Power information display system, power information display method, and program

Abstract

A power information display system (1) comprises a display terminal (400) of a consumer (10) and a distributed energy resource (DER) management device (500). A power amount prediction unit (505) of the DER management device (500) predicts the power purchase amount to be purchased or the power selling amount to be sold by the consumer (10). An adjustment ability prediction unit (506) of the DER management device (500) predicts an adjustment range in which the power purchase and selling amounts predicted by the power amount prediction unit (505) can be adjusted by a DER (110) owned by the consumer (10). The display terminal (400) displays, together with information indicating the adjustment range predicted by the adjustment ability prediction unit (506), information indicating the power purchase and selling amounts predicted by the power amount prediction unit (505). Thus, a user can easily ascertain the adjustment ability by the DER (110).

Description

Power information display system, power information display method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power information display system, a power information display method, and a program.

[0002] In recent years, consumers have been owning distributed energy resources (DERs), which are energy sources distributed across various locations, in order to achieve stable energy supplies, economic efficiency, and environmental compatibility. DERs include, for example, energy generating devices such as solar power generation systems and wind power generation systems, energy storing devices such as home storage batteries, EVs, and heat pump water heaters, and energy saving control target devices such as air conditioners and lighting that support energy saving control.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes an aggregator system that outputs control commands related to electricity to consumers who consume electricity in accordance with fluctuations in the amount of power generated by an electricity supplier.The aggregator system predicts the adjustment capacity, which is the amount of power that can be adjusted by each facility, which is the DER owned by the consumer, and outputs control commands to each facility to adjust the power that it receives, based on the predicted adjustment capacity of each facility and a DR command, which is a command to adjust the supply and demand of electricity from the electricity supplier.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-188498

[0005] The aggregator system described in Patent Document 1 is a system for power supply companies, and although it predicts adjustment capacity, the predicted adjustment capacity cannot be confirmed by the consumer users. Therefore, it is difficult for the consumer users to appropriately control each DER in response to the DR command.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned situation, and aims to provide a power information display system, a power information display method, and a program that allow users to easily understand the adjustment power provided by distributed energy resources owned by consumers.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the power information display system according to the present disclosure comprises: a power amount prediction means for predicting a power purchase amount, which is the amount of power purchased by a consumer or the amount of power sold by a consumer; an adjustment capacity prediction means for predicting an adjustment range within which the amount of power purchase and sale predicted by the power amount prediction means can be adjusted using distributed energy resources possessed by the consumer; and a display means for displaying information indicating the amount of power purchase and sale predicted by the power amount prediction means together with information indicating the adjustment range predicted by the adjustment capacity prediction means.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a user can easily grasp the adjustment capability of a distributed energy resource possessed by a consumer.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a power information display system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a display terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a DER management device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an adjustment capacity display screen according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of adjusting the amount of power sold and purchased according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of adjusting the amount of power sold and purchased according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0011] A power information display system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. The power information display system 1 is a system for displaying various information related to the amount of power consumed and generated at a consumer facility. As shown in FIG. 1 , the power information display system 1 includes a DER 110 owned by a consumer facility 10, which includes a solar power generation facility 101, a wind power generation facility 102, an air conditioner 103, a water heater 104, and a storage battery 105; a power measurement device 200; a controller 300 that manages the equipment in the consumer facility 10, including the DER 110; a display terminal 400 operated by a user of the consumer facility; and a DER management device 500 that is connected to the power measurement device 200, the controller 300, and the display terminal 400 via the Internet 20. Note that the consumer facility 10 may also include other equipment besides the DER 110, such as a television or a refrigerator. The controller 300 may also manage the power measurement device 200.

[0012] The solar power generation facility 101, wind power generation facility 102, air conditioner 103, water heater 104, and storage battery 105 owned by consumer 10 are distributed energy resources (hereinafter, DERs) that serve as energy sources for consumer 10. The solar power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102 are connected to a distribution board 40 via power lines D2 and D3, respectively, and the generated power is supplied to other devices via the distribution board 40 or sold to a commercial power source 30. The air conditioner 103, the water heater 104, and the storage battery 105 are connected to the distribution board 40 via power lines D4 to D6, respectively, and are supplied with power to operate from the commercial power source 30, the solar power generation facility 101, or the wind power generation facility 102 via the distribution board 40.

[0013] The photovoltaic power generation facility 101 is a facility that generates electricity by converting light energy from the sun into electricity. The wind power generation facility 102 is a facility that generates electricity by converting wind energy into electricity. The photovoltaic power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102 are energy-generating devices that create energy.

[0014] The air conditioner 103 is a device that is subject to energy saving control and is compatible with demand response and the like.

