Computer-implemented method for coordinating power consumer and retail electricity provider, and program

Abstract

The present invention provides a computer-implemented method for coordinating a power consumer and a retail electricity provider. This method includes: acquiring contract unit price data indicating a contract unit price determined by an electricity market; acquiring operation status data, from the power consumer, indicating an operation status of power equipment within the power consumer on a target day; generating, on the basis of the contract unit price data and the operation status data, operation plan data indicating an operation plan for the power equipment of the power consumer on the target day and supply-demand plan data indicating a power supply-demand plan of the power consumer on the target day; providing the operation plan data to the power consumer; and providing the supply-demand plan data to the retail electricity provider.

Description

A method and program implemented by a computer to coordinate electricity consumers and retail electricity providers.

[0001] This disclosure relates to a computer-based method and program for coordinating electricity consumers and retail electricity providers.

[0002] In Japan, the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX) establishes and operates the wholesale electricity market. The wholesale electricity market includes the spot market, which is a one-day-ahead market, and the hourly-ahead market, which is a same-day market.

[0003] The spot market is a market for trading electricity to be delivered the following day. The spot market receives bids from electricity sellers and bids from electricity buyers, and determines the contract price (yen / kWh) and contract quantity (kWh) for 48 time slots of 30 minutes each, from 0:00 to 24:00 the following day. Electricity sellers are mainly power generators. Electricity buyers are mainly retail electricity providers.

[0004] A retail electricity provider is a business that purchases electricity from power generators and sells it to one or more electricity consumers. Electricity consumers have power load equipment that consumes electricity. Some electricity consumers have power supply equipment in addition to power load equipment. Power load equipment includes, for example, lighting equipment or power equipment installed within the electricity consumer's premises. Power supply equipment includes, for example, private power generation equipment or energy storage equipment installed within the electricity consumer's premises. Hereinafter, power load equipment and power supply equipment will be collectively referred to as power equipment. Retail electricity providers may also purchase surplus electricity from electricity consumers and sell this surplus electricity to the Japan Electric Power Exchange, another retail electricity provider, or another electricity consumer.

[0005] The spot market determines the contract price and contract volume for each of the 48 time slots for the following day by around 10:30 a.m. each day. Retail electricity providers, based on the determination of the contract price in the spot market the previous day, prepare a demand procurement plan and a generation and sales plan for the following day, and submit these to the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO) by 12:00 p.m.

[0006] After electricity transactions for delivery the following day are conducted in the spot market (one-day market), unexpected power generation problems or sudden surges in demand may occur before actual delivery. The hourly market (same-day market) is a market designed to address such unexpected supply and demand mismatches after the next day's planning has been established. The hourly market is open from 5 PM the previous day until one hour before the relevant time slot. Retail electricity businesses reflect transactions in the hourly market in their demand procurement plans and power generation sales plans, and resubmit these to the Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators.

[0007] Even with measures taken to address supply-demand mismatches in the pre-market, the actual procurement and sales volumes of retail electricity providers will inevitably deviate to some extent from their demand-procurement and generation-sales plans. If there is a shortage of electricity compared to the plan (shortfall imbalance), the retail electricity provider receives additional electricity from the power company or transmission and distribution company. If there is a surplus of electricity compared to the plan (surplus imbalance), the retail electricity provider supplies electricity to the power company or transmission and distribution company. The retail electricity provider settles the electricity charges for both the shortage and surplus electricity with the power company or transmission and distribution company after the fact.

[0008] For retail electricity providers, it is desirable to minimize supply-demand imbalances. Patent Document 1 discloses a power management device that predicts the electricity demand of electricity consumers using actual data of those consumers' electricity demand.

[0009] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-92709

[0010] The electricity demand forecast described in Patent Document 1 has room for improvement. Specifically, the actual electricity demand of electricity consumers is not necessarily suitable for forecasting their electricity demand. For example, some electricity consumers engage in high-mix, low-volume production, producing many different types of products in small quantities. In such cases, the operating status (operating or shutting down) of multiple production facilities changes frequently, so the actual electricity demand may not be suitable for forecasting electricity demand.

[0011] Electricity consumers develop operational plans for their power supply facilities based on the purchase price of electricity, the sale price of electricity, and forecasts of electricity demand. Ideally, these operational plans should be designed to minimize electricity costs. Meanwhile, retail electricity providers develop demand procurement plans and generation / sales plans based on forecasts of electricity demand from consumers. To minimize supply-demand imbalances, it is desirable for electricity demand to be forecasted more accurately.

