Information processing method, program, and information processing system

Abstract

This information processing method includes: a step (S13) for acquiring, from an information terminal (30) used by a consumer, a request for using a charging facility (38) installed at a location different from a facility where a clean power source owned or managed by the consumer is installed, the request including information related to an amount of charge; and instruction steps (S14, S16) for instructing, on the basis of the acquired request, the clean power source to output to the power grid, the amount of power corresponding to the amount of charge, and instructing the charging facility (38) to charge a storage battery used by the consumer A by the amount corresponding to the amount of charge.

Description

Information processing method, program, and information processing system

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for assisting the charging of a storage battery.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a supply and demand control device that distributes the power generated by a solar power generation system to a power storage device and a heat source device such as a heat pump.

[0003] International Publication No. 2011 / 086886

[0004] The present invention provides an information processing method and the like that can support charging a storage battery with clean power.

[0005] An information processing method according to one aspect of the present invention is an information processing method executed by a computer system, and includes the steps of: acquiring, from an information terminal used by a consumer, a usage request for charging equipment installed at a location different from a facility where a clean power source owned or managed by the consumer is installed, the usage request including information regarding the charging amount; and, based on the acquired usage request, instructing the clean power source to output to the grid an amount of electricity equivalent to the charging amount, and instructing the charging equipment to charge a storage battery used by the consumer with an amount equivalent to the charging amount.

[0006] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing the computer system to execute the information processing method.

[0007] An information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires, from an information terminal used by a consumer, a usage request for charging equipment installed at a location different from a facility where a clean power source owned or managed by the consumer is installed, the usage request including information regarding the charging amount; and a control unit that, based on the acquired usage request, instructs the clean power source to output to the grid an amount of electricity equivalent to the charging amount, and instructs the charging equipment to charge a storage battery used by the consumer with an amount equivalent to the charging amount.

[0008] The information processing method and the like of the present invention can support charging a storage battery with clean power.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a clean charging support system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of charging a storage battery away from home. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a scene in which the storage battery is charged away from home. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of the operation of adjusting the charging rate. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram of the operation of notifying that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen for notifying that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram of the operation of notifying the time required for charging to be completed. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen for notifying the time required for charging to be completed.

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection forms, steps, and step order shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not recited in independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0011] It should be noted that the drawings are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily strict illustrations. In addition, in the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions may be omitted or simplified.

[0012] (Embodiment) [Configuration] First, the configuration of a clean charging support system according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a clean charging support system according to an embodiment.

[0013] The clean charging support system 10 is a system that can support consumers who own or manage clean power sources in charging storage batteries with clean power supplied from the clean power sources, regardless of location. Clean power refers to power generated using a method that does not emit greenhouse gases or a method that emits relatively low amounts of greenhouse gases. Specifically, clean power includes power generated using natural energy sources such as solar power generation, wind power generation, or geothermal power generation, or power generated by a fuel cell power generation system. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons.

[0014] The clean power source is a power source that can supply clean power, such as a solar power generation system 21 and a fuel cell power generation system (not shown). The clean power source also includes a storage battery system 23 that stores power generated by the above method.

[0015] According to the clean charging support system 10, a consumer can charge a storage battery with power supplied from the clean power source when the consumer is located in a location away from the clean power source (e.g., while out and about) from the installation site. Hereinafter, a consumer who uses the charging support service will also be referred to as consumer A. In the following embodiments, the storage battery is described as a storage battery mounted on an electric vehicle, but it may also be a storage battery mounted on a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and the use of the storage battery is not particularly limited.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 1 , the clean charging support system 10 includes a group of facilities 20 owned or managed by a consumer A, an information terminal 30 used by the consumer A (user), a charging facility 38, and a server system 40 owned or managed by a business providing a charging support service. The business is, for example, a business different from either an electric power company or an electric power retailer, but may also be an electric power company or an electric power retailer. FIG. 1 also illustrates a wide-area communication network 50 and a grid 60. In FIG. 1 , thick lines represent power lines, and dashed lines represent communication lines. The numbers S12, S14, and S15 to S17 in FIG. 1 correspond to the steps in the sequence diagram in FIG. 2 , which will be described later.

