Information processing device, information processing method, and program

Abstract

This information processing device comprises: a time interval determination unit that determines a time interval during which power interchange is performed between microgrids; a priority order determination unit that determines a first priority order for eliminating power tightness and a second priority order for eliminating surplus power among a plurality of microgrids to be controlled in the time interval; and a supply and demand adjustment control unit that selects one or more pairs between interchange source microgrids and interchange destination microgrids on the basis of the first priority order and the second priority order in the time interval and determines to perform the power interchange in each pair.

Description

Information processing device, information processing method, and program

[0001] The present invention relates to supply and demand adjustment control among multiple microgrids in which renewable energy sources are introduced.

[0002] In recent years, renewable energy has been attracting attention due to the global trend toward decarbonization, and it is expected that the amount of renewable energy sources introduced will continue to increase. Solar power generation and wind power generation, which are representative of renewable energy sources, are considered clean electricity as they do not require fossil fuels to generate power. However, their power output is significantly affected by weather changes such as the amount of solar radiation and wind speed, making it difficult to obtain stable output. Therefore, as more renewable energy sources are introduced into the power grid in the future, the risk of deviations from the optimum frequency range and large-scale blackouts due to output fluctuations will increase.

[0003] Battery control is one way to deal with output fluctuations of renewable energy. For example, Non-Patent Document 1 discloses an output control method that takes into account the performance of storage batteries, such as their lifespan, in response to sudden output fluctuations of solar power generation. However, to absorb the output fluctuations of renewable energy introduced in large quantities using this method alone would require a huge amount of storage battery equipment.

[0004] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 2 discloses a method for spatially controlling power consumption by utilizing a virtualized network to control ICT loads between bases nationwide. However, because there is a limit to the amount of power that can be adjusted using ICT loads alone, it is unclear whether this method alone will be able to maintain a balance between supply and demand in an era in which renewable energy is being introduced on a large scale.

[0005] Furthermore, Non-Patent Document 3 discloses a technology for adjusting supply and demand in response to fluctuations in renewable energy within a microgrid by linking not only storage batteries but also demand control. However, this method is limited to supply and demand adjustment control within a single microgrid.

[0006] Power Supply and Demand Balance Control in Energy Management Systems, Panasonic Technical Journal Vol. 57 No. 4 Jan. 2012; Proposal of an ICT Load Allocation Method Considering Renewable Energy, IEICE General Conference, B-14-4, 2022-03-01; Development and Demonstration of Supply and Demand Control Functions for Microgrids, Electron Theory B, Vol. 128 No. 2, 2008; Bi-Level Optimal Strategy of Islanded Multi-Microgrid Systems Based on Optimal Power Flow and Consensus Algorithm, Energies 2020, 13, 1537

[0007] Non-Patent Document 4 discloses a control method for power interchange between microgrids. However, this method does not take into account the future supply and demand balance. Therefore, there is a possibility that operation will be inefficient over a longer period of time.

[0008] That is, the conventional technology has a problem in that it does not realize control that takes into account the future balance of supply and demand when adjusting power supply and demand by interchange of power between microgrids.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a technology for realizing control that takes into account future supply and demand balance when adjusting power supply and demand by exchanging power between microgrids.

[0010] According to the disclosed technology, an information processing device is provided that includes: a time zone determination unit that determines a time zone during which power will be exchanged between microgrids; a priority determination unit that determines, during the time zone, a first priority for relieving power shortages and a second priority for relieving power surpluses among multiple microgrids that are the subject of control; and a supply and demand adjustment control unit that, during the time zone, selects one or more pairs between a source microgrid and a destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority, and determines to exchange power between each pair.

[0011] The disclosed technology provides a technology for achieving control that takes into account future supply and demand balance in adjusting power supply and demand by interchange of power between microgrids.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall overview of a supply and demand adjustment method in which multiple microgrids are linked. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the processing of the supply and demand adjustment device 100. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the supply and demand adjustment device 100. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the supply and demand adjustment device 100. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of an information processing device 200. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the device.

