (a substitute representation for the circled number in [1])), the control of the fuel cell system 16 is switched to normal control (control by the system control unit 29), and the power output control ends.

[0072] [Output control (setting of power generation limiting mode)] Incidentally, in the fuel cell system 16, during the period when the fuel cell 26 reaches its rated power output (including the period when the battery 28 reaches its rated discharge output) on a predetermined day (corresponding to the judgment target), the fuel cell system 16 has no surplus capacity for supplying electricity. In other words, even if there is surplus capacity for supplying electricity at other times, the contracted amount of power source to be activated in the capacity market will be limited.

[0073] Therefore, in this embodiment, a power generation output limiting mode is provided that limits the upper limits of power generation by the fuel cell 26 and / or discharge by the storage battery 28, but only during specific time periods. The difference between the power generation output during the limiting period and the rated power generation output is secured as the amount of electricity contributed, thereby increasing the amount of electricity contracted in the capacity market.

[0074] However, if the restricted mode is implemented unconditionally, consumers will suffer disadvantages. Therefore, the restricted mode is implemented on the condition that the amount of electricity generated can be offset by the amount of electricity discharged from the battery 28, which is generated and stored in the battery 28 within a predetermined period (for example, one day) outside of specific time periods (see conditions 1 to 7 below).

[0075] Conditions 1 to 7 may be set individually, or multiple conditions may be used in combination. The conditions are classified into (a) conditions targeting the fuel cell 26 and (b) conditions targeting the storage battery 28.

[0076] (a) Conditions for the fuel cell 26 (Condition 1) If the operating plan for the day following the specified day (the period subject to determination) (the next period) includes a planned power generation shutdown, the conditions for executing the restricted mode are deemed to be met.

[0077] According to Condition 1, even if power generation by fuel cell 26 is restricted (upper limit set) during specific time periods, power generation can continue during the time periods when power generation is scheduled to be stopped (time periods other than the specific time periods), and the total power generation remains unchanged.

[0078] (Condition 2) If the operating plan for the day following the specified day (the period subject to determination) (the next period) includes a scheduled power generation shutdown, and the duration of the power generation shutdown is X hours (the specified period) or longer, then the conditions for executing the restricted mode are deemed to be met.

[0079] According to Condition 2, by adding the condition that the power generation shutdown period be X hours or more to Condition 1 described above, it is possible to ensure a more reliable period for continuous speaking than with Condition 1, while the total power generation remains unchanged.

[0080] (Condition 3) If the customer load is within a predetermined range, it is determined that the conditions for executing the restricted mode have been met.

[0081] According to Condition 3, if a consumer's household electricity demand and hot water demand are within a specified range, it can be determined that electricity consumption is low, and as a result, it can be predicted that power generation will need to be stopped, which is equivalent to the situation when Condition 1 is met.

[0082] (b) Conditions for the storage battery 28 (Condition 4) Based on the operating plan, which includes factors such as the weather for the period following the period subject to judgment and the electricity charges for commercial power sources, if the remaining charge of the storage battery 28 becomes empty, it is determined that the conditions for executing the restricted mode have been met.

[0083] According to condition 4, even if a discharge limit is set, the total discharge amount will not change if the limited charge amount is discharged during the time period when the remaining charge is expected to be depleted.

[0084] (Condition 5) Based on the operating plan, which includes factors such as the weather for the period following the period subject to judgment and the electricity rates for commercial power sources, if the remaining charge of the storage battery 28 becomes depleted even when output control is performed in restricted mode, it is determined that the conditions for performing restricted mode have been met.

[0085] According to Condition 5, if, as a result of continuing to discharge during the time period when the operating plan is scheduled to deplete the remaining charge, the remaining charge does not become depleted by the end of the day, the total discharge amount may be reduced. To avoid this, by adding the condition "the remaining charge becomes depleted after the discharge limit is set" to Condition 5, the total discharge amount can be secured more reliably than in Condition 4.

[0086] (Condition 6) By comparing past power demand with the charge level of the battery 28, if the charge level of the battery 28 becomes empty during the period to be determined, it is determined that the conditions for executing the restricted mode have been met.

[0087] According to condition 6, by simply predicting when the remaining charge of the battery 28 will be depleted by comparing past power demand with the capacity of the battery 28, without using an operation plan, the total discharge amount will not change even if a discharge limit is set.

[0088] (Condition 7) Based on past operating records, if the frequency of the battery 28 being completely empty is greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the conditions for executing the restricted mode have been met.

[0089] According to condition 7, even more simply than condition 6 above, the total discharge amount does not change even if a discharge limit is set by predicting when the battery 28 will be depleted based on past operating performance.

