Patent Description:
In recent years, a technology (for example, a virtual power plant (VPP)) has been known in which a power storage apparatus is used as an adjustment power supply in order to maintain a power supply and demand balance of a power grid. In such a case, a frequency of the power grid is required to be adjusted (hereinafter, supply and demand adjustment) according to a reverse power flow supplied from a facility to the power grid. In order to enable such a supply and demand adjustment, a technology (for example, Patent Document <NUM>) has been proposed in which the adjustment power supplies are divided into categories and an appropriate signal is transmitted for each category.

However, in the technology described above, since a fluctuation cycle of an adjustment target is merely assigned for each category, the degree of freedom of the supply and demand adjustment is small, and there is a possibility that the supply and demand adjustment cannot be appropriately performed.

Patent Document <NUM>: <CIT>
Document <CIT> discloses a power management system capable of collecting information relevant to the power variation rate in a device. A power management system server is connected to a device which consumes or supplies electric power. A reception part receives a piece of information relevant to the device from the device. The reception part outputs the information relevant to the device to a processing part. The processing part executes the processing on the basis of the information received by the reception part. The information relevant to the device includes a piece of information relevant to the power variation rate in the device.

Document <CIT> discloses a method of controlling frequency of a power system by a frequency control system including obtaining a frequency control command to keep frequency fluctuation of the power system within a predetermined range; obtaining information on electric power to be received or supplied by m second apparatuses, and determining n first command values for controlling electric power to be received or supplied by n first apparatuses, based on the frequency control command obtained in the obtaining of a frequency control command and the obtained information on electric power to be received or supplied by the m second apparatuses; and transmitting each of the n first command values determined in the determining to a corresponding one of the first apparatuses.

According to the present invention, there is provided a power management server as defined in claim <NUM>.

According to the present invention, there is provided a power management method as defined in claim <NUM>. Further embodiments of the present invention are set out in the dependent claims.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that in the following description of the drawings, the same or similar components will be denoted by the same or similar reference signs. However, the drawings are schematic.

A power management system according to an embodiment will be described below.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a power management system <NUM> includes a power management server <NUM>, a facility <NUM>, and a power company <NUM>. In <FIG>, facilities 300A to 300C are illustrated as examples of the facility <NUM>.

Each facility <NUM> is connected to a power grid <NUM>. In the following description, the flow of power from the power grid <NUM> to the facility <NUM> is referred to as a power flow, and the flow of power from the facility <NUM> to the power grid <NUM> is referred to as a reverse power flow.

The power management server <NUM>, the facility <NUM>, and the power company <NUM> are connected to a network <NUM>. The network <NUM> may provide lines between these entities. For example, the network <NUM> is the Internet. The network <NUM> may include a dedicated line such as a virtual private network (VPN).

The power management server <NUM> is a sever managed by a business operator, such as a power generation operator, a power transmission and distribution operator, a retailer, or a resource aggregator. The resource aggregator is an electric power provider that provides the reverse power flow to the power generation operator, the power transmission/distribution operator, the retailer, or the like in a virtual power plant (VPP). In the present embodiment, the business operator managing the power management server <NUM> is an example of an entity that purchases the reverse power flow.

The power management server <NUM> transmits, to the local controller <NUM> provided in the facility <NUM>, a control message instructing control of a distributed power supply (for example, a solar cell apparatus <NUM>, a power storage apparatus <NUM>, or a fuel cell apparatus <NUM>) provided in the facility <NUM>. For example, the power management server <NUM> may transmit a power flow control message (for example, demand response (DR)) requesting control of the power flow and may transmit a reverse power flow control message requesting control of the reverse power flow. Further, the power management server <NUM> may transmit a power control message for controlling an operating state of the distributed power supply. The degree of control of the power flow or the reverse power flow may be expressed by an absolute value (for example, XX kW), or may be expressed by a relative value (for example, XX %). Alternatively, the degree of control of the power flow or the reverse power flow may be expressed in two or more levels. The degree of control of the power flow or the reverse power flow may be represented by a power charge (RTP: real time pricing) determined by the current power supply and demand balance, and may be represented by a power charge (TOU: time of use) determined by the past power supply and demand balance.