[0013] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment described below is merely an example, and the embodiment to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the following embodiment.

[0014] Below, we will explain a technology that allows multiple microgrids to work together to adjust supply and demand while taking into account future supply and demand balances, in the context of the introduction of renewable energy.

[0015] In the following, first, the problems related to the present embodiment will be described in detail, and then the technology according to the present embodiment will be described in detail. Note that the description of the problems below is not publicly known technology.

[0016] (About the Issues) Conventional technology has proposed a method for adjusting supply and demand within a microgrid from the perspective of local production and consumption of energy. However, in a situation where a large amount of renewable energy is introduced and power output fluctuates due to weather changes, if control is limited to within the microgrid, depending on the supply and demand situation, there is a possibility that one microgrid will control demand by saving power due to a power shortage, while another microgrid will waste power by reducing the output of power generation equipment due to a power surplus.

[0017] As the amount of renewable energy introduced increases, power waste is likely to occur if only control is performed within the microgrid. Therefore, it is necessary to go beyond the traditional local production and consumption of energy and efficiently utilize renewable energy by sharing power between microgrids. In this situation, cross-area supply and demand control is being considered in some areas, and systems for transmitting renewable energy to distant locations, such as self-consignment, have been designed, making it possible to control power supply and demand between microgrids. In the future, as renewable energy is introduced on a large scale, it will be necessary to combine the control of each energy resource between and within these microgrids to improve the utilization efficiency of renewable energy while maintaining the supply and demand balance, aiming to expand the introduction of green power and stabilize power quality.

[0018] There are multiple types of energy resources that can be transferred, such as workloads generated by ICT devices using virtualization technology, charging and discharging of storage batteries, and transfers through self-consignment. When adjusting energy resources between microgrids, power is transferred from surplus areas to strained areas using energy resources, but there are many combinations of which energy resources from which surplus microgrids should be transferred to which strained microgrids. Therefore, when each microgrid has a power surplus or shortage, the problem of which microgrid to which microgrid and which energy resource to use for power transfer cannot be solved by combining existing technologies that maintain the supply and demand balance of a single microgrid, and as the number of energy resources increases, it becomes difficult to solve the problem within a realistic time frame.

[0019] To address this issue, it is possible to solve the problem in a short time by creating one-to-one pairs of energy sources and destinations for each 30-minute time slot where simultaneous balancing of supply and demand is required, and then transferring energy resources one by one. Note that "30 minutes" is just an example. For example, it is possible to divide each microgrid into groups with surplus power and groups with tight power, determine the priority for resolving the power surplus / tightness for each, and create one-to-one pairs by selecting one surplus grid and one tight grid in descending order of priority. Furthermore, by setting rules for the priority of transferring energy resources in a similar manner, it becomes possible to adjust supply and demand between multiple microgrids in a short calculation time.

[0020] However, as mentioned above, the method of optimizing for each time period sequentially can lead to problems in that it may not result in optimal operation over a long time span. For example, while the time periods for inference processing in machine learning and battery charging and discharging can be controlled relatively freely, there are limitations on the amount of power that can be adjusted. It is preferable to apply such energy resources to the time periods / locations where power is most tight, or to time periods where adjustments can only be made using those energy resources.

[0021] In the case of a method that sequentially optimizes by time period, if power is tight at multiple times during the day, sequential response can be inefficient. For example, while it is desirable to use storage batteries during the daytime when power is relatively tight, a method that optimizes by time period may use up all of the battery capacity in the morning because it does not take into account future power tightness.

[0022] To avoid such a situation, a control method is required that takes into account future supply and demand balance while ensuring that calculation time is reduced.

[0023] (Overall Configuration Example) With reference to FIG. 1 , an example of the overall configuration that is the target of supply and demand adjustment through inter-microgrid cooperation will be described.

[0024] 1 shows microgrids A to C. Each microgrid includes a demand facility, a power storage facility, and a power generation facility.

[0025] In each microgrid, power generation facilities generate electricity using renewable energy, and power demand facilities consume electricity. In addition, the supply and demand balance is adjusted by charging and discharging storage facilities (storage batteries) or reducing demand by saving power at demand facilities.