[0012] One aspect of this disclosure provides a method performed by a computer that coordinates a power consumer and a retail electricity provider. This method includes: obtaining contract price data indicating the contract price determined by the electricity market; obtaining operational status data from the power consumer indicating the operational status of the power facilities within the power consumer on a given day; generating operational plan data indicating the operational plan of the power facilities of the power consumer on a given day and supply and demand plan data indicating the power supply and demand plan of the power consumer on a given day, based on the contract price data and operational status data; providing the operational plan data to the power consumer; and providing the supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider.

[0013] In one aspect of this disclosure, a computer program is provided for coordinating electricity consumers and retail electricity providers. This program causes the computer to perform the following actions: acquire contract price data indicating the contract price determined by the electricity market; acquire operational status data from electricity consumers indicating the operational status of the electricity facilities within the electricity consumer on a given day; generate operational plan data indicating the operational plan of the electricity consumer's electricity facilities on a given day and supply and demand plan data indicating the electricity supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer on a given day, based on the contract price and operational status; provide the operational plan data to the electricity consumer; and provide the supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider.

[0014] This allows us to provide more accurate operational and supply-demand plans to electricity consumers and retail electricity providers, respectively.

[0015] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the interoperability device included in the system of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the bidding process executed by the interoperability device of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the planning process executed by the interoperability device of Figure 1. Figure 6 is an example of a user interface provided to electricity consumers, specifically a diagram showing a screen displaying operational status data indicating the operational status of the electricity equipment for a target day for the electricity consumer. Figure 7 is an example of bidding data provided to the spot market by a retail electricity provider. Figure 8 is an example of contract price data showing the contract price determined by the spot market. Figure 9 is an example of a user interface provided to electricity consumers and retail electricity providers, specifically a diagram showing a screen displaying operational plan data indicating the operational plan of the electricity equipment for a target day for the electricity consumer and power supply and demand data indicating the power supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer for a target day. Figure 10 is a functional block diagram of a simulation model implemented in the interoperability device of Figure 1. Figure 11 illustrates a user interface provided to electricity consumers and retail electricity providers, specifically showing a screen displaying provisional data showing a provisional operating plan for the electricity consumer's power facilities on a given day, and power supply and demand data showing the electricity supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer on that day. Figure 12 also illustrates a user interface provided to electricity consumers and retail electricity providers, specifically showing a screen displaying revised data showing a revised provisional operating plan for the electricity consumer's power facilities on a given day, and power supply and demand data showing the electricity supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer on that day. Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the generation process of operating plan data and supply and demand plan data executed by the cooperating device.

[0016] Figure 1 shows a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The system 100 comprises a retail electricity provider 101, electricity consumers 102, an electricity exchange 103, an electricity monitoring organization 104, a coordinating device 105, and a communication network 106. The system 100 may include a plurality of retail electricity providers 101 and a plurality of electricity consumers 102.

[0017] As described above, the retail electricity provider 101 is a business that purchases electricity from power generators and sells it to one or more electricity consumers 102. The retail electricity provider 101 may also purchase surplus electricity from electricity consumers 102 and sell this surplus electricity to the electricity exchange, another retail electricity provider 101, or another electricity consumer 102. The retail electricity provider 101 is obligated to report its electricity demand procurement plan and power generation sales plan to the electricity monitoring organization 104. The retail electricity provider 101 has its own system, including a computer. The demand procurement plan is formulated for each retail electricity provider 101 based on electricity demand forecasts for a certain period, such as the next day, week, month, or year. The power generation sales plan is similar. In this embodiment, the next day's demand procurement plan and the next day's power generation sales plan will be described. The next day's demand procurement plan is shown in terms of the amount of electricity (kWh) in each of 48 30-minute intervals from 0:00 to 24:00. The power generation sales plan is similar.

[0018] Electricity consumer 102 is a business that purchases electricity from retail electricity provider 101 based on a contract with retail electricity provider 101. Electricity consumer 102 has power load equipment. Some electricity consumers 102 have power supply equipment in addition to power load equipment. Electricity consumer 102 has its own system, including a computer.

[0019] The electricity exchange 103 is an organization that establishes and operates an electricity market. An electricity market is a market where electricity is traded between buyers and sellers. An electricity market may include a wholesale electricity market, a retail electricity market, and a P2P electricity market. In this embodiment, the electricity exchange 103 is the Japan Electric Power Exchange (JEPX). The Japan Electric Power Exchange is the only exchange in Japan that establishes and operates a wholesale electricity market. As described above, the wholesale electricity market includes a one-day-ahead market called the spot market and a same-day market called the hour-ahead market. The electricity exchange 103 has its own system, including a computer.

[0020] The power monitoring organization 104 is an organization that monitors electricity supply and demand on a wide-area basis. In this embodiment, the power monitoring organization 104 is Japan's Organization for Cross-regional Coordination of Transmission Operators (OCCTO). The OCCTO is an organization established with the aim of strengthening the supply and demand adjustment function on a nationwide scale during normal times and emergencies. The power monitoring organization 104 has its own system, including a computer. The power monitoring organization 104 provides retail electricity businesses 101 with forms for submitting demand procurement plans and generation sales plans.