[0015] The water heater 104 is a heat pump type water heater that stores boiled water in a tank and supplies hot water as needed. The storage battery 105 is a home storage battery that charges with power from the commercial power source 30 and discharges it when needed for use within the consumer 10. The storage battery 105 may be one that is built into an EV (electric vehicle). The water heater 104 and the storage battery 105 are energy storage devices that can store energy.

[0016] In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the solar power generation facility 101, the wind power generation facility 102, the air conditioner 103, the water heater 104, and the storage battery 105, they will also be referred to as DER 110. Note that the DER 110 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the customer 10 may be equipped with a DER 110 other than that shown in this figure. Furthermore, the customer 10 does not need to be equipped with all of the DERs 110 shown in FIG. 1, and it is sufficient if the customer 10 is equipped with at least one DER 110.

[0017] The power measuring device 200 is a smart meter having a function of measuring the amount of power purchased or sold by the consumer 10, and a communication function of transmitting power purchase amount information indicating the measured amount of power purchased or sold to the controller 300 via the Internet 20. The power measuring device 200 may be connected to the DER management device 500 via the Internet 20 without being connected to the controller 300.

[0018] The amount of purchased power purchased by the consumer 10 is the amount of power supplied (purchased) to the consumer 10 by forward power flow from the commercial power source 30 via the power line D1 and the distribution board 40. When the total power consumption of the consumer 10 (the sum of the amount of power consumed by the DER 110 and all devices other than the DER 110 within the consumer 10) is greater than the amount of power generated by the solar power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102, the amount of power that is insufficient is the amount of purchased power supplied (purchased) from the commercial power source 30.

[0019] The amount of power sold by the consumer 10 is the amount of power supplied (sold) by reverse power flow from the solar power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102 via power lines D2, D3, the distribution board 40, and the power line D1 to the commercial power source 30. When the amount of power generated by the solar power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102 is greater than the total amount of power consumed by the consumer 10, the surplus power is the amount of power sold.

[0020] The amount of power sold and purchased measured by the power measuring device 200 collectively refers to the amount of power purchased and the amount of power sold. For convenience in this disclosure, a positive value for the amount of power sold and purchased indicates the amount of power purchased, and a negative value for the amount of power sold and purchased indicates the amount of power sold. For example, if the total power consumption of the consumer 10 during a certain time period is 500 kWh, the amount of power generated by the solar power generation facility 101 is 100 kWh, and the amount of power generated by the wind power generation facility 102 is 200 kWh, the power measuring device 200 measures the amount of power sold and purchased during that time period as 500 kWh - 100 kWh - 200 kWh = 200 kWh, which means that 200 kWh of power is purchased from the commercial power source 30. Furthermore, if the total power consumption of consumer 10 during a certain time period is 500 kWh, the power generated by solar power generation equipment 101 is 400 kWh, and the power generated by wind power generation equipment 102 is 200 kWh, power measuring device 200 will measure the amount of power sold and purchased during that time period as 500 kWh - 400 kWh - 200 kWh = -100 kWh, which means that 100 kWh is being sold to commercial power source 30.

[0021] In addition to the amount of power purchased and sold as described above, the power measuring device 200 also has the function of individually measuring the amount of power of each DER 110 (the amount of power generated by the solar power generation equipment 101 and the wind power generation equipment 102, the amount of power consumed by the air conditioner 103 and the water heater 104, and the amount of power charged and discharged from the storage battery 105), and transmits power amount information indicating these measured amounts of power to the controller 300.

[0022] The controller 300 is a control device that complies with the standards of an EMS (Energy Management System), such as a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) or a BEMS (Building Energy Management System). The controller 300 is connected to each DER 110 and the power measurement device 200 via a communication line, whether wired or wireless, and is also connected to a DER management device 500 via the Internet 20. The controller 300 aggregates operation information of each DER 110 and transmits it to the DER management device 500, receives control commands for the DER 110 from the DER management device 500, and transmits power amount information measured by the power measurement device 200 to the DER management device 500. Note that at least one of the DER 110 and the power measurement device 200 may be directly connected to the Internet 20, and may transmit operation information and power information or receive control commands without going through the controller 300.

[0023] The display terminal 400 is a smartphone, tablet terminal, or the like used by a user of the consumer 10. As shown in FIG. 2 , the display terminal 400 includes a communication device 401 for connecting to the Internet 20, a touch panel 402 for displaying and operating the display, a storage device 403 for storing various data, programs, and the like, and a control device 404 for controlling each component. The display terminal 400 is connected to the DER management device 500 via the Internet 20 and functions as a user interface for the power information display system 1. For example, the display terminal 400 displays a regulation capacity display screen (described later) on the touch panel 402. Furthermore, when an operation to change the amount of power purchased and sold in the first time slot is performed from the regulation capacity display screen, the display terminal 400 changes the displayed information indicating the amount of power purchased and sold and the information indicating the adjustment range, and transmits an instruction to adjust the amount of power to the DER management device 500. The display terminal 400 is an example of a display means and a display change means in the present disclosure.