[0017] First, the equipment group 20 will be described. The equipment group 20 is a group of equipment owned or managed by consumer A, and is installed, for example, in a facility (such as a home) owned by consumer A. The equipment group 20 includes a photovoltaic power generation system 21, a power conditioner 22, a storage battery system 23, a distribution board 24, multiple loads 25, a charging facility 25a, an electric vehicle 26, and a control device 27. Note that in FIG. 1 , assuming a situation in which consumer A is away from the facility and uses charging facility 38 outside the facility, the electric vehicle 26 is illustrated by a dashed line within the frame of the equipment group 20 and by a solid line outside the frame of the equipment group 20 (near the charging facility 38).

[0018] The solar power generation system 21 is a power generation system that generates power by converting sunlight into electrical energy. The power generated by the solar power generation system 21 is output to a power conditioner 22. Specifically, the solar power generation system 21 is realized by a PV (Photovoltaic) panel or the like.

[0019] The power conditioner 22 is a power conversion device that converts DC power generated by the solar power generation system 21 into AC power, and is sometimes referred to as a PCS (Power Conditioning System). The power conditioner 22 is realized by power conversion circuits such as a DC-DC converter and a DC-AC converter. The power conditioner 22 measures the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 and transmits generated power information indicating the measured generated power to the control device 27. The power conditioner 22 also supplies the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 to multiple loads 25 via the distribution board 24. The power conditioner 22 can charge the storage battery system 23 with the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 and supply power discharged by the storage battery system 23 to multiple loads 25 via the distribution board 24.

[0020] The storage battery system 23 is a system that functions as a power source for the consumer A. The storage battery system 23 is realized by a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a charging circuit that charges the secondary battery, and a discharging circuit that discharges the secondary battery. The secondary battery is charged by power generated by the solar power generation system 21 or power supplied from the grid 60. The DC power discharged by the storage battery system 23 is converted into AC power by the power conditioner 22 and supplied to a plurality of loads 25 via a distribution board 24.

[0021] When the storage battery system 23 is used as a clean power source, only the amount of charge based on the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 is treated as a clean power source among the amount of charge (in other words, the amount of stored power) of the storage battery system 23. The storage battery system 23 may be treated as a clean power source by only allowing charging with the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 and prohibiting charging with power supplied from the grid 60.

[0022] The distribution board 24 is a device that distributes power supplied from the grid 60 to a plurality of branch circuits. Loads 25 are connected to the branch circuits. The distribution board 24 includes a power measurement element such as a current transformer (CT) and measures the power consumption of the entire consumer A (power consumption of the main circuit) and the power consumption of each branch circuit in the consumer A. The distribution board 24 also has a communication function and transmits power consumption information indicating the measured power consumption to the control device 27.

[0023] It is not essential that the distribution board 24 has a power measurement function and a communication function. For example, the equipment group 20 may include a smart meter (a power meter with a communication function) in addition to the distribution board 24, and power consumption information indicating the total power consumption of the consumer A may be transmitted from the smart meter to the control device 27.

[0024] The loads 25 are devices installed in the consumer A. The multiple loads 25 include lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, ventilation equipment, air purifiers, electric shutters, electric locks, delivery boxes, and charging equipment 25a for the electric vehicle 26. The multiple loads 25 may also include environmental sensors such as a temperature sensor and a humidity sensor. The multiple loads 25 may also include sensors other than environmental sensors, such as a window sensor that senses whether a window is open or closed.

[0025] The charging facility 25a is a device that corresponds to a specific example of the load 25, and charges the electric vehicle 26 (more specifically, the storage battery 26a provided in the electric vehicle 26) using power obtained from the grid 60 or the storage battery system 23 (power conditioner 22). Either AC power or DC power may be supplied from the charging facility 25a to the electric vehicle 26. Specifically, the charging facility 25a is realized by a circuit that outputs power (AC power or DC power) suitable for charging the storage battery 26a provided in the electric vehicle 26 to the electric vehicle 26, a microcomputer for charging control, and the like.

[0026] The electric vehicle 26 is a vehicle used by a user of consumer A. The electric vehicle 26 is, for example, an EV (Electric Vehicle) that runs by driving a motor, but may also be a vehicle that runs using both an engine and a motor, such as a PHV (Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle) or a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid EV). The electric vehicle 26 includes a storage battery 26a as an energy source for running the electric vehicle 26. The storage battery 26a is a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery.