[0021] The linking device 105 is a computer that links the retail electricity provider 101 and the electricity consumer 102. Specifically, the linking device 105 provides the electricity consumer 102 with an optimal daily operation plan for the power equipment within the electricity consumer 102, and provides the retail electricity provider 101 with the electricity consumer 102's daily power supply and demand plan.

[0022] In Japan's electricity market, the contracted unit price (yen / kWh) and contracted quantity (kWh) are determined for each of the 48 30-minute time slots from 0:00 to 24:00. Generally, the contracted unit price is low in some time slots and high in others. Retail electricity providers 101 provide electricity consumers 102 with electricity unit prices for each time slot that are linked to the contracted unit price for that time slot. For electricity consumers 102, it is beneficial to minimize electricity costs and maximize demand response by purchasing electricity during time slots when the unit price is low and selling electricity (or reducing the amount of electricity purchased) during time slots when the unit price is high. The interoperation device 105 uses the contracted unit price for each time slot in the electricity market to generate an optimized operating plan for the electricity consumer's 102 power equipment. For retail electricity providers 101, it is beneficial to predict a more accurate electricity supply and demand plan in order to minimize supply and demand imbalances. The coordinating device 105 generates a power supply and demand plan according to the optimized operation plan.

[0023] The interconnection device 105 may be operated by a retail electricity provider 101 or by a power consumer 102. Alternatively, the interconnection device 105 may be operated by a provider that provides services to multiple retail electricity providers 101. The interconnection device 105 provides, for example, a user interface accessible via a web browser to the retail electricity providers 101 and power consumers 102, and provides services to the retail electricity providers 101 and power consumers 102 through this user interface.

[0024] The communication network 106 connects the retail electricity provider 101, electricity consumers 102, the electricity exchange 103, the electricity monitoring organization 104, and the coordinating device 105 in a communication-enabled manner. The communication network 106 is, for example, the internet.

[0025] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the cooperation device 105 included in the system 100. The cooperation device 105 includes a processor 111, a memory 112, a communication unit 113, and a bus 114. The processor 111 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or other hardware capable of data processing. The memory 112 is a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a hard disk drive, a SSD (Solid State Drive), or other computer-readable storage media. The memory 112 stores programs and data. The communication unit 113 is a communication interface connected to the communication network 106. The bus 114 communicatively connects the processor 111, the memory 112, and the communication unit 113. The cooperation device 105 may be a server existing on the cloud.

[0026] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the system 100 in FIG. 1. The cooperation device 105 executes a bidding process S100 and a plan formulation process S200. The bidding process S100 and the plan formulation process S200 are advanced by the processor 111 executing a program stored in the memory 112.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, in the bidding process S100, the cooperation device | apparatus 105 acquires operation status data showing the operation status of the power facilities in the power consumer 102 on the target day from the power consumer | customer 102. For example, the cooperation device 105 provides an interface for receiving the operation state of the power facilities in the power consumer 102 to the power consumer 102. The power consumer 102 inputs the operation state of its own power facilities to the interface every day. The cooperation device 105 acquires the operation status data through the interface.

[0028] As described above, the power equipment includes a power load equipment that consumes power and a power supply equipment that supplies power. The power load equipment is, for example, lighting equipment or power equipment provided in the facilities of power consumers. The power supply equipment is, for example, self-generation equipment or power storage equipment provided in the facilities of power consumers.

[0029] The operating status indicates the operating or stopped state of the power load equipment for each of the 48 frames of time from 0:00 to 24:00, and the operable or stopped state of the power supply equipment for each of the 48 frames of time from 0:00 to 24:00. The operating status may include the operating mode of the power load equipment and the operating mode of the power supply equipment. The operating mode of the power load equipment is, for example, the type of product produced or the output of the power load equipment (high speed, normal, standby, etc.). The operating mode of the power supply device is, for example, the output of the power supply device (standby, heating, normal, output increase, etc.).

[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a user interface provided to the power consumer 102, specifically, a diagram showing a screen displaying the operating status data indicating the operating status of the power equipment of the power consumer 102 on the target day. In this example, the power consumer 102 has power load equipment including production equipment A, production equipment B, and production equipment C, and also has power supply equipment including power generation equipment. The power consumer 102 designates the operating or stopped state of the power load equipment for each of the 48 frames of time in 30-minute units on the target day. In this example, production equipment A and production equipment B are scheduled to operate in all 48 frames from 0:00 to 24:00 on the target day. Production equipment C is scheduled to stop from 0:00 to 7:00 on the target day and operate from 7:00 to 24:00. The power consumer 102 inputs the operating status of the power load equipment into the user interface daily based on its own production plan. Also, the power consumer 102 designates the operable or stopped state of the power supply equipment for each of the 48 frames of time in 30-minute units from 0:00 to 24:00 on the target day. In this example, the power generation equipment is operable in all 48 frames from 0:00 to 24:00 on the target day. The power supply equipment may stop due to reasons such as regular inspections.