[0024] Returning to Fig. 1 , the consumer 10 may be a detached house, a housing complex such as a condominium or apartment, one dwelling unit in a housing complex, an office building, a commercial building, etc. Note that Fig. 1 shows only one consumer 10, but in reality, the DER management device 500 is connected to the controllers 300 of multiple consumers 10.

[0025] Next, the DER management device 500 will be described. The DER management device 500 is a server, workstation, or the like for managing the DER 110. As shown in FIG. 3 , the DER management device 500 includes a communication device 510 for connecting to the Internet 20, a storage device 520 for storing various data, programs, and the like, and a control device 530 for controlling each of these devices. The communication device 510 of the DER management device 500 receives operations performed by a user from the touch panel 402 of the display terminal 400 via the Internet 20, and the control device 530 executes processing according to the content of the received operation. The control device 530 also controls the communication device 510 to transmit screen data of a control power display screen (described later) and the like to the display terminal 400 via the Internet 20, and displays the screen data on the touch panel 402. As shown in FIG. 4 , the DER management device 500 has, as its functional configuration, a specific information acquisition unit 501, a specific information storage unit 502, a power information acquisition unit 503, a power information storage unit 504, a power amount prediction unit 505, an adjustment power prediction unit 506, a display control unit 507, an adjustment instruction receiving unit 508, and a DER control unit 509.

[0026] The specific information acquisition unit 501 acquires specific information about each DER 110 of the consumer 10 from the controller 300 of the consumer 10, for example, every five minutes, and stores the information in chronological order in the specific information storage unit 502. Here, the specific information is various information according to the type of DER 110, and is referenced to determine the adjustment range described below. For example, if the DER 110 is a solar power generation facility 101 or a wind power generation facility 102, the specific information is information indicating the power generation capacity, the degree of output suppression, etc. If the DER 110 is an air conditioner 103, the specific information is information indicating the current operating state, set temperature, outdoor temperature, etc. If the DER is a water heater 104, the specific information is information indicating the tank capacity, rated boiling power, remaining hot water amount, etc. If the DER 110 is a storage battery 105, the specific information is information indicating the battery capacity, charge / discharge capability, remaining charge, etc. The unique information acquisition unit 501 may acquire the unique information directly from each DER 110 without going through the controller 300 .

[0027] The power information acquisition unit 503 acquires, for example, every five minutes, from the controller 300 of the consumer 10, power purchase / sale amount information indicating the actual value of the amount of power purchased / sales of the consumer 10 measured by the power measurement device 200, and power amount information indicating the actual value of the amount of power (power consumption amount, power generation amount, charged power amount, discharged power amount) of each DER 110, and stores the information in chronological order in the power information storage unit 504. Note that the power information acquisition unit 503 may acquire this information directly from the power measurement device 200 without going through the controller 300. FIG. 5 shows an example of information stored in the power information storage unit 504. In this example, the actual values ​​of the amount of electricity purchased and sold by the consumer 10, measured every 30 minutes, and the actual values ​​of the amount of electricity of each DER 110 (the amount of electricity generated by the solar power generation facility 101, the amount of electricity generated by the wind power generation facility 102, the amount of electricity consumed by the water heater 104, the amount of electricity charged and discharged by the storage battery 105, and the amount of electricity consumed by the air conditioner 103) are stored in the power information memory unit 504.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 4 , the power amount prediction unit 505 predicts the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for a predetermined prediction time period based on the actual values ​​of the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 stored in the power information storage unit 504. The prediction time period may be, for example, a time period from 30 minutes to 1 hour from the present time, or a fixed time period such as 10:00 to 11:00. Alternatively, multiple prediction time periods may be set, and the amount of power purchased and sold may be predicted for each prediction time period. For example, the power amount prediction unit 505 can predict the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 by averaging the actual values ​​of the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for each prediction time period for the past 14 days stored in the power information storage unit 504. The power amount prediction unit 505 may also predict the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 taking into account weather information for the prediction day, whether the prediction day is a holiday or a weekday, and the like. The power amount prediction unit 505 is an example of a power amount prediction means of the present disclosure.

[0029] The adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts an adjustment range within which the DER 110 can adjust the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 predicted by the power amount prediction unit 505, based on actual values ​​such as the amount of power consumed and the amount of power generated of each DER 110 stored in the power information storage unit 504 and the specific information of each DER 110 stored in the specific information storage unit 502. The adjustment capability prediction unit 506 is an example of an adjustment capability prediction means of the present disclosure. The adjustment range predicted by the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 is represented by an upward adjustment range indicating how much the amount of power purchased by the consumer 10 predicted by the power amount prediction unit 505 can be increased or how much the predicted amount of power sold can be reduced, and a downward adjustment range indicating how much the amount of power purchased by the consumer 10 can be reduced or how much the predicted amount of power sold can be increased.