[0027] The control device 27 is an information terminal having an energy management function, and more specifically, an EMS controller. The control device 27 manages the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 and the power consumption of the entire consumer A or each branch circuit. The control device 27 can control the power conditioner 22 and the load 25. The control device 27 is not limited to an EMS controller and may be another controller or a gateway device. Like the load 25, the control device 27 operates using power supplied from the distribution board 24.

[0028] Next, the information terminal 30 will be described. The information terminal 30 is an information terminal used by the consumer A when he / she uses the charging facility 38 while away from home. Specifically, the information terminal 30 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. Specifically, the information terminal 30 includes an operation receiving unit 31, a display unit 32, a first communication unit 33, a second communication unit 34, an information processing unit 35, and a storage unit 36.

[0029] The operation reception unit 31 receives operations from the consumer A. Specifically, the operation reception unit 31 is realized by a touch panel or the like.

[0030] The display unit 32 is a display that displays images, etc. The display unit 32 is realized by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel, for example.

[0031] The first communication unit 33 is a wireless communication circuit that enables the information terminal 30 to perform wireless communication (more specifically, radio wave communication) with the charging facility 38 through a local communication network. Specifically, the first communication unit 33 performs wireless communication in accordance with a communication standard such as BLE or Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The first communication unit 33 is used for communication with the charging facility 38.

[0032] The second communication unit 34 is a wireless communication circuit that enables the information terminal 30 to perform wireless communication with the server system 40 through a wide area communication network 50. The wide area communication network here includes a mobile communication network, the Internet, and the like.

[0033] The information processing unit 35 performs various information processes for using the charging facility 38. The information processing unit 35 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the information processing unit 35 are realized by hardware such as the microcomputer or processor constituting the information processing unit 35 executing a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 36.

[0034] The storage unit 36 ​​is a storage device that stores information necessary for the above information processing. The information stored in the storage unit 36 ​​includes computer programs executed by the information processing unit 35. The computer programs stored in the storage unit 36 ​​include predetermined application programs (hereinafter also simply referred to as predetermined apps) that are installed in advance in the storage unit 36 ​​by consumer A. The storage unit 36 ​​is realized, for example, by a semiconductor memory or the like.

[0035] User registration is performed after the predetermined application is installed on the information terminal 30. As a result of the user registration, for example, identification information of the consumer A and identification information of the clean power sources (the photovoltaic power generation system 21 and the storage battery system 23) owned or managed by the consumer A are linked and stored as registration information in the storage unit 43 of the server system 40.

[0036] Next, the charging facility 38 will be described. The charging facility 38 is a charging facility installed in a location away from a facility owned by the consumer A (such as when the consumer A is out and about), and specifically, is a charging facility installed in a charging station. The charging facility 38 is owned or managed, for example, by the same business operator that owns or manages the server system 40, and the server system 40 stores identification information and the like of the charging facility 38 in advance.

[0037] The charging facility 38 charges the electric vehicle 26 (more specifically, the storage battery 26a provided in the electric vehicle 26) using power obtained from the grid 60. In some cases, AC power is supplied from the charging facility 25a to the electric vehicle 26, and in other cases, the AC power is converted to DC power and the DC power is supplied. Specifically, the charging facility 38 is realized by a circuit that outputs power (AC power or DC power) suitable for charging the storage battery 26a to the electric vehicle 26, a microcomputer for charging control, and the like. The charging facility 38 also includes a wireless communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the information terminal 30 via the local communication network, and a wireless communication circuit for wirelessly communicating with the server system 40 via the wide area communication network 50.

[0038] Next, the server system 40 will be described. The server system 40 performs information processing to realize a charging support service for the storage battery 26a when the user is away from home. The server system 40 is realized by one or more server devices (cloud servers). The server system 40 is owned or managed by a business operator that provides the charging support service. The server system 40 includes a communication unit 41, an information processing unit 42, and a storage unit 43.

[0039] The communication unit 41 is a communication circuit that enables the server system 40 to communicate with the control device 27, the information terminal 30, the charging equipment 38, and the like via the wide area communication network 50. The communication unit 41 performs, for example, wired communication, but may also perform wireless communication. There are no particular limitations on the communication standard used for communication by the communication unit 41.