[0090] The operation of this embodiment will be explained below in accordance with the flowcharts in Figures 3(A) to (C) and Figure 4(A).

[0091] Figure 3(A) is a flowchart showing the power allocation processing routine based on the adjustment force command in the power allocation control device 18 according to this embodiment. Step 100 determines whether or not a power allocation instruction has been received. If the result in step 100 is negative, this routine terminates. On the other hand, if the result in step 100 is positive (power allocation instruction received), the process proceeds to step 116 to execute the operation control process, and this routine terminates.

[0092] Figure 3(B) is a flowchart showing the condition change routine in the power supply control device 18 according to this embodiment. Step 104 determines whether or not to change the condition. If the result in step 104 is negative, this routine terminates. If the result in step 104 is positive, the process proceeds to step 106, where the condition change process (details described later based on Figure 4(A)) is executed, and this routine terminates.

[0093] Whether or not to change the conditions is determined, for example, based on the operation of a condition change execution key (not shown). If the conditions are changed, the condition change screen is displayed on the monitor 50 installed on the power supply control device 18 (or on a remote monitor in the case of remote operation), as shown in Figure 4(B) (details will be described later).

[0094] Figure 3(C) is a flowchart showing the execution routine when conditions are changed in the power supply control device 18 according to this embodiment.

[0095] In step 108, a factor is obtained to determine whether the selected condition is met, and the process proceeds to step 110.

[0096] In step 110, conditional judgment processing based on calculations, predictions, etc., is performed using the factor obtained in step 108.

[0097] In the next step, 112, it is determined whether the condition was met based on the result of the condition determination process in step 110.

[0098] If the condition is met in step 112, the process proceeds to step 114, where the restricted mode (details below) is selected, and this routine terminates.

[0099] Furthermore, if a negative result (condition not met) is obtained in step 112, the process proceeds to step 102, normal mode is selected, and this routine terminates.

[0100] Figure 4(A) is a control flowchart showing the detailed flow of the condition change processing subroutine in step 106 of Figure 3.

[0101] In step 150, the list of conditions is displayed on monitor 50 (see Figure 4(B)). At this time, the currently selected condition is highlighted (shaded in Figure 4(B), but this can also be done by varying the intensity, changing the color, blinking, etc.).

[0102] In the next step 152, it is determined whether or not a condition has been selected. For example, by moving the pointer 52 displayed on the monitor 50 using a mouse or other means, and aligning it with the checkbox 54 set corresponding to each condition (condition 1 to condition 7), a check mark 56 is placed, and the condition is selected. Note that the selection operation can be repeated until confirmed by changing the position of the check mark 56 with the mouse. In Figure 4(B), the pointer 52 shown by a dotted line indicates the current or past position.

[0103] In the next step, 154, the selected conditions are highlighted, and the process proceeds to step 156. In step 156, it is determined whether or not a confirmation operation has been performed. For example, the confirmation operation is performed by moving the pointer 52 to the confirmation button area 58 using the mouse and clicking. If the condition change process is interrupted, the user can return to step 104 in Figure 3 by moving the pointer 52 to the back button area 60 using the mouse and clicking.

[0104] If the result in step 156 is negative, it is determined that the confirmation operation has not been performed, and the process returns to step 152, allowing the condition selection operation to proceed. If the result in step 156 is positive, it is determined that the condition has been confirmed, and the process moves to step 158 to set the selected condition, then to step 160 to end the display of the condition list on monitor 50, and this routine ends.

[0105] Figure 5 is a characteristic diagram showing the change in power generation output (y axis: kW) of the fuel cell system 16 over a 24-hour period (x axis: 0:00 to 24:00).

[0106] (Example of operation control in normal mode) Figure 5(B) shows an example of operation control specifically tailored to the power generation output of the fuel cell 26 of the fuel cell system 16 in normal mode.

[0107] As shown in Figure 5(B), in normal mode, the fuel cell 26 operates at its rated output as needed.

[0108] In Figure 5(B), power generation begins at 6:00 AM, operating at approximately 30% of the rated output at this point. From 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, it operates at the rated output. Subsequently, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, it operates at approximately 80% of the rated output, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM at approximately 70% of the rated output, and from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM at approximately 50% of the rated output before power generation stops.

[0109] (Example of operation control in restricted mode) Figure 5(A) shows an example of operational control of the fuel cell system 16, specifically tailored to the power generation output of the fuel cell 26, in a restricted mode.

[0110] As shown in Figure 5(A), in the limited mode, the power output of the fuel cell 26 is limited to approximately 50% of its rated output.