[0031] Returning to Figure 3, in the bidding process S100, the coordinating device 105 generates bidding data to be provided to the spot market and provides this bidding data to the spot market.

[0032] Figure 7 illustrates bidding data provided to the spot market by a retail electricity provider 101. The bidding data includes the relationship between 48 bid prices (yen / kWh) and bid quantities (kWh) corresponding to 48 time slots. The bid quantities include purchase bids and sales bids. In the example in Figure 7, the purchase bids are positive values, and the sales bids are negative values. The bidding data is provided to the spot market, for example, in the form of a CSV file. The spot market determines the contracted price (yen / kWh) and contracted quantity (kWh) for each of the 48 time slots. Figure 8 illustrates contracted price data showing the contracted price determined by the spot market.

[0033] Returning to Figure 3, in the planning process S200, the linking device 105 obtains operational status data from the power consumer 102, showing the operational status of the power equipment within the power consumer 102 on the target day. The linking device 105 also obtains contract price data, showing the contract price determined by the spot market. Furthermore, the linking device 105 obtains contract quantity data, showing the contract quantity determined by the spot market.

[0034] The interoperation device 105 generates operation plan data showing the operation plan of the power equipment of the power consumer 102 for the target day and supply and demand plan data showing the power supply and demand plan of the power consumer 102 for the target day, based on the contracted unit price data, the contracted quantity data, and the operating status data. The operation plan of the power equipment shows the output power amount (kWh) of the power equipment (especially the power supply equipment) for each of the 48 time slots. The power consumer 102 may own power supply equipment including a boiler and a steam turbine. In this case, the operation plan of the power equipment may show the evaporation rate of the boiler or the steam flow rate of the steam turbine. The power supply and demand plan of the power consumer 102 shows the relationship between the amount of electricity purchased (kWh) that the power consumer 102 purchases from the retail electricity provider 101 and the amount of electricity sold (kWh) that the power consumer 102 sells to the retail electricity provider for each of the 48 time slots.

[0035] Figure 9 illustrates a user interface provided to electricity consumers 102 and retail electricity providers 101. Specifically, it shows a screen displaying operation plan data showing the operation plan of the power equipment for electricity consumers 102 on a given day, and power supply and demand data showing the power supply and demand plan for electricity for electricity consumers 102 on a given day. The operation plan is shown in terms of the output power (kWh) of the power generation equipment for 48 30-minute intervals from 0:00 to 24:00. In this example, the output power is P1 (kWh) from 0:00 to 7:00, P0 (kWh) from 7:00 to 14:00, P1 (kWh) from 14:00 to 16:00, P4 (kWh) from 16:00 to 19:00, and P1 (kWh) from 19:00 to 24:00. The supply and demand plan is shown in terms of the difference between the load power (kWh) and output power (kWh) for 48 30-minute intervals from 0:00 to 24:00. The load energy is the total amount of energy consumed by each of the production facilities A, B, and C in Figure 6. In this example, the differential energy is P2-P1 (kWh) from 0:00 to 7:00, P3-P0 (kWh) from 7:00 to 14:00, P3-P1 (kWh) from 14:00 to 16:00, P3-P4 (kWh) from 16:00 to 19:00, and P3-P1 (kWh) from 19:00 to 24:00. The differential energy can take both positive and negative values. A positive differential energy means that electricity consumer 102 purchases electricity from the retail electricity provider 101. A negative differential energy means that electricity consumer 102 sells electricity to the retail electricity provider 101. In the example in Figure 9, electricity consumer 102 sells electricity to the retail electricity provider 101 from 16:00 to 19:00.

[0036] Returning to Figure 3, the interconnection device 105 provides operation plan data to the electricity consumer 102. The electricity consumer 102 operates its power equipment according to this operation plan. The interconnection device 105 also provides supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider 101. The retail electricity provider 101 generates demand procurement plan data based on this supply and demand plan data and provides the demand procurement plan data to the power monitoring organization 104. The interconnection device 105 may generate the demand procurement plan data and provide it to the power monitoring organization 104 on behalf of the retail electricity provider 101. Note that the retail electricity provider 101 may have electricity sales contracts with multiple electricity consumers 102. In such cases, the demand procurement plan data is generated by aggregating the supply and demand plans of the multiple electricity consumers 102 by area (for example, Tokyo, Kansai, etc.).