[0026] Furthermore, workload migration using virtualization technology between microgrids allows the physical movement of power consumption sources. Furthermore, in recent years, the off-site PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) system has made it possible to transmit renewable energy to distant locations, allowing for the selection of the supply destination. Furthermore, through electricity trading through the Japan Electric Power Exchange and through transactions with the grid, microgrids can procure power adjustment capacity in the event of a system-wide power shortage and sell surplus power.

[0027] In this way, by combining energy resources that can be moved and controlled between microgrids (transmission of renewable energy to supply bases, movement of ICT loads to operating bases) with energy resources that can be controlled within the microgrid (control of demand facilities, control of storage facilities), and controlling multiple microgrids in a coordinated manner, it is possible to make effective use of renewable energy and to further stabilize the supply and demand balance, even in an era in which renewable energy is introduced on a large scale.

[0028] (Outline of Control by Supply and Demand Adjustment Device 100) In this embodiment, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 executes control that takes into account the future supply and demand balance in adjusting power supply and demand in cooperation between microgrids. An outline of the control will be described with reference to FIG. 2. In the following description, "performing interchange" in a future time slot corresponds to generating a plan (schedule) that indicates that interchange will be performed in that time slot. This plan may also be called an interchange pattern.

[0029] In order to take into account the future supply and demand balance, the supply and demand adjusting device 100 performs optimization for multiple future time frames (time periods) in 30-minute time frames where the simultaneous balance of supply and demand is required. Note that setting the time frame to 30 minutes is just an example, and the time frame may be a time length other than 30 minutes.

[0030] First, in S101, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 excludes the electricity of energy resources that can be shifted during time periods, such as charging and discharging storage batteries or workload transfers, from the surplus / tightness calculation throughout the entire target time period in order to allocate it to the appropriate time period.

[0031] In S102, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 determines the priority of the time periods in which surpluses / shortages should be preferentially eliminated throughout all target time periods, and determines the time periods in which power will be exchanged according to this priority.

[0032] In S103, the supply and demand adjusting device 100 classifies each microgrid into a surplus group and a tight group during the time period determined in S102, and determines the surplus / stress priority for each group.

[0033] In S104, the supply and demand adjusting device 100 selects microgrids one by one to perform the power interchange based on the surplus / constraint priority determined in S103, and determines pairs of one-to-one power interchange sources and destinations. Regarding the selection of the energy resource (power interchange method) to be interchanged from the interchange source, a cost function is defined, and the energy resource to be used for the interchange is selected in accordance with the cost value, and the interchange is performed. The processing of S104 is performed for each pair with surplus / constraint based on the priority determined in S103.

[0034] In S105, if the supply and demand adjusting device 100 determines that the surplus or tightness cannot be resolved by accommodation only within the relevant time period, it uses an energy resource that can be shifted to a different time period.

[0035] In other words, if surplus power remains, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 uses the surplus power to allocate a time-shiftable workload or store power in a storage battery during a target time period. Also, if a power shortage remains, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 discharges power from a time-shiftable storage battery during the target time period to relieve the power shortage.

[0036] As described above, the operation of selecting one time slot and determining the interchange pattern for that time slot is performed for all time slots in order according to the time slot priority. After this operation is completed, in the time slot where further adjustment of the supply and demand balance (resolving surplus / tightness) is required, in S106, surplus power is sold or tight power is purchased through a transaction with the grid.

[0037] This operation makes it possible to adjust power supply and demand through energy resource control that takes into account maintaining the supply and demand balance of each microgrid, while avoiding a situation where one microgrid experiences a power shortage while another has a power surplus.

[0038] (Configuration Example of Supply and Demand Adjusting Device 100) Fig. 3 shows a configuration example of the supply and demand adjusting device 100. Fig. 3 also shows a group of microgrids that are targets of control by the supply and demand adjusting device 100.