[0111] In Figure 5(A), power generation begins at 6:00 AM, operating at approximately 30% of the rated output. From 9:00 AM, instead of operating at the rated output as indicated by the dotted line (normal mode) in Figure 5(A), the system operates at a limited output (approximately 50% of the rated output) until 11:00 PM, at which point power generation stops.

[0112] In Figure 5(A), power generation will occur during the time period when power generation is not required as shown in Figure 5(B). The amount of power generated during this time period will be used to charge the battery 28.

[0113] Here, comparing the power output in the limited mode (see white area A in Figure 5(A)) with the power output in the normal mode (see white area B in Figure 5(B)), their areas are identical. In Figure 5(A), the white area B in Figure 5(B) is shown with a dotted line frame b, making it immediately clear that their areas are identical (A=B(=b)).

[0114] In other words, the total amount of power generated (kW) over a predetermined period (in this case, one day) is the same, and any excess power generated is charged into the battery 28 and subsequently used by discharging. Therefore, even in the limited mode, consumers are not disadvantaged (the total amount of power generated is not limited), and there is still capacity remaining up to the rated output.

[0115] This surplus capacity up to the rated output (the difference from the limited output) can be increased as the agreed-upon amount of power contribution.

[0116] While Figure 5 shows the power output control of the fuel cell 26, it is also possible to use the discharge output control of the battery 28 in conjunction with the power output control of the fuel cell 26. Alternatively, the discharge output control of the battery 28 may be performed only when power is not being generated.

[0117] As explained above, in this embodiment, a power output limiting mode is provided that limits the upper limits of power generation by the fuel cell 26 and / or discharge by the storage battery 28, but only during specific time periods. The difference between the power output during the limiting period and the rated power output is secured as the amount of electricity contributed. However, the limiting mode is not executed unconditionally. Instead, the limiting mode is executed on the condition that the amount of electricity generated can be offset by the amount of electricity discharged from the storage battery 28, which is generated and stored in the storage battery 28 during a predetermined period (for example, one day) outside of the specific time period. Therefore, the consumer does not suffer any disadvantage. The conditions are not unique, but can be selected from multiple conditions, taking into consideration the installation environment of the fuel cell system 16, the time of year (season), and the trends in the consumer's electricity consumption. As a result, the limiting mode can be executed under conditions suitable for the consumer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0118] 10 Virtual Power Generation System 12. Electricity Market 14 Coordinating body 16 Fuel cell systems 18 Power distribution control device (selection unit, output control unit) 20 Aggregation Coordinators 22 Resource Aggregators 24 Resources 26. Fuel Cells (Power Generators) 28 Storage batteries 29 System Control Unit 30 Adjustment Power Receiving Unit 32 Adjustment force distribution unit 34 Transmitter 35 Upper-Level Power Information Monitoring Department 36 Distribution adjustment power receiving unit 38 Selection Section 40 Distribution adjustment power transmission unit 42 Lower layer power information monitoring department 50 monitors 52 Pointer 54 checkboxes 56 Checkmark 58 Confirm button area 60 Back button area

Claims

1. An output control device that consumes electricity generated by a power generation device and discharged from a storage battery in accordance with the load on the consumer side, and, upon receiving an adjustment command in which the time period for supplying electricity and the amount of electricity required are set, supplies a portion of the electricity generated by the power generation device and discharged from the storage battery to the adjustment unit, A selection unit that selects either a normal mode in which power generation and discharge are performed in accordance with the load up to a preset rated output limit, or a limited mode in which power generation and discharge are performed in accordance with the load up to an output lower than the rated output limit, If there is no request for the supply of the aforementioned power, the selection unit selects the normal mode; if there is a request for the supply of the aforementioned power, the output control unit selects the restricted mode and controls the output, provided that the amount of power whose generation or discharge is restricted during a specific time period within a predetermined determination period can be offset by the amount of power generated or discharged during time periods other than the specific time period. An output control device having

2. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met if a power generation shutdown is scheduled in the operation plan for the period following the determination period.

3. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met if, in the operation plan for the period following the determination period, a power generation shutdown is scheduled and the period of said power generation shutdown is longer than or equal to a predetermined period.

4. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the above condition is met when the customer's load is within a predetermined range.

5. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met when the remaining charge of the storage battery becomes empty based on the weather for the period following the determination period, or an operating plan based on factors including the electricity charges for the commercial power supply.

6. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met if, based on an operating plan that includes the weather for the period following the determination period or the electricity charges for the commercial power supply, the remaining charge of the storage battery becomes empty even when output control is performed in the limiting mode.

7. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met when the charge level of the storage battery becomes empty during the determination period, by comparing past power demand with the charge level of the storage battery.

8. The output control device according to claim 1, which determines that the condition is met when the frequency of the battery being completely empty, based on past operating performance, is greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

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