The facility <NUM> includes the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>, the load device <NUM>, the local controller <NUM>, a power meter <NUM>, and power meters <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The solar cell apparatus <NUM> is the distributed power supply that generates power in response to sunlight or other light. The solar cell apparatus <NUM> may be an example of the distributed power supply to which the feed-in tariff (FIT) is applied. For example, the solar cell apparatus <NUM> includes a power conditioning system (PCS) and a solar panel.

Here, the power output from the solar cell apparatus <NUM> may vary depending on the amount of received light such as sunlight. Thus, when considering power generation efficiency of the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power output from the solar cell apparatus <NUM> is variable power that is variable according to the amount of received light of the solar panel.

The power storage apparatus <NUM> is the distributed power supply that charges the power and discharges the power. The power storage apparatus <NUM> may be an example of the distributed power supply to which the feed-in tariff is not applied. For example, the power storage apparatus <NUM> includes the PCS and a power storage cell.

The fuel cell apparatus <NUM> is the distributed power supply that generates power using a fuel. The fuel cell apparatus <NUM> may be an example of the distributed power supply to which the feed-in tariff is not applied. For example, the fuel cell apparatus <NUM> includes the PCS and the fuel cell.

For example, the fuel cell apparatus <NUM> may be a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC), a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), a phosphoric acid fuel cell (PAFC), and a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC).

In the embodiment, the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, and the fuel cell apparatus <NUM> may be adjustment power supplies used for the VPP. The adjustment power supply is a power supply that contributes to the VPP among the distributed power supplies provided in the facility <NUM>.

The load device <NUM> is a device that consumes power. For example, the load device <NUM> is an air conditioning device, an illumination device, an audio visual (AV) device, or the like.

The local controller <NUM> is an apparatus (EMS: Energy Management System) that manages power of the facility <NUM>. The local controller <NUM> may control an operating state of the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, may control an operating state of the power storage apparatus <NUM> provided in the facility <NUM>, and may control an operating state of the fuel cell apparatus <NUM> provided in the facility <NUM>. The details of the local controller <NUM> will be described later (see <FIG>).

In the embodiment, communication between the power management server <NUM> and the local controller <NUM> is performed in accordance with a first protocol. On the other hand, communication between the local controller <NUM> and the distributed power supply (the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, or the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>) is performed in accordance with a second protocol different from the first protocol. For example, as the first protocol, a protocol based on open automated demand response (ADR) or a unique dedicated protocol can be used. For example, as the second protocol, a protocol compliant with ECHONET Lite, smart energy profile (SEP) <NUM>, KNX, or a unique dedicated protocol can be used. Note that the first protocol and the second protocol may be different from each other, and, for example, even if both are the unique dedicated protocols, the first protocol and the second protocol may be protocols made of different rules. However, the first protocol and the second protocol may be protocols made of the same rule.

The power meter <NUM> is an example of a base power meter that measures the power flow from the power grid <NUM> to the facility <NUM> and the reverse power flow from the facility <NUM> to the power grid <NUM>. For example, the power meter <NUM> is a smart meter that belongs to the power company <NUM>.

Here, the power meter <NUM> transmits, for each predetermined period (for example, <NUM> minutes), a message including an information element indicating an integrated value of the power flow or the reverse power flow in the predetermined period to the local controller <NUM>. The power meter <NUM> may autonomously transmit the message and may transmit the message in response to a request of the local controller <NUM>. The power meter <NUM> may transmit, for each predetermined period, the message including the information element indicating the power flow or the reverse power flow in the predetermined period to the power management server <NUM>.

The power meter <NUM> is an example of the individual power meter that measures individual output power of the adjustment power supply. The power meter <NUM> may be provided at an output end of the PCS of the adjustment power supply, and may be considered to be part of the adjustment power supply. In <FIG>, a power meter <NUM>, a power meter <NUM>, and a power meter <NUM> are provided as each of the power meters <NUM>. The power meter <NUM> measures the individual output power of the solar cell apparatus <NUM>. The power meter <NUM> measures the individual output power of the power storage apparatus <NUM>. The power meter <NUM> measures the individual output power of the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>.