[0039] 3, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 includes an information collection unit 110, a prediction unit 120, a shortage resolution grid priority order determination unit 130, a surplus resolution grid priority order determination unit 140, a time period priority order determination unit 150, a supply and demand adjustment control unit 160, a control command unit 170, and an execution schedule management unit 180. The functions of each unit are as follows:

[0040] The information collection unit 110 collects power generation information from power generation facilities, demand information from demand facilities, and remaining power storage information from power storage facilities from each microgrid. The prediction unit 120 predicts the power generation and power demand in each microgrid based on the information collected by the information collection unit 110.

[0041] The congestion relief grid priority determination unit 130 determines the congestion relief priority of each microgrid based on the information collected by the information collection unit 110 .

[0042] The surplus resolution grid priority determination unit 140 determines the surplus resolution priority of each microgrid based on the information collected by the information collection unit 110 .

[0043] The time slot priority order determining unit 150 determines the priority order of the time slots for eliminating surplus / constraint based on the information collected by the information collecting unit 110 .

[0044] Based on the information obtained from the information collection unit 110, the prediction unit 120, the shortage resolution priority determination unit 130, the surplus resolution priority determination unit 140, and the time zone priority determination unit 150, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 determines the operation of the power generation equipment, demand equipment, and storage equipment in each microgrid so as to make the most efficient use of renewable energy, and transmits the results to the control command unit 180.

[0045] The control command unit 170 transmits the determination result (called a control instruction) of the control operation of each energy resource under its control to each microgrid. Each microgrid that receives the control instruction controls each energy resource based on the control instruction.

[0046] The execution schedule management unit 180 instructs the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 on the timing of control execution. Since the supply and demand balance adjustment requires simultaneous balancing of planned values ​​every 30 minutes, one possible example is to derive six time slots, each 30 minutes long, i.e., a three-hour schedule every three hours. In addition to this, while monitoring the supply and demand balance of each microgrid, control may be executed as needed when a supply and demand mismatch is detected or predicted.

[0047] Based on the above implementation, by controlling each energy resource to control supply and demand within the microgrid and also to exchange power between microgrids, it is possible to achieve effective use of renewable energy and maintain a balance between supply and demand even when large amounts of renewable energy are introduced.

[0048] The supply and demand adjustment device 100 does not necessarily have to include functional units (the control command unit 170 and the execution schedule management unit 180) that issue control instructions to the microgrid group. In other words, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 may create a plan (interchange pattern) for a future time period, and another device may issue actual control instructions using the plan.

[0049] (Operation of the Supply and Demand Adjusting Device 100) The operation of the supply and demand adjusting device 100 will be described in detail below in accordance with the procedures of the flowcharts in FIGS.

[0050] <S1: Information Collection> In S1 (step 1) of FIG. 4, the information collection unit 110 collects the following necessary information for each component of each microgrid.

[0051] Renewable energy power generation equipment: equipment capacity (kW), current power generation (kW) Demand equipment: past demand power consumption data, current demand power consumption (kW) Power storage equipment: power storage capacity (kWh), current remaining capacity (kWh) Weather forecast: temperature, solar radiation, wind speed Details of contract with power company: power selling price, power purchasing price <S2: Demand forecast, power generation forecast> In S2, the prediction unit 120 predicts the power generation and power consumption for each microgrid. Specifically, the prediction unit 120 derives a future power consumption forecast based on current values, past data, and weather forecasts. The power consumption forecast may be derived as a first-order approximation of the temperature and power consumption from past data.

[0052] Similarly, the prediction unit 120 derives a future power generation forecast based on current values, past data, and weather forecasts. The power generation forecast may be derived from past data as a first-order approximation of the amount of solar radiation in the case of solar power generation or the wind speed in the case of wind power generation.

[0053] Regarding the above future prediction, for example, when deriving a schedule for three hours (six time periods), with each time period being 30 minutes, the prediction unit 120 makes a prediction for each of the six time periods. For example, if the current time (the time when the prediction is made) is 30 minutes before the start of the three hours, the prediction for the first of the six time periods will be a prediction for 30 minutes into the future, and the prediction for the second time period will be a prediction for 60 minutes into the future. The same applies to the other time periods.