[0030] Specifically, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts, for each DER 110, the amount of power that can be increased by adjusting the operation of the DER 110, or the amount of power that can be reduced by adjusting the amount of power sold, predicted by the power amount prediction unit 505, and by adding up these for all DERs 110, it is possible to predict the increase adjustment range for all of the consumers 10. For example, if the DERs 110 are the photovoltaic power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the amount of power generated in the prediction time period from the actual values ​​of the amount of power generated by the photovoltaic power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102, and determines the amount of power that can be suppressed by suppressing the predicted amount of power generated, by referring to specific information such as the power generation suppression value. Furthermore, if the DER 110 is a water heater 104, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the power consumption for the prediction time period from the actual value of the power consumption of the water heater 104, and refers to specific information such as the remaining tank capacity to determine the amount of power that can be further increased from the predicted power consumption by shifting the operation from other times to a boil-up operation. Furthermore, if the DER 110 is a storage battery 105, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the remaining battery capacity for the prediction time period from the actual values ​​of the amount of charged and discharged power of the storage battery 105, and refers to specific information such as the battery's capacity and charging capability to determine the amount of power that can be further charged during the prediction time period. The adjustment capability prediction unit 506 can then determine the total value of these power amounts calculated for each DER 110 as the increase adjustment range.

[0031] The adjustment capability prediction unit 506 also predicts, for each DER 110, the amount of power that can be reduced by adjusting the operation of the DER 110 or the amount of power that can be increased by adjusting the amount of power sold, and by summing these for all DERs 110, it is possible to predict the range of power reduction adjustment for all consumers 10. For example, if the DER 110 is an air conditioner 103, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the power consumption for a prediction time period based on the actual power consumption value of the air conditioner 103, and determines the amount of power that can be reduced from the predicted power consumption by operating the air conditioner 103 in an energy-saving manner within an acceptable range for comfort. If the DER 110 is a water heater 104, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the power consumption for a prediction time period based on the actual power consumption value of the water heater 104, and determines the amount of power that can be reduced from the predicted power consumption by shifting the operation time to another time and performing boil-up operation, referring to specific information such as the remaining amount in the tank. Furthermore, for example, if the DER 110 is a storage battery 105, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicts the remaining battery capacity for the prediction time period from the actual values ​​of the amount of charged power and the amount of discharged power of the storage battery 105, and determines the amount of power that can be further discharged for the prediction time period by referring to specific information such as the battery's capacity and discharge capability. Then, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 can determine the total value of these amounts of power determined for each DER 110 as the lower adjustment range.

[0032] The display control unit 507 creates screen data for a regulation capacity display screen that displays the predicted value of the amount of power sold and purchased by the consumer 10 predicted by the power amount prediction unit 505, together with information indicating the regulation range predicted by the regulation capacity prediction unit 506. Then, the display control unit 507 transmits the generated screen data to the display terminal 400, and causes the touch panel 402 to display the regulation capacity display screen. Details of the regulation capacity display screen will be described later. The display control unit 507 is an example of a display control means of the present disclosure.

[0033] The adjustment instruction receiving unit 508 receives an instruction to adjust, within the adjustment range, the predicted value of the amount of power sold and purchased by the customer 10 from the display terminal 400. The adjustment instruction receiving unit 508 is an example of an adjustment instruction receiving means of the present disclosure.

[0034] The DER control unit 509 determines the DER 110 to be controlled and the control content of the DER 110, and controls the DER 110 so that the amount of power sold and purchased by the consumer 10 is adjusted according to the adjustment instruction received by the adjustment instruction receiving unit 508. The DER control unit 509 is an example of a DER control means of the present disclosure.

[0035] Next, the operation of the DER management device 500 of the power information display system 1 will be described. In the DER management device 500, at regular intervals, for example, every five minutes, the specific information acquisition unit 501 acquires the latest specific information of each DER 110 from the controller 300 and stores it in chronological order in the specific information storage unit 502. Similarly, in the DER management device 500, at regular intervals, for example, every five minutes, the power information acquisition unit 503 acquires from the controller 300 actual values ​​of the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 and actual values ​​of the amount of power consumed and the amount of power generated by each DER 110 over the last five minutes, and stores them in chronological order in the power information storage unit 504. In parallel with these processes, the DER management device 500 executes the adjustment capacity display process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 every 30 minutes.

[0036] When the adjustment capability display process is started, the power amount prediction unit 505 of the DER management device 500 first predicts the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for a predetermined time period based on the actual values ​​of the amount of power purchased and sold stored in the power information storage unit 504 (step S101). Specifically, the power amount prediction unit 505 predicts the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for each of the following time periods: 30 to 60 minutes from now, 90 to 120 minutes from now, 150 to 180 minutes from now, and 210 to 240 minutes from now. For example, if it is currently 9:30, the power amount prediction unit 505 predicts the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for four time periods: 10:00 to 10:30, 11:00 to 11:30, 12:00 to 12:30, and 13:00 to 13:30.