[0040] The information processing unit 42 performs information processing to realize the charging support service for the storage battery 26a when the user is away from home. The information processing unit 42 is realized, for example, by a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor. The information processing unit 42 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 44, a recording unit 45, a control unit 46, and a billing unit 47. The functions of the acquisition unit 44, the recording unit 45, the control unit 46, and the billing unit 47 are realized, for example, by the microcomputer or processor constituting the information processing unit 42 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 43.

[0041] The storage unit 43 is a storage device that stores computer programs executed by the information processing unit 42. The storage unit 43 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0042] [Charging Operation of Storage Battery While Out] Next, an operation of charging the storage battery 26a of the electric vehicle 26 using the charging facility 38 while out will be described. Fig. 2 is a sequence diagram showing an example of charging operation of the storage battery 26a while out. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a scene in which the storage battery 26a is charged while out.

[0043] For example, when consumer A (user) is located near charging facility 38, consumer A electrically connects charging facility 38 to electric vehicle 26 (storage battery 26a), and further communicatively connects (pairs) first communication unit 33 of information terminal 30 running a predetermined app with charging facility 38. Consumer A then performs a predetermined operation on information terminal 30 to use charging facility 38, and operation reception unit 31 of information terminal 30 receives the predetermined operation (S11). The predetermined operation includes an operation to specify the amount of charge. More specifically, the amount of charge is determined after information terminal 30 or charging facility 38 inquires of electric vehicle 26 about the remaining amount of charge.

[0044] When a predetermined operation is accepted by the operation accepting unit 31, the information processing unit 35 transmits a request to use the charging facility 38 to the server system 40 using the second communication unit 34 (S12). The request to use the charging facility includes identification information of the consumer A, identification information of the charging facility 38, and information indicating the amount of charge. The identification information of the charging facility 38 is acquired from the charging facility 38 by the information processing unit 35 communicating with the charging facility 38 using the first communication unit 33.

[0045] The communication unit 41 of the server system 40 receives the usage request for the charging facility 38. The acquisition unit 44 acquires the received usage request (S13). The control unit 46 transmits a control command to the control device 27 using the communication unit 41 to instruct the control device 27 to output the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 to the grid 60 in an amount corresponding to the charging amount indicated in the usage request (S14). In other words, based on the usage request acquired in step S13, the control unit 46 instructs the photovoltaic power generation system 21 installed in the facility of consumer A to output to the grid 60 an amount of power (clean power) corresponding to the charging amount.

[0046] As described above, the storage unit 43 stores registration information linked to the identification information of the consumer A and the identification information of the solar power generation system 21 at the time of user registration. The control unit 46 can identify the identification information of the solar power generation system 21 by comparing the identification information of the consumer A included in the usage request with the registration information, and transmit a control command to the solar power generation system 21.

[0047] The control device 27 receives the control command and outputs the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 based on the received control command (S15). The output of the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 is continued until the total output amount of the generated power reaches the charge amount.

[0048] Furthermore, based on the usage request acquired in step S13, the control unit 46 of the server system 40 uses the communication unit 41 to transmit a charging command to the charging facility 38 to instruct the charging facility 38 to charge the storage battery 26a of the electric vehicle 26 by the charge amount indicated in the usage request (S16). In other words, the control unit 46 instructs the charging facility 38 to charge the storage battery 26a used by the consumer A by an amount equivalent to the charge amount.

[0049] The charging equipment 38 receives the charging command and, based on the received charging command, charges the storage battery 26a of the electric vehicle 26 with power obtained from the grid 60 (S17). The charging of the storage battery 26a using power obtained from the grid 60 in step S17 is performed during approximately the same time period as the time period during which the generated power is output from the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 (the time period during which the processing of step S15 is performed). Therefore, it can be considered that the charging of the storage battery 26a is performed using the power (clean power) generated by the solar power generation system 21.

[0050] In this way, according to the clean charging support system 10, when the consumer A is located in a place (such as when he / she is out) away from the installation location of the solar power generation system 21, he / she can charge the storage battery 26a with the power generated by the solar power generation system 21. Note that, in this operation example, an example has been described in which the solar power generation system 21 is used as a clean power source, but the storage battery system 23 may also be used, or, if a wind power generation system or a fuel cell power generation system is installed in the facility of the consumer A, the wind power generation system or the fuel cell power generation system may also be used.