[0054] <S3: Excluding Energy Resources That Can Be Shifted in Time Periods> In S3, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 excludes the amount of power of an energy resource that can be shifted in time period from subsequent calculations throughout the entire target time period in order to enable allocation to an appropriate time period. "Excluding" means that the amount of power is not used in the calculations for determining surplus / tightness.

[0055] Furthermore, the entire target time period is, for example, "3 hours" when scheduling for 3 hours as in the example described above. However, the entire time period is not limited to this, and may be 24 hours.

[0056] <S4: Creating Time Slot Priorities> Because the priority for relieving surplus / constraint varies depending on the time slot, in S4 the time slot priority determination unit 150 creates time slot priorities. For example, in time slots where a greater power shortage is occurring, it is possible that the shortage cannot be fully resolved by interchanges that do not allow for time slot shifting. Therefore, it is necessary to actively use interchanges that allow for time slot shifting, such as transferring workloads to other grids or discharging storage batteries, to relieve the shortage. For example, once a storage battery is discharged, the power from that battery cannot be used immediately thereafter, so time slots where there is a high possibility that such power will need to be used are given a higher priority for relieving the shortage.

[0057] The time slot priority determination unit 150 determines the order of time slots for which interchange is to be performed, for example, in descending order of the tight power (= predicted power demand - predicted renewable energy generation power) for each time slot excluding energy resources that can be shifted during that time slot. The method for determining the order of time slots is not limited to this, and the order may be determined based on, for example, the order of power purchase prices of power companies, which vary depending on the time slot. Furthermore, time slots that meet predetermined conditions may be prioritized regardless of the tight power or power purchase price.

[0058] Thereafter, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 determines an interchange pattern (plan) for each time period. Hereinafter, "performing interchange" with a certain pair in a certain way means determining an interchange pattern in which interchange is performed with that pair in that way.

[0059] <S5: Selection of Time Period> In S5, the supply and demand adjustment device 100 determines which time period to perform the interchange based on the interchange implementation priority. Here, the time period with the highest interchange implementation priority is selected from among the time periods for which the interchange has not yet been performed. Note that selecting the time period with the highest interchange implementation priority is just one example, and time periods may be selected based on other criteria.

[0060] <S6: Creation of Surplus Resolution Priority Order> In S6, the surplus resolution grid priority order determiner 140 creates a surplus resolution priority order for each microgrid. Specifically, this is as follows.

[0061] Depending on weather and demand conditions, it may not be possible for the entire microgrid group to consume all of the generated renewable energy. If there is no capacity to charge the storage batteries, the electricity will be sold back to the grid, but in this case the purchase price (yen / kWh) varies depending on the power company. When considering profitability, it is desirable for the microgrid, which will ultimately generate surplus, to be in an area with a high purchase price.

[0062] Therefore, in this embodiment, the surplus elimination grid priority order determiner 140 determines the order in which surplus is preferentially eliminated in ascending order of the purchase price unit price of the electric power company in each microgrid. In other words, the lower the purchase price unit price, the higher the priority for surplus elimination. The method for determining the surplus elimination order is not limited to this, and the order may be determined based on, for example, the capacity of the storage battery installation. The order may also be determined based on other criteria.

[0063] <S7: Creation of Congestion Relief Priority> In S7, the congestion relief grid priority order determiner 130 creates a congestion relief priority order for each microgrid.

[0064] Depending on weather and demand conditions, it may not be possible for renewable energy alone to cover the power needs of the entire microgrid group. In such cases, the supply and demand balance is maintained by purchasing electricity from the power company, but as electricity liberalization progresses, it is expected that the purchase price of electricity from the power company will differ for each microgrid. In such cases, microgrids that ultimately maintain balance by purchasing electricity can reduce costs by using microgrids with lower purchase prices.

[0065] Therefore, in this embodiment, the grid pressure relief priority order determiner 130 prioritizes alleviating power pressure in descending order of the power purchase price of the power company in each microgrid. In other words, the higher the power purchase price, the higher the priority for alleviating pressure. The method for determining the grid pressure relief priority order is not limited to this, and the order may be determined based on, for example, the remaining capacity of the storage batteries in each microgrid. The order may also be determined based on other criteria.