[0037] Next, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 of the DER management device 500 predicts an adjustment range (an increase adjustment range and a decrease adjustment range) within which the amount of purchased and sold power of the consumer 10 predicted in step S101 can be adjusted by adjusting the operation of the DER 110, based on the actual value of the amount of power of each DER 110 stored in the power information storage unit 504 and the specific information of each DER 110 stored in the specific information storage unit 502 (step S102). Specifically, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 calculates, for each DER 110, the amount of power by which the amount of power consumption can be increased and the amount of power generation can be decreased during the prediction time period, and calculates the increase adjustment range by adding up these amounts for all DERs 110. Furthermore, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 calculates, for each DER 110, the amount of power by which the amount of power consumption can be decreased and the amount of power generation can be increased during the prediction time period, and calculates the decrease adjustment range by adding up these amounts for all DERs 110.

[0038] Next, the display control unit 507 of the DER management device 500 creates screen data for a regulation capacity display screen that displays the predicted value of the amount of power sold and purchased by the consumer 10 predicted in step S101 together with the regulation range predicted in step S102 (step S103). Then, the display control unit 507 transmits the created screen data to the display terminal 400, and causes the regulation capacity display screen to be displayed on the touch panel 402 (step S104). Note that if the regulation capacity display screen has already been displayed by the previous regulation capacity display process, the display control unit 507 updates the regulation capacity display screen with the transmitted screen data.

[0039] 7 shows an example of the adjustment capacity display screen displayed on the touch panel 402 of the display terminal 400. On this adjustment capacity display screen, the predicted values ​​of the amount of power sold and purchased for four time periods, 10:00 to 10:30, 11:00 to 11:30, 12:00 to 12:30, and 13:00 to 13:30, predicted by the power amount prediction unit 505 in step S101, are represented by the heights of four rectangular shapes A1 to A4. In addition, as an indication of the adjustment capacity predicted by the adjustment capacity prediction unit 506 in step S102, bars B1 to B4 representing an upward adjustment range for these predicted amounts of power sold and bars C1 to C4 representing a downward adjustment range are displayed.

[0040] 6, the adjustment instruction receiving unit 508 then determines whether 30 minutes have passed since the start of the adjustment capacity display process (step S105). If 30 minutes have passed (step S105; Yes), the next adjustment capacity display process will be started, and the current adjustment capacity display process will be terminated.

[0041] On the other hand, if 30 minutes have not yet elapsed (step S105; No), the adjustment instruction receiving unit 508 determines whether an instruction to adjust the amount of power purchased and sold has been received from the display terminal 400 (step S106). The adjustment instruction is an instruction to increase or decrease the predicted value of the amount of power purchased and sold for the first time slot displayed on the adjustment capacity display screen within an adjustment range. For example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B , the user can increase the amount of power purchased by the consumer 10 by touching with a finger U1 a figure A1 representing the amount of power purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for the time slot from 10:00 to 10:30 within the range of a bar B1 indicating the upward adjustment range, and then dragging and dropping the figure A1 upward to increase the height of the figure A1. Then, when the drag-and-drop operation is completed, the control device 404 of the display terminal 400 displays a confirmation dialog M1 as shown in FIG. 8C . Then, when the control device 404 receives a touch operation of the Confirm button M2 by the user, it confirms the change operation of the purchased power amount, and decreases the length of the bar B1 representing the upward adjustment range by the amount of increase in the height of the figure A1, i.e., the amount of increase in the purchased power amount, while moving the bar C1 representing the downward adjustment range upward by the increased height of the figure A1 while keeping its length unchanged. That is, the adjustment capacity display screen becomes the state shown in FIG. 8D. Then, the control device 404 of the display terminal 400 transmits an adjustment instruction to the DER management device 500. Note that if the user touches the Cancel button M3 in the confirmation dialog M1, the figure A1 returns to the state shown in FIG. 8A before the change operation.

[0042] 6 , if an adjustment instruction has not been received (step S106; No), the process returns to step S105. On the other hand, if an instruction to adjust the amount of power sold and purchased is received from the display terminal 400 (step S106; Yes), the DER control unit 509 determines a new DER 110 to be controlled from among the multiple DERs 110 in the consumer 10 and the control content thereof based on the content of the adjustment instruction (step S107). For example, if the adjustment instruction is to increase the amount of power sold and purchased from 10:00 to 10:30 by 50 kWh, the DER control unit 509 determines the control content to suppress the power generation amount of the photovoltaic power generation facility 101 or the wind power generation facility 102 by 50 kWh from 10:00 to 10:30, or to increase the charge amount of the storage battery 105 by 50 kWh. Which of the multiple DERs 110 is to be the control target can be determined by assigning a priority to each DER 110 in advance, and the DER 110 with the highest priority can be prioritized as the control target. Also, if one DER 110 cannot increase or decrease the amount of power by the adjustment amount, multiple DERs 110 can be targeted for control.