[0051] [Modification 1: Reflecting the amount of power generation in the charging rate] The charging rate of the storage battery 26a by the charging facility 38 may be adjusted in accordance with the amount of power generated per unit time by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 and output to the grid 60. Fig. 4 is a sequence diagram of the operation for adjusting the charging rate.

[0052] The control device 27 acquires power generation amount information by communicating with the power conditioner 22 while outputting the power generated by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 to the grid 60 based on the control command (S21). The control device 27 also transmits the acquired power generation amount information to the server system 40 (S22). The power generation amount information is information that indicates the amount of power generated by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 per unit time, measured by the power conditioner 22. The power generation amount information is also information that indicates the amount of power that the photovoltaic power generation system 21 outputs to the grid 60 per unit time.

[0053] The communication unit 41 of the server system 40 receives the power generation amount information. The acquisition unit 44 acquires the power generation amount information (S23), and the control unit 46 transmits a charge rate adjustment command to the charging equipment 38 using the communication unit 41 based on the acquired power generation amount information (S24). The adjustment command is information for instructing the charging of the storage battery 26a at a rate according to the power generation amount per unit time indicated by the power generation amount information (the amount of power output to the grid 60 per unit time).

[0054] The speed according to the amount of power generation per unit time means, for example, a speed that is substantially the same as the amount of power generation per unit time. Substantially the same speed means that it is not strictly the same and may include an error. Furthermore, the speed according to the amount of power generation per unit time may mean a speed that does not exceed the amount of power generation per unit time, with the amount of power generation per unit time being the upper limit speed.

[0055] Upon receiving the adjustment command, charging equipment 38 charges storage battery 26a at a rate (the same rate) according to the amount of power generation per unit time (the amount of power output to grid 60 per unit time) indicated by the power generation amount information, based on the received adjustment command (S25). Note that the processes of steps S21 to S25 may be repeated at predetermined time intervals until charging of storage battery 26a is completed.

[0056] In this way, the clean charging support system 10 may acquire the amount of electricity output to the grid 60 per unit time by the solar power generation system 21, and instruct the charging equipment 38 to charge at a charging speed that corresponds to the acquired amount of electricity output to the grid 60 per unit time.

[0057] This allows the consumer A, while away from home, to get a realistic feeling as if the storage battery 26a is being charged by the solar power generation system 21 owned or managed by the consumer A.

[0058] [Variation 2: Notification that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time] When the charging rate is adjusted as in Variation 1, the charging rate becomes slower than normal, and there is a possibility that charging of the storage battery 26a will not be completed within a predetermined time. Therefore, the clean charging support system 10 may notify the information terminal 30 when charging is predicted not to be completed within a predetermined time. Figure 5 is a sequence diagram of the notification operation that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time.

[0059] The processes of steps S21 to S25 are the same as those in Modification 1, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. After transmitting the adjustment command to the charging equipment, the control unit 46 of the server system 40 predicts the time required for charging to be completed (S26). For example, the control unit 46 can predict the time required for charging to be completed by assuming that the current charging rate (amount of power generated per unit time) will continue and dividing the charging amount by the charging rate specified by the adjustment command. If the control unit 46 determines that the predicted time will exceed a predetermined time (S27a), it transmits notification information to the information terminal 30 using the communication unit 41 (S28a). The notification information is information for notifying that charging will not be completed within the predetermined time; in other words, it is information for notifying that the amount of power output from the photovoltaic power generation system 21 to the grid 60 will not reach the charging amount within the predetermined time. The predetermined time is, for example, one hour, but may be determined empirically or experimentally as appropriate. Note that if it is determined that the predicted time will not exceed the predetermined time, the notification information is not transmitted.

[0060] The second communication unit 34 of the information terminal 30 receives the notification information. The information processing unit 35 displays a notification screen as shown in Fig. 6 on the display unit 32 based on the received notification information (S29a). Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen for notifying that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time.

[0061] In this way, the clean charging support system 10 may output notification information to the information terminal 30 to notify that charging will not be completed within a predetermined time (the amount of power output from the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 will not reach the charging amount within the predetermined time). This allows the consumer A to know that charging will not be completed within the predetermined time.

[0062] [Modification 3: Notification of time required until charging is completed] The clean charging support system 10 may also notify the user of the time required until charging is completed when the charging rate is adjusted as in Modification 1. Fig. 7 is a sequence diagram of the notification operation of the time required until charging is completed.