[0066] <S8 to S15: Interchanging Surplus Power with Other Microgrids> In S8 to S15, the surplus power is interchanged with other microgrids. More specifically, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 creates a schedule (interchange pattern) of control details, which will be described below, for the target time period, and holds the schedule until the target time period arrives. When the target time period arrives, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 sends the control details to the control command unit 170 based on instructions from the execution schedule management unit 180, and the control command unit 170 transmits control instructions including the control details to each microgrid that is the target of control. This executes the actual control.

[0067] In each microgrid, if there is remaining capacity of renewable energy power generation or power storage equipment even after covering the power demand in the microgrid, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 considers that there is surplus power in the microgrid.

[0068] When there is a power shortage in another microgrid, the surplus power in one microgrid is transmitted to that microgrid and shared.

[0069] More specifically, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 selects a microgrid with a high priority for resolving surplus as the source of power to be transferred, and selects a microgrid with a high priority for resolving pressure as the destination of power to be transferred, and transfers power until the surplus is resolved or the pressure is resolved.

[0070] There are several methods for transferring energy to other microgrids (energy resources for transfer), such as transmitting renewable energy generated electricity via off-site PPAs and transferring workloads using virtualization technology. However, since each method is expected to incur costs, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 compares these costs and decides to transfer energy in order of lowest cost.

[0071] For example, off-site PPA for renewable energy power incurs the cost of using the power company's transmission network (wheeling charges). Furthermore, workload migration requires additional power consumption, resulting in an electricity bill for the power consumption. Because these costs are all proportional to the amount of power (kWh) being transferred, it is possible to express the cost as a linear equation for the amount of power being transferred, such as wheeling charge unit price (yen / kWh) x amount of power (kWh) or electricity rate unit price (yen / kWh) x amount of power (kWh). This allows for a comparison of costs between power transfer methods. The computational time required for this is significantly smaller than that of conventional technologies.

[0072] A specific example of the processing in steps S8 to S15 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

[0073] <S8: Determining Whether Surplus Power is Occurring> In S8, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 determines whether there is a microgrid in which surplus power is occurring. If there is a microgrid in which surplus power is occurring, the process proceeds to S9; if there is no microgrid in which surplus power is occurring, the process proceeds to S15.

[0074] <S9: Microgrid Selection> In S9, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 selects one microgrid with the highest surplus resolution priority from among one or more microgrids in which surplus power is occurring.

[0075] <S10: Determining whether there is a power shortage> In S10, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 determines whether there is a power shortage in another microgrid during the same target time period. If there is a microgrid experiencing a power shortage, the process proceeds to S11, and if not, the process proceeds to S15.

[0076] <S11: Microgrid Selection> In S11, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 selects one microgrid with the highest priority for relieving the shortage from among one or more microgrids experiencing a power shortage.

[0077] <S12: Cost Calculation> In S12, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 calculates the renewable energy power transmission cost, the storage battery power transmission cost, and the ICT load movement cost for the pair of microgrids selected in S9 and S11.

[0078] <S13: Interchange> In S13, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 interchanges power from the surplus grid to the deficit grid in ascending order of cost until the power shortage is resolved or the surplus power disappears.

[0079] <S14: Updating Supply and Demand Balance> In S14, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 updates the power supply and demand balance of each microgrid.

[0080] <S15: Determining interchangeability> If there are interchangeable energy resources as a result of updating the supply and demand balance, the process returns to S8, and if not, the process proceeds to S16 in Fig. 5. Proceeding to S16 means that it is difficult to resolve the surplus / tightness by interchange only between microgrids in the same time period.

[0081] <S16 to S20: Interchange from Other Time Zones> In S16 to S20, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 interchanges power from other time zones excluded in S3. In other words, if there is a surplus, it allocates workloads that can be shifted in time zones and / or charges the storage battery. Furthermore, if there is a shortage, it discharges the storage battery.