[0037] Operation plan data and supply and demand plan data are generated by running a simulation model implemented in the interoperation device 105. The simulation model generates operation plan data and supply and demand plan data so as to minimize the electricity-related costs (electricity costs) of the electricity consumer 102 on the target day. Bidding data is also generated by running the same simulation model.

[0038] Figure 10 is a functional block diagram of the simulation model implemented in the linked device of Figure 1. The simulation model has a mathematical model 124 that receives a set of parameters shown in Equation 1 below and calculates a set of variables shown in Equation 2 and a set of functions shown in Equation 3 to achieve the objective function shown in Equation 4 under the constraints shown in Equation 5 below.

[0039]

[0040]

[0041]

[0042]

[0043]

[0044] The first term within the summation symbol of the objective function indicates the expenditure on the electricity purchased by the electricity consumers 102 from the retail electricity business operator 101 per time slice. The second term within the summation symbol of the objective function indicates the revenue from the electricity sold by the electricity consumers 102 to the retail electricity business operator 101 per time slice. The third term within the summation symbol of the objective function indicates the expenditure incurred by the electricity consumers 102 for the operation of the power generation facilities per time slice. Therefore, within the summation symbol of the objective function, it indicates the electricity cost of the electricity consumers 102 per time slice. The objective function indicates minimizing the total of the electricity costs for 48 time slices (T = 48).

[0045] As shown in FIG. 10, the simulation model includes a first preprocessing unit 121 that obtains the per-time-slice load power amount D ｔ ｐ and the per-time-slice power generation facility operation state U ｔ The operation status, as described above, indicates the operation or stop state of the power load facilities for each of the 48 time slices from 0:00 to 24:00, and the operable or stop state of the power supply facilities for each of the 48 time slices from 0:00 to 24:00. The per-time-slice load power amount D ｔ ｐ can be calculated from the operation or stop state of the power load facilities and the power consumption amount of the power load facilities at each time slice. The simulation model stores power consumption data indicating the power consumption amounts of the power load facilities (in the example of FIG. 6, production facility A, production facility B, production facility C). The per-time-slice power generation facility operation state U ｔ indicates the operable or stop state of the power generation facilities at each time slice in binary data (1 or 0).

[0046] The simulation model further has a second preprocessing unit 122 that calculates the per-time-slice purchased electricity unit price M ｔ ＋ and the per-time-slice sold electricity unit price M ｔ － based on the agreed unit price data indicating the agreed unit price determined by the spot market. The per-time-slice purchased electricity unit price M ｔ ＋ and the per-time-slice sold electricity unit price M [[ID=2S]] ｔ －This is calculated by adding transaction fees and other expenses between the retail electricity provider 101 and the electricity consumer 102 to the agreed unit price. The simulation model stores expense data showing such expenses. Generally, as shown in Figure 9, the unit price of electricity sold per frame M ｔ － The electricity purchase price per frame is M ｔ ＋ It is lower than that.

[0047] The simulation model further calculates the fuel cost per frame M ｔ Ｆｕｅｌ It has a third preprocessing unit 123 that stores the fuel cost per frame M ｔ Ｆｕｅｌ This information is updated as needed by the electricity consumer 102 or the retail electricity provider 101.

[0048] Mathematical model 124 determines the variables necessary to achieve the objective function. The variables are the amount of electricity purchased per frame, p. ｔ ＋ , electricity sales per frame p ｔ － Fuel consumption per frame q ｔ Ｆｕｅｌ Each frame the power generation equipment is in an operational shutdown state. ｔ Ｇｅｎ Includes.

[0049] The simulation model further includes a first post-processing unit 125 that generates operation plan data based on variables determined by the mathematical model 124. As previously described, the operation plan is based on the output power p of the power supply equipment for each of the 48 time slots from 0:00 to 24:00. Ｇｅｎ This shows the output power p. Ｇｅｎ As shown in the above function and constraints, the fuel consumption per frame q ｔ Ｆｕｅｌ and the power generation equipment is in an operational shutdown state every frame u ｔ Ｇｅｎ It is calculated by [this method].

[0050] The simulation model further includes a second post-processing unit 126 that generates supply and demand planning data based on variables determined by the mathematical model 124. As previously described, the supply and demand plan is shown as the difference in power between the load power (kWh) and output power (kWh) for each of the 48 time slots from 0:00 to 24:00. The difference in power is the load power D for each time slot. ｔ ｐ output power p Ｇｅｎ It is calculated by subtracting [a certain value].