[0063] The processes of steps S21 to S26 are the same as those of Modification 2, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted. In step S26, the control unit 46 of the server system 40 predicts the time required for charging to be completed, and then transmits notification information to the information terminal 30 using the communication unit 41 (S27b). The notification information in this case is information for notifying the information terminal 30 of the time required for charging to be completed, in other words, information for notifying the information terminal 30 of the time required for the amount of power output from the photovoltaic power generation system 21 to the grid 60 to reach the charged amount.

[0064] The second communication unit 34 of the information terminal 30 receives the notification information. The information processing unit 35 displays a notification screen as shown in Fig. 8 on the display unit 32 based on the received notification information (S28b). Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the notification screen for notifying the user of the time required for charging to be completed.

[0065] In this way, the clean charging support system 10 may output notification information for notifying the user of the time required to complete charging (the time required for the amount of power output from the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 to reach the charged amount) to the information terminal 30. This allows the user A to know the time required to complete charging.

[0066] [Variation 4: Processing when power generation is stopped] As described in the above embodiment, when it is considered that the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 is used to charge the storage battery 26a by the charging facility 38, no charge is incurred for the charging. Here, it is possible that power generation by the solar power generation system 21 is stopped before the power output from the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 reaches the charged amount due to worsening weather or the like. In other words, it is possible that the power generated by the solar power generation system 21 is insufficient.

[0067] In such a case, the charging equipment 38 may charge the storage battery 26a until it reaches the charge amount, and then a process may be performed to determine the amount to be charged to consumer A based on the difference between the charge amount and the power output from the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60.

[0068] For example, the acquisition unit 44 acquires the power generation amount information by communicating with the control device 27 using the communication unit 41, and the recording unit 45 accumulates the power generation amount each time the power generation amount information is acquired and records it in the storage unit 43. That is, the recording unit 45 records the total amount of power output by the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60 in the storage unit 43. The recording unit 45 also links the total amount of power to the charging amount and records it in the storage unit 43. The billing unit 47 can determine the amount to bill the consumer A by multiplying the difference between the charging amount and the total amount of power output by the solar power generation system 21 to the grid 60, which is recorded in this manner, by a predetermined coefficient.

[0069] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, examples of inventions obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be given, and effects, etc. obtained from the inventions will be described.

[0070] Invention 1 is an information processing method executed by a computer system such as a clean charging support system 10, and includes step S13 of acquiring from an information terminal 30 used by consumer A a usage request for charging equipment 38 installed at a location different from the facility where a clean power source owned or managed by consumer A is installed, the usage request including information regarding the charging amount, and instruction steps S14 and S16 of instructing the clean power source to output to the grid 60 an amount of electricity equivalent to the charging amount based on the acquired usage request, and instructing the charging equipment 38 to charge a storage battery 26a used by consumer A by an amount equivalent to the charging amount.

[0071] With this information processing method, when consumer A charges storage battery 26a at a location different from the facility, if the clean power source installed in the facility outputs clean power in an amount equal to the amount of charge to grid 60, the charging of storage battery 26a of consumer A can be considered as charging using clean power. In other words, the information processing method can support consumer A in charging storage battery 26a with clean power.

[0072] Invention 2 is an information processing method of Invention 1, further including step S23 of acquiring the amount of power output to the grid 60 per unit time by the clean power source, and instructing step S25 to charge at a charging rate according to the acquired amount of power output to the grid 60 per unit time.

[0073] According to this information processing method, the consumer A can get a realistic feeling that the storage battery 26a is being charged by the photovoltaic power generation system 21 installed in the facility at a location different from the facility.

[0074] Invention 3 is an information processing method of Invention 2, further including step S28a of outputting notification information to the information terminal 30 to notify that the amount of power output from the clean power source to the grid 60 will not reach the charge amount within a specified time.

[0075] According to this information processing method, the consumer A can know that charging will not be completed within the predetermined time.

[0076] Invention 4 is an information processing method of Invention 2, further including step S27b of outputting notification information to the information terminal 30 to notify the amount of time required for the amount of power output from the clean power source to the grid 60 to reach the charged amount.

[0077] According to this information processing method, the consumer A can know the time required until charging is completed.