[0043] Next, the DER control unit 509 transmits a control command to the target DER 110 via the controller 300 to control the DER 110 in the manner determined in step S107 (step S108). Then, the process proceeds to step S105.

[0044] As described above, according to this embodiment, the amount of power purchased or sold by the consumer 10 is predicted, and an adjustment range within which the predicted amount of power purchased or sold can be adjusted by the DER 110 owned by this consumer 10 is predicted. Information indicating the predicted amount of power purchased or sold (e.g., figures A1 to A4 in FIG. 7 ) is displayed together with information indicating the predicted adjustment range (e.g., bars B1 to B4 indicating an upward adjustment range and bars C1 to C4 indicating a downward adjustment range). This allows the user to easily grasp the adjustment power provided by the distributed energy resources owned by the consumer 10.

[0045] (Modifications) The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are naturally possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure.

[0046] For example, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 predicted the adjustment range of the amount of power purchased and sold based on the unique information of each DER 110. However, doing so could result in the adjustment range becoming too large in some cases, allowing users to make extreme adjustments to the amount of power purchased and sold, which could cause inconvenience in terms of comfort and energy conservation. Therefore, to prevent such a situation, the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 may predict an adjustment range (upward adjustment range, downward adjustment range) within a range that does not exceed a predetermined adjustment capability limit range. For example, if the adjustment capability limit range is set to 200 kWh and the upward adjustment range is predicted to be 300 kWh based on the unique information of each DER 110, this exceeds the adjustment capability limit range, so the adjustment capability prediction unit 506 may predict the upward adjustment range to be 200 kWh.

[0047] For example, instead of Fig. 7, an adjustment capability display screen as shown in Fig. 9 may be displayed. This adjustment capability display screen newly displays a graph G1 showing the predicted value of the electricity unit price for purchasing power for each time period, and a graph G2 showing the predicted value of the electricity unit price for selling power. The predicted value of the electricity unit price may be predicted, for example, from actual values ​​of past electricity unit prices. Furthermore, this adjustment capability display screen displays in G3 the predicted result of the electricity rate for that day based on the predicted value of the amount of electricity currently purchased and sold by the consumer 10. Furthermore, a lowest electricity rate button G4 is provided below G3. By pressing the lowest electricity rate button G4, the amount of electricity purchased and sold by the consumer 10 in each time period is automatically adjusted so that the predicted electricity rate for that day is the lowest. That is, when the electricity rate lowest button G4 is pressed, the DER management device 500 (electricity rate calculation means) searches for a pattern that will result in the lowest electricity rate forecast for that day from the combination of settings for the amount of electricity purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for each time period, and performs a process to calculate the lowest price by setting the amount of electricity purchased and sold by the consumer 10 for each time period using that pattern.

[0048] Furthermore, a control capability display screen such as that shown in FIG. 10 may be displayed. This control capability display screen displays a new graph H1, which shows the predicted results of power generation from renewable energy sources (hereinafter, "renewable energy"), such as the solar power generation facility 101 and the wind power generation facility 102, for each time period. Furthermore, a predicted value of the renewable energy self-consumption for that day is displayed in H2, based on the current setting of the amount of power purchased and sold by the customer 10. Furthermore, a "renewable energy power generation maximization" button H3 is provided below H2. By pressing the "renewable energy power generation maximization" button H3, the DER management device 500 (renewable energy power generation calculation means) adjusts the amount of power purchased and sold for each time period so as to maximize the predicted amount of renewable energy power generation for that day. Displaying such a control capability display screen enables the customer 10 to efficiently adjust the amount of renewable energy power generation based on the amount of renewable energy power generation. For example, displaying such a control capability display screen is useful when the customer 10 is eligible for subsidies based on the amount of renewable energy power generation (self-consumption) of the renewable energy.

[0049] Furthermore, the storage battery 105 can store the charged energy for later use. Furthermore, the water heater 104 can store boiled water for later use. Therefore, the storage battery 105 and the water heater 104 are DERs 110 that can be time-shifted, shifting their operating time periods regardless of the time periods required by the user. Therefore, when a user changes the amount of power purchased and sold of such a time-shiftable DER 110 on the adjustment capacity display screen, time shifting can be taken into consideration. That is, when the amount of power purchased and sold for a first time period on the adjustment capacity display screen is manually adjusted by a user, time shift control is possible on the display terminal 400, which automatically changes the display indicating the amount of power purchased and sold for a second time period that is a time period after the first time period and the display indicating the adjustment range in conjunction with each other. An example of time shift control will be described using FIGS. 11 and 12 .