[0051] Furthermore, the above simulation model can receive candidate price data instead of contract price data to calculate variables that realize the objective function at the candidate price, and calculate a supply and demand plan based on those variables. Such a supply and demand plan represents the amount of electricity that electricity consumer 102 would purchase or sell from retail electricity provider 101 (hereinafter referred to as "supply and demand electricity amount") if the candidate price were in effect. The interoperation device 105 can generate bidding data using this relationship between the candidate price and the supply and demand plan.

[0052] For example, the interfacing device 105 generates 10,000 candidate unit prices in increments of 0.01 yen, ranging from 0.01 yen to 1,000 yen. The interfacing device 105 provides the 0.01 yen candidate unit price to the simulation model to calculate the amount of electricity supplied and demanded by electricity consumer 102 at the 0.01 yen candidate unit price. Next, the interfacing device 105 provides the 0.02 yen candidate unit price to the simulation model to calculate the amount of electricity supplied and demanded by electricity consumer 102 at the 0.02 yen candidate unit price. The interfacing device 105 repeats this process 10,000 times from 0.01 yen to 1,000 yen to obtain the relationship between 10,000 candidate unit prices and the amount of electricity supplied and demanded. This relationship between 10,000 candidate unit prices and the amount of electricity supplied and demanded becomes the relationship between a candidate unit price and the amount of electricity supplied and demanded in a particular frame. The interoperation device 105 repeats this process for 48 time slots from 0:00 to 24:00, thereby calculating the relationship between candidate unit prices and the amount of electricity supplied and demanded for each of the 48 time slots. Based on this relationship between candidate unit prices and the amount of electricity supplied and demanded for each of the 48 time slots, the interoperation device 105 generates bidding data.

[0053] To reduce the computational processing described above, implicit enumeration may be employed. Implicit enumeration is an algorithm that omits calculations in price ranges where search is deemed unnecessary. The cooperating device 105 employs implicit enumeration and, if the amount of electricity supplied at a first candidate price (e.g., 200 yen) is the same as the amount of electricity supplied at a second candidate price (e.g., 1000 yen), it omits calculations for candidate prices between the first and second candidate prices.

[0054] Figure 4 is a flowchart of the bidding process S100 executed by the coordinating device 105. At the time the bidding process S100 is executed, the contract price for the target day has not yet been determined. The bidding process S100 is performed before the reference time when the contract price for the target day is determined by the spot market.

[0055] The interconnection device 105 obtains operational status data from the electricity consumer 102, showing the operational status of the power equipment within the electricity consumer 102 on the target day (step S101). The interconnection device 105 generates candidate price data showing multiple candidate prices, which are candidates for the contracted price (step S102). In the example above, the multiple candidate prices are 10,000 prices ranging from 0.01 yen to 1,000 yen. By providing the candidate price data and operational status data to the simulation model, the interconnection device 105 obtains first supply and demand plan data from the simulation model, showing multiple first supply and demand plans corresponding to the multiple candidate prices (steps S103, S104). Each of the multiple first supply and demand plans is a power supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer 102 on the target day obtained by a simulation using one of the multiple candidate prices. The interconnection device 105 generates bidding data to be provided to the spot market based on the supply and demand plan data (step S105). The coordinating device 105 automatically converts the bidding data into a format that can be accepted by the power exchange 103 and provides this bidding data to the power exchange 103 (step S106).

[0056] Figure 5 is a flowchart of the planning process S200 executed by the coordinating device 105. At the time the planning process S200 is executed, the contract price for the target day has been determined. The planning process S200 is performed after the reference time when the contract price for the target day is determined by the spot market.

[0057] The interconnection device 105 obtains operational status data from the electricity consumer 102, showing the operational status of the power equipment within the electricity consumer 102 on the target day (step S201). The interconnection device 105 obtains contracted price data showing the contracted price (step S202). By providing the contracted price data and operational status data to the simulation model, the interconnection device 105 generates operational plan data showing the operational plan of the power equipment of the electricity consumer 102 on the target day, and second supply and demand plan data showing the second supply and demand plan, which is the power supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer 102 on the target day (steps S203, S204). The interconnection device 105 provides the operational plan data to the electricity consumer 102 (step S205). The interconnection device 105 provides the second supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider 101 (step S206). Based on the second supply and demand plan data, the interconnection device 105 generates demand and procurement plan data showing the demand and procurement plan for the retail electricity provider 101 on the target day (step S207). For example, the coordinating device 105 generates demand and procurement plan data by converting the second supply and demand plan data into a format acceptable to the power monitoring organization 104. The coordinating device 105 provides the demand and procurement plan data to the power monitoring organization 104 (step S208).

[0058] When electricity consumer 102 engages in high-mix, low-volume production, the operating status of the power equipment (especially the power load equipment) within electricity consumer 102 may change frequently. As described above, the interoperation device 105 formulates an operating plan for electricity consumer 102's power equipment and a power supply and demand plan for electricity consumer 102 on the target day, based on the operating status of electricity consumer 102's power equipment on the target day. Therefore, the interoperation device 105 can formulate more accurate operating plans and demand plans.