[0078] Invention 5 is an information processing method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 4, further including a determination step of determining the amount to be charged to consumer A based on the difference between the amount of charge and the amount of electricity output from the clean power source to the grid 60.

[0079] Such an information processing method makes it possible to charge the consumer A when the power output from the clean power source to the grid 60 is insufficient for the amount of charge.

[0080] A sixth aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer system to execute any one of the information processing methods of the first to fifth aspects.

[0081] According to such a program, the computer system can assist the consumer A in charging the storage battery 26a with clean power.

[0082] Invention 7 is an information processing system comprising: an acquisition unit 44 that acquires, from an information terminal 30 used by consumer A, a usage request for charging equipment 38 installed at a location different from the facility where the clean power source owned or managed by consumer A is installed, the usage request including information regarding the charging amount; and a control unit 46 that, based on the acquired usage request, instructs the clean power source to output to the grid 60 an amount of electricity equivalent to the charging amount, and instructs the charging equipment 38 to charge a storage battery 26a used by consumer A with an amount equivalent to the charging amount.

[0083] Such an information processing system can assist the consumer A in charging the storage battery 26a with clean power.

[0084] (Other Embodiments) Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0085] For example, in the above embodiment, the clean charging support system is realized by a plurality of devices. In this case, the processes executed by the devices or systems included in the clean charging support system may be distributed to other devices or systems. For example, some or all of the processes executed by the server system may be executed by a control device. Also, the clean charging support system may be realized by a single device. The same applies to other systems.

[0086] In the above-described embodiment, the processing performed by a specific processing unit may be performed by another processing unit. The order of multiple processing operations may be changed, or multiple processing operations may be performed in parallel.

[0087] In the above-described embodiments, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for that component, or by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0088] Furthermore, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or each may be a separate circuit. Furthermore, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0089] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0090] For example, the present invention may be realized as the clean charging support system, server system, or information processing system according to the above-described embodiments. Furthermore, the present invention may be realized as a method executed by a computer system such as the clean charging support system, server system, or information processing system, or as a program for causing a computer system to execute such a method. The present invention may also be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0091] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art would think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention.

[0092] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Clean charging support system 20 Equipment group 21 Photovoltaic power generation system 22 Power conditioner 23 Storage battery system 24 Distribution board 25 Load 25a, 38 Charging equipment 26 Electric vehicle 26a Storage battery 27 Control device 30 Information terminal 31 Operation reception unit 32 Display unit 33 First communication unit 34 Second communication unit 35, 42 Information processing unit 36, 43 Storage unit 40 Server system 41 Communication unit 44 Acquisition unit 45 Recording unit 46 Control unit 47 Billing unit 50 Wide area communication network 60 System

Claims

1. An information processing method executed by a computer system, comprising the steps of: acquiring, from an information terminal used by a consumer, a usage request for charging equipment installed at a location different from a facility where a clean power source owned or managed by the consumer is installed, the usage request including information regarding the amount of charge; and, based on the acquired usage request, instructing the clean power source to output to the grid an amount of electricity equivalent to the amount of charge, and instructing the charging equipment to charge a storage battery used by the consumer by an amount equivalent to the amount of charge.

2. The information processing method of claim 1, further comprising a step of acquiring the amount of power output to the grid per unit time by the clean power source, and in the instruction step, instructing the charging at a charging rate according to the acquired amount of power output to the grid per unit time.

3. The information processing method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of outputting notification information to the information terminal to notify that the amount of power output from the clean power source to the grid will not reach the charge amount within a predetermined time.

4. The information processing method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of outputting notification information to the information terminal to notify the amount of time required for the amount of power output from the clean power source to the grid to reach the charged amount.

5. The information processing method according to claim 1, further comprising a determination step of determining an amount to be charged to the consumer based on the difference between the charged amount and the amount of power output from the clean power source to the grid.

6. A program for causing the computer system to execute the information processing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. An information processing system comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires, from an information terminal used by a consumer, a usage request for charging equipment installed at a location different from a facility where a clean power source owned or managed by the consumer is installed, the usage request including information regarding the amount of charge; and a control unit that, based on the acquired usage request, instructs the clean power source to output to the grid an amount of electricity equivalent to the amount of charge, and instructs the charging equipment to charge a storage battery used by the consumer with an amount equivalent to the amount of charge.

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