[0050] 11A shows a part of the adjustment capacity display screen, which displays a figure A1 indicating the amount of power sold and purchased for the first time period from 10:00 to 10:30 before the user performs an adjustment operation on the amount of power sold and purchased, a bar B1 indicating the upward adjustment range, and a bar C1 indicating the downward adjustment range. At this time, the amount of power sold and purchased for the second time period from 11:00 to 11:30, and the upward adjustment range and downward adjustment range are as shown in FIG. 12A.

[0051] In this state, suppose that the user performs an operation to increase the height of the figure A1 as described in Figures 8A and 8B in order to increase the amount of purchased power during the first time slot, 10:00 to 10:30. As a result, the display for the first time slot becomes the display shown in Figure 11 (B), and the height of the figure A1 indicating the amount of purchased power increases. As described above, the change operation has not been confirmed at this stage.

[0052] 12(B), the length of bar C2 indicating the downward adjustment range for the second time period from 11:00 to 11:30 increases automatically without any user operation. This is because the operation to increase the amount of purchased power during the first time period increases the amount of charge in storage battery 105 or the amount of water heated by water heater 104, which increases the amount of dischargeable power from storage battery 105 during the second time period or reduces the amount of power required to heat water from water heater 104, thereby increasing the downward adjustment range.

[0053] Thereafter, when the user confirms the operation to increase the amount of purchased power in the first time slot (see FIG. 8C ), the display for the first time slot changes to the state shown in FIG. 11(C). In conjunction with this display, the display for the second time slot changes to the state shown in FIG. 12(C). That is, the lengths of the figure A2 representing the amount of purchased power in the second time slot and the bar C2 indicating the downward adjustment range are automatically reduced by the amount of increase in the amount of purchased power in the first time slot due to time shift.

[0054] In this example, the time period from 11:00 to 11:30, which is the time period immediately following the first time period (10:00 to 10:30), is set as the second time period, and the display of the second time period is changed in conjunction with the change in the display of the first time period, but how the second time period is determined is arbitrary.

[0055] For example, when a change is made to increase the amount of electricity purchased by increasing charging in the storage battery 105 during the first time period, the second time period may be the time period after the first time period and when the amount of electricity used is the highest in a day.

[0056] Also, for example, when a change is made to the storage battery 105 to increase discharge and reduce the amount of purchased electricity during the first time period, the second time period may be the time period after the first time period when the amount of surplus electricity in the solar power generation equipment 101 is greatest.

[0057] Also, for example, when a change is made in the water heater 104 to stop heating up and reduce the amount of purchased electricity during the first time period, the second time period may be the time period after the first time period and during the day when the amount of surplus electricity from the solar power generation equipment 101 is greatest.

[0058] For example, in the above embodiment, the adjustment capacity display process is described as being executed by the DER management device 500, but some of the steps of the adjustment capacity display process may be shared and executed by the controller 300 and the display terminal 400.

[0059] For example, in the above embodiment, an upward adjustment range and a downward adjustment range were predicted as adjustment ranges for the amount of electricity purchased and sold by consumer 10, and these were displayed on the adjustment capacity display screen, but it is also possible to predict only at least one of the upward adjustment range and the downward adjustment range and display it on the adjustment capacity display screen.

[0060] By applying a program for the control device 530 of the DER management device 500 to execute the adjustment power display process to an existing computer, it is also possible to make the computer function as the power information display system 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0061] Such a program may be distributed by any method, for example, by storing it on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), or a memory card, or by distributing it via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0062] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0063] 1 Power information display system, 10 Consumer, 20 Internet, 30 Commercial power supply, 40 Distribution board, 101 Photovoltaic power generation equipment, 103 Air conditioner, 104 Water heater, 105 Storage battery, 110 DER, 200 Power measurement device, 300 Controller, 400 Display terminal, 401 Communication device, 402 Touch panel, 403 Storage device, 404 Control device, 500 DER management device, 501 Specific information acquisition unit, 502 Specific information storage unit, 503 Power information acquisition unit, 504 Power information storage unit, 505 Power amount prediction unit, 506 Adjustment power prediction unit, 507 Display control unit, 508 Adjustment instruction reception unit, 509 DER control unit, 510 Communication device, 520 Storage device, 530 Control device, D1 to D6 Power line

Claims

1. A power quantity prediction means for a consumer that owns distributed energy resources and, for each predetermined unit time period, is either in a state of purchasing electricity or a state of selling electricity, predicts the amount of electricity purchased during the time period in which the consumer is in the purchasing state and the amount of electricity sold during the time period in which the consumer is in the selling state as the amount of electricity bought and sold for each unit time period. An adjustment capacity prediction means predicts an adjustment range for each unit time period that allows for increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity purchased per unit time period during the period when electricity is purchased, and the amount of electricity sold per unit time period during the period when electricity is sold, by adjusting the operation of the distributed energy resources. A display means that displays information indicating the amount of electricity purchased for each unit time period during the time period in which the electricity purchase state is predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means, and the amount of electricity sold for each unit time period during the time period in which the electricity sales state is predicted, together with information indicating the adjustment range for each unit time period predicted by the adjustment capacity prediction means. A power information display system equipped with the following features.