[0082] A specific example of the processing in steps S16 to S20 will be described below with reference to the flow chart of FIG.

[0083] <S16: Determine Presence or Absence of ICT Load> If there is an ICT load that can be shifted during the time period, proceed to S17; if not, proceed to S18.

[0084] <S17: Control> In S17, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 allocates workloads / charges storage batteries when there is a surplus, and discharges storage batteries when there is a shortage.

[0085] <S18: Information Update> In S18, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 updates the power supply and demand balance of each microgrid and information on energy resources that can be time-shifted. For example, when time-shiftable storage battery power is used by discharging, the amount of power in the storage battery decreases by the amount of the discharge.

[0086] <S19: Exclusion of Time Period> In S19, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 excludes the selected time period from the time period priority order.

[0087] <S20: Determine whether there is a time period> If there is a time period in which no operation (control) is being performed, return to S5; if not, proceed to S21.

[0088] <S21, S22: Purchasing Power from the Grid> In S21, if there is no microgrid with a surplus or a tight load as a result of performing the operation for all time periods, the process ends, and if there is a microgrid with a surplus or a tight load, the process proceeds to S22.

[0089] In S22, the supply and demand adjustment control unit 160 purchases the shortage of power from the grid or sells the surplus power in the target microgrid for that time period.

[0090] (Other Configuration Examples) The supply and demand adjustment device 100 may be referred to as an information processing device 200. The information processing device 200 may have the configuration shown in Fig. 6. The supply and demand adjustment device 100 is an example of the information processing device 200. As shown in Fig. 6, the information processing device 200 includes a time period determination unit 210, a priority determination unit 220, and a supply and demand adjustment control unit 230.

[0091] The time period determination unit 210 determines a time period during which power is to be interchanged between microgrids. The priority determination unit 220 determines a first priority for resolving power shortages and a second priority for resolving power surpluses among multiple microgrids to be controlled. The supply and demand adjustment control unit 230 selects one or more pairs between an interchange source microgrid and an interchange destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority during the time period, and determines to interchange power between each pair.

[0092] (Hardware Configuration Example) Any of the devices described in this embodiment (the supply and demand adjusting device 100 and the information processing device 200) can be realized, for example, by causing a computer to execute a program. This computer may be a physical computer or a virtual machine on the cloud.

[0093] That is, the device can be realized by executing a program corresponding to the processing performed by the device using hardware resources such as a CPU and memory built into a computer. The program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (such as a portable memory) and stored or distributed. The program can also be provided via a network such as the Internet or email.

[0094] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the computer. The computer in Fig. 7 includes a drive device 1000, an auxiliary storage device 1002, a memory device 1003, a CPU 1004, an interface device 1005, a display device 1006, an input device 1007, an output device 1008, and the like, all of which are interconnected via a bus B. The computer may further include a GPU.

[0095] The program that realizes the processing on the computer is provided by a recording medium 1001, such as a CD-ROM or a memory card. When the recording medium 1001 storing the program is set in the drive device 1000, the program is installed from the recording medium 1001 to the auxiliary storage device 1002 via the drive device 1000. However, the program does not necessarily have to be installed from the recording medium 1001, but may be downloaded from another computer via a network. The auxiliary storage device 1002 stores the installed program as well as necessary files, data, etc.

[0096] The memory device 1003 reads and stores a program from the auxiliary storage device 1002 when an instruction to start the program is received. The CPU 1004 realizes functions related to the device in accordance with the program stored in the memory device 1003. The interface device 1005 is used as an interface for connecting to a network, etc. The display device 1006 displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) or the like according to the program. The input device 1007 is composed of a keyboard, mouse, buttons, a touch panel, etc., and is used to input various operation instructions. The output device 1008 outputs the results of calculations.

[0097] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the technology described in the present embodiment makes it possible to realize control that takes into account the future supply and demand balance in adjusting power supply and demand by exchanging power between microgrids.

[0098] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments.