[0059] As described above, the coordinating device 105 executes the bidding process S100 using the same simulation model used in the planning process S200. Therefore, the coordinating device 105 can generate bidding data that is consistent with the operation plan and supply and demand plan.

[0060] The coordinating device 105 may provide the electricity consumer 102 with provisional data showing a provisional operating plan, receive a confirmation instruction from the electricity consumer 102 to finalize the provisional operating plan, and generate operating plan data and supply and demand plan data based on the provisional data upon receiving the confirmation instruction.

[0061] For example, Figure 11 illustrates a user interface provided to electricity consumer 102 and retail electricity provider 101. Specifically, it illustrates a screen displaying provisional data showing a provisional operating plan for electricity consumer 102's power facilities on a given day, and power supply and demand data showing the power supply and demand plan for electricity consumer 102 on the given day. This provisional plan is formulated using variables that realize an objective function, minimizing the total power-related expenditures of electricity consumer 102 on the given day. The interoperation device 105 provides this provisional data to electricity consumer 102 and formulates the operating plan and supply and demand plan after receiving a confirmation instruction from electricity consumer 102 to finalize the provisional plan. This allows the interoperation device 105 to formulate an operating plan and supply and demand plan that aligns with the intentions of electricity consumer 102.

[0062] The interconnection device 105 may provide the electricity consumer 102 with provisional data showing a provisional operation plan, and may also receive revised data from the electricity consumer 102 showing a revised provisional operation plan. For example, in the example in Figure 11, the provisional plan shows that the power generation equipment will be shut down from 1:30 to 3:00. The electricity consumer 102 may want to avoid the burden of such nighttime work. The interconnection device 105 receives revised data from the electricity consumer 102 showing a revised provisional plan through a user interface. Figure 12 is an example of a screen displaying revised data showing a revised provisional operation plan for the power equipment for the target day of the electricity consumer 102, and power supply and demand data showing the power supply and demand plan for the target day of the electricity consumer 102. The revised plan shows that the power generation equipment will be operated at a constant output power from 0:00 to 7:00. This allows the interconnection device 105 to formulate an operation plan and supply and demand plan that are in line with the intentions of the electricity consumer 102.

[0063] The interoperation device 105 may generate first cost data indicating a first cost, which is the electricity cost imposed on electricity consumer 102 if the power equipment within electricity consumer 102 is operated according to the provisional plan. The interoperation device 105 may generate second cost data indicating a second cost, which is the electricity cost imposed on electricity consumer 102 if the power equipment within electricity consumer 102 is operated according to the revised plan. The interoperation device 105 may provide the first cost data and the second cost data to electricity consumer 102. For example, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the user interface may have a cost field 131. In Figure 11, the cost field 131 presents the first cost. In Figure 12, the cost field 131 presents the second cost. This allows electricity consumer 102 to compare the first cost of the provisional plan with the second cost of the revised plan.

[0064] Figure 13 is a flowchart showing the process of generating operation plan data and supply and demand plan data executed by the coordinating device 105.

[0065] The interoperation device 105 generates the above-mentioned provisional plan data and first cost data (step S121). The interoperation device 105 provides the provisional plan data and first cost data to the electricity consumer 102 (step S122). When the interoperation device 105 receives a confirmation instruction from the electricity consumer 102 to finalize the provisional plan of operation (step S123: finalization), it generates operation plan data and supply and demand plan data based on the provisional plan data (S124). When the interoperation device 105 receives a revision instruction from the electricity consumer 102 to revise the provisional plan (step S123: revision), it generates revised plan data and second cost data (step S125). The interoperation device 105 provides the revised plan data and second cost data to the electricity consumer 102 (step S126). The interoperation device 105 repeats the revision process until it receives a confirmation instruction from the electricity consumer 102 to finalize the operation plan.

[0066] This allows the coordinating device 105 to formulate an operation plan and a supply and demand plan that aligns with the intentions of the electricity consumer 102.

[0067] The embodiments described above represent only one aspect of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and may include various modifications within the scope of the concept of the present disclosure.

[0068] For example, in the above embodiment, one frame is 30 minutes long, but it is not limited to this. One frame may be 15 minutes long, or something other than 30 minutes.

[0069] For example, in the above embodiment, the power supply equipment is assumed to be equipment that generates only electricity, but it is not limited to this. The private power generation equipment installed within the facility of the electricity consumer 102 may be a cogeneration system that generates not only electricity but also a thermal energy medium (steam, hot water, etc.), or a system that includes equipment that generates only a thermal energy medium (steam boiler, etc.). In this case, the objective function of equation (1) above may be the total energy cost, which includes both electricity costs and thermal energy costs. Furthermore, in addition to the electricity balance equation of equation (2) above, a thermal energy balance equation may also be included.