2. A means for predicting the amount of electricity purchased by consumers or the amount of electricity sold, which is the amount of electricity bought or sold by consumers, An adjustment force prediction means predicts an adjustment range that can adjust the amount of electricity to be bought and sold predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means using the distributed energy resources owned by the consumer, A display means that displays information indicating the amount of electricity to be bought and sold predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means, together with information indicating the adjustment range predicted by the adjustment power prediction means, An adjustment instruction receiving means for receiving an adjustment instruction for the amount of electricity bought and sold during the first time period within the adjustment range, A display modification means that modifies the information showing the amount of electricity bought and sold during the first time period and the information showing the adjustment range, based on the adjustment instruction received by the adjustment instruction receiving means, Based on the adjustment instruction received by the adjustment instruction receiving means, a DER control means controls the distributed energy resources, A power information display system equipped with the following features.

3. A means for predicting the amount of electricity purchased by consumers or the amount of electricity sold, which is the amount of electricity bought or sold by consumers, An adjustment force prediction means predicts an adjustment range that can adjust the amount of electricity to be bought and sold predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means using the distributed energy resources owned by the consumer, The system includes a display means that displays information indicating the amount of electricity to be bought and sold predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means, together with information indicating the adjustment range predicted by the adjustment power prediction means. The display means further displays the predicted results of renewable energy generation during the period corresponding to the displayed amount of electricity bought and sold. Power information display system.

4. The adjustment force prediction means predicts, as the adjustment range, at least one of an upward adjustment range that allows the power purchase amount predicted by the power quantity prediction means to be adjusted in the direction of increasing the power purchase amount or decreasing the power sales amount, by adjusting the operation of the distributed energy resources. A power information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The display changing means, when the distributed energy resource is a time-shiftable facility, changes the information indicating the amount of electricity bought and sold in a second time period, which is a time period later than the first time period, and the information indicating the adjustment range, in conjunction with the changes in the first time period. The power information display system according to claim 2.

6. The display means further displays the predicted electricity rate per unit for the period corresponding to the displayed amount of electricity bought and sold. A power information display system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The system includes an electricity rate calculation means that modifies the predicted value of the amount of electricity bought and sold so that the electricity rate is the lowest within the adjustment range. The power information display system according to claim 6.

8. The system includes renewable energy generation calculation means that modifies the predicted value of the electricity sales amount so that the amount of renewable energy generated by the consumer within the adjustment range is maximized. The power information display system according to claim 3.

9. A consumer that possesses distributed energy resources and, for each predetermined unit time period, is in either a state of purchasing electricity or a state of selling electricity, predicts the amount of electricity purchased during the time period in which the consumer is in the purchasing state and the amount of electricity sold during the time period in which the consumer is in the selling state as the amount of electricity bought and sold for each unit time period. By adjusting the operation of the distributed energy resources, the amount of electricity purchased per unit time period during the period when electricity is purchased, and the amount of electricity sold per unit time period during the period when electricity is sold, can be increased or decreased by predicting the adjustment range for each unit time period. The system displays information indicating the amount of electricity purchased for each unit time period during the predicted electricity purchase state and the amount of electricity sold for each unit time period during the predicted electricity sales state, along with information indicating the adjustment range for each predicted unit time period. How to display power information.

10. Computers, A power quantity prediction means for a consumer that possesses distributed energy resources and, for each predetermined unit time period, is either in a state of purchasing electricity or selling electricity, predicts the amount of electricity purchased during the time period in which the consumer is in the purchasing state and the amount of electricity sold during the time period in which the consumer is in the selling state as the amount of electricity bought and sold for each unit time period. Adjustment capacity prediction means predicts an adjustment range for each unit time period that allows for increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity purchased per unit time period during the period when electricity is purchased, and the amount of electricity sold per unit time period during the period when electricity is sold, by adjusting the operation of the distributed energy resources. A display control means that displays information indicating the amount of electricity purchased for each unit time period during the time period in which the electricity purchase state is predicted by the electricity quantity prediction means, and the amount of electricity sold for each unit time period during the time period in which the electricity sales state is predicted, together with information indicating the adjustment range for each unit time period predicted by the adjustment capacity prediction means. A program that makes it function as such.