[0099] <Additional Notes> (Additional Item 1) An information processing device including a memory and at least one processor connected to the memory, wherein the processor determines a time period for power interchange between microgrids, and during the time period, determines a first priority for resolving power shortages and a second priority for resolving power surpluses among a plurality of microgrids to be controlled, and selects one or more pairs between a source microgrid and a destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority, and determines to interchange power between each pair. (Additional Item 2) The information processing device according to Additional Item 1, wherein the processor determines priorities for time periods and determines a time period for power interchange based on the priorities. (Additional Item 3) The information processing device according to Additional Item 1 or 2, wherein the processor determines the first priority based on the power purchase price of a power company for each microgrid, and determines the second priority based on the power purchase price of the power company for each microgrid. (Supplementary Item 4) The information processing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 3, wherein the processor decides on an electric power interchange method to be applied by comparing costs among a plurality of electric power interchange methods for each pair. (Supplementary Item 5) The information processing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 4, wherein the processor decides to implement interchange using an electric power interchange method that allows for time slot shifting, when it is determined that an excess or tightness cannot be resolved by interchange using an electric power interchange method that does not allow for time slot shifting. (Supplementary Item 6) The information processing device according to any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 5, wherein the processor transmits a control instruction to a microgrid.(Supplementary Item 7) An information processing method executed by an information processing device, comprising: a time zone determination step of determining a time zone during which power will be exchanged between microgrids, a priority determination step of determining, during the time zone, a first priority for relieving power shortages and a second priority for relieving power surpluses among a plurality of microgrids to be controlled, and a supply and demand adjustment control step of selecting, during the time zone, one or more pairs between a source microgrid and a destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority, and determining to exchange power between each pair. (Supplementary Item 8) A non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as each unit in the information processing device described in any one of Supplementary Items 1 to 6.

[0100] Although the present embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention described in the claims.

[0101] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Supply and demand adjustment device 110 Information collection unit 120 Prediction unit 130 Congestion relief grid priority order determination unit 140 Surplus relief grid priority order determination unit 150 Time slot priority order determination unit 160 Supply and demand adjustment control unit 170 Control command unit 180 Execution schedule management unit 200 Information processing device 210 Time slot determination unit 220 Priority order determination unit 230 Supply and demand adjustment control unit 1000 Drive device 1001 Recording medium 1002 Auxiliary storage device 1003 Memory device 1004 CPU 1005 Interface device 1006 Display device 1007 Input device 1008 Output device

Claims

1. An information processing device comprising: a time zone determination unit that determines a time zone for power interchange between microgrids; a priority determination unit that determines, during said time zone, a first priority for relieving power shortages and a second priority for relieving power surpluses among multiple microgrids that are the subject of control; and a supply and demand adjustment control unit that, during said time zone, selects one or more pairs between a source microgrid and a destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority, and determines to interchange power between each pair.

2. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the time period determination unit determines the priority of the time periods and determines the time periods during which power interchange is to be performed based on the priority.

3. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the priority determination unit determines the first priority based on the purchase price of electricity from the electric power company in each microgrid, and determines the second priority based on the purchase price of electricity from the electric power company in each microgrid.

4. The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the supply and demand adjustment control unit determines the power interchange method to be applied by comparing the costs of a plurality of power interchange methods for each pair.

5. The information processing device of claim 1, wherein the supply and demand adjustment control unit determines to implement power interchange using a power interchange method that allows for time zone shifting when it determines that the surplus or tightness cannot be resolved by an interchange using a power interchange method that does not allow for a shift from the time zone determined by the time zone determination unit.

6. The information processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a control command unit that transmits control commands to the microgrid.

7. An information processing method executed by an information processing device, comprising: a time zone determination step for determining a time zone during which power will be exchanged between microgrids; a priority determination step for determining, during said time zone, a first priority for relieving power shortages and a second priority for relieving power surpluses among multiple microgrids to be controlled; and a supply and demand adjustment control step for selecting, during said time zone, one or more pairs between a source microgrid and a destination microgrid based on the first priority and the second priority, and determining to exchange power between each pair.

8. A program for causing a computer to function as each unit in the information processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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