[0070] 100 System 101 Retail electricity provider 102 Electricity consumer 103 Electricity exchange 104 Electricity monitoring organization 105 Interconnection device 106 Communication network

Claims

1. A method performed by a computer that links a power consumer and a retail electricity provider, comprising: obtaining contract price data indicating a contract price determined by the electricity market; obtaining operational status data from the power consumer indicating the operational status of the power equipment within the power consumer on a target date; generating operational plan data indicating the operational plan of the power equipment of the power consumer on the target date and supply and demand plan data indicating the power supply and demand plan of the power consumer on the target date, based on the contract price data and the operational status data; providing the operational plan data to the power consumer; and providing the supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the operation plan data and the supply and demand plan data includes: generating provisional data indicating a provisional operation plan for the power equipment of the power consumer on the target day based on the agreed unit price and the operating status; providing the provisional data to the power consumer; obtaining a confirmation instruction from the power consumer to finalize the provisional operation plan; and generating the operation plan data and the supply and demand plan data based on the provisional data after receiving the confirmation instruction.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the generation of the operation plan data and the supply and demand plan data includes generating first cost data indicating a first cost which is the cost of electricity that will be imposed on the electricity consumer if the power equipment is operated in accordance with the provisional operation plan; obtaining a modification instruction from the electricity consumer instructing a modification of the provisional operation plan; and generating second cost data indicating a second cost which is the cost of electricity that will be imposed on the electricity consumer if the power equipment is operated in accordance with the modified plan.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generation of the operation plan data and the supply and demand plan data includes: generating provisional data showing a provisional operation plan for the power equipment of the power consumer on the target day based on the agreed unit price and the operating status; providing the provisional data to the power consumer; obtaining a revision instruction from the power consumer indicating that the operation plan should be revised; generating revised data showing a revised version of the provisional plan in response to the revision instruction; providing the revised data to the power consumer; obtaining a confirmation instruction from the power consumer to finalize the revised version of the provisional operation plan; and generating the operation plan data and the supply and demand plan data based on the revised data in response to the confirmation instruction.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: converting the supply and demand planning data into a format acceptable to a power monitoring organization to generate demand and procurement planning data showing the demand and procurement planning of the retail electricity business operator for the target day; and providing the demand and procurement planning data to the power monitoring organization.

6. A program for a computer that connects electricity consumers and retail electricity providers to perform the following actions: acquire contract price data showing the contract price determined by the electricity market; acquire operational status data from the electricity consumer showing the operational status of the electricity equipment within the electricity consumer on a target day; generate operational plan data showing the operational plan of the electricity consumer's electricity equipment on the target day and supply and demand plan data showing the electricity supply and demand plan of the electricity consumer on the target day, based on the contract price and the operational status; provide the operational plan data to the electricity consumer; and provide the supply and demand plan data to the retail electricity provider.

7. A method performed by a computer that links electricity consumers and retail electricity providers, comprising: generating candidate price data showing a plurality of candidate price units that are candidates for the contracted price unit for the target day, prior to a reference point in time when the contracted price unit for the target day is determined by the electricity market; obtaining operational status data from the electricity consumer showing the operational status of the electricity equipment within the electricity consumer for the target day; obtaining first supply and demand plan data from the simulation model showing a plurality of first supply and demand plans corresponding to the plurality of candidate price units, each of which is a supply and demand plan for electricity for the electricity consumer for the target day, by providing the candidate price data and the operational status data to the simulation model; and generating bidding data to be provided to the electricity market based on the first supply and demand plan data.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: obtaining contract price data indicating the contract price after the reference time; and obtaining second supply and demand plan data indicating a second supply and demand plan which is the power supply and demand plan for the power consumer on the target day, from the simulation model by providing the contract price data and the operating status data to the simulation model.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising generating demand procurement plan data showing the demand procurement plan of the retail electricity business operator for the target day based on the second supply and demand plan data.

10. A program for a computer that links electricity consumers and retail electricity providers to perform the following: generate candidate price data showing multiple candidate price units that are candidates for the contracted price unit for the target day, before the reference point at which the contracted price unit for the target day is determined by the electricity market; obtain operational status data from the electricity consumer showing the operational status of the electricity equipment within the electricity consumer for the target day; obtain first supply and demand plan data from the simulation model showing multiple first supply and demand plans corresponding to the multiple candidate price units, each of which is the electricity supply and demand plan for the electricity consumer for the target day; and generate bidding data to be provided to the electricity market based on the first supply and demand plan data.

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