Here, the power meter <NUM> transmits the message including information element indicating the individual output power of the adjustment power supply at an interval (for example, <NUM> minute) shorter than the predetermined period to the local controller <NUM>. The individual output power of the adjustment power supply may be represented by an instantaneous value and may be represented by an integrated value. The power meters <NUM> may autonomously transmit the message and may transmit the message in response to a request of the local controller <NUM>.

Returning to <FIG>, the power company <NUM> is an entity that provides infrastructure such as the power grid <NUM>, and is, for example, the power generation operator or the power transmission/distribution operator. The power company <NUM> may entrust various operations to an entity managing the power management server <NUM>.

A power management server according to an embodiment will be described below. As illustrated in <FIG>, the power management server <NUM> includes a management unit <NUM>, a communicator <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. The power management server <NUM> is an example of a virtual top node (VTN).

The management unit <NUM> includes a storage medium, such as a nonvolatile memory and/or an HDD, and manages information on the facilities <NUM>. For example, information relating to the facility <NUM> includes a type of the distributed power supply (the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, or the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>) provided in the facility <NUM>, specifications of the distributed power supply (the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, or the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>) provided in the facility <NUM>, and the like. The specifications may include a rated generated power of the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, a rated power of the power storage apparatus <NUM>, and a rated power of the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>.

The communicator <NUM> includes a communication module, and communicates with the local controller <NUM> via the network <NUM>. The communication module may be a wireless communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>. 11a/b/g/n, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, and LTE, or may be a wired communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>.

As described above, the communicator <NUM> performs communication in accordance with the first protocol. For example, the communicator <NUM> transmits a first message to the local controller <NUM> in accordance with the first protocol. The communicator <NUM> receives the first message response from the local controller <NUM> in accordance with the first protocol.

The at least one processor may be configured of a single integrated circuit (IC) or a plurality of circuits (such as integrated circuits and/or discrete circuits) connected so as to be capable of communicating with each other.

The controller <NUM> controls each configuration provided in the power management server <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> instructs the local controller <NUM> provided in the facility <NUM> to control the distributed power supply (the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, or the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>) provided in the facility <NUM>, by transmitting a control message. As described above, the control message may be a power flow control message, may be a reverse power flow control message, or may be a power supply control message.

A local controller according to an embodiment will be described below. As illustrated in <FIG>, the local controller <NUM> includes a first communicator <NUM>, a second communicator <NUM>, and a controller <NUM>. The local controller <NUM> is an example of a virtual end node (VEN).

The first communicator <NUM> includes a communication module, and communicates with the power management server <NUM> via the network <NUM>. The communication module may be a wireless communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>. 11a/b/g/n, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, and LTE, or may be a wired communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>.

As described above, the first communicator <NUM> performs communication in accordance with the first protocol. For example, the first communicator <NUM> receives the first message from the power management server <NUM> in accordance with the first protocol. The first communicator <NUM> transmits the first message response to the power management server <NUM> in accordance with the first protocol.

The second communicator <NUM> includes a communication module, and communicates with the distributed power supply (the solar cell apparatus <NUM>, the power storage apparatus <NUM>, or the fuel cell apparatus <NUM>). The communication module may be a wireless communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>. 11a/b/g/n, ZigBee, Wi-SUN, and LTE, or may be a wired communication module compliant with standards such as IEEE <NUM>, the unique dedicated protocols or the like.

As described above, the second communicator <NUM> performs communication in accordance with the second protocol. For example, the second communicator <NUM> transmits the second message to the distributed power supply in accordance with the second protocol. The second communicator <NUM> receives the second message response from the distributed power supply in accordance with the second protocol.

In the embodiment, the second communicator <NUM> constitutes a first receiver that receives at least information specifying the reverse power flow from the power meter <NUM>. The second communicator <NUM> may receive information specifying the power flow from the power meter <NUM>. The second communicator <NUM> constitutes a second receiver that receives information specifying each of the individual output powers of the two or more adjustment power supplies from each of the power meters <NUM>.

The controller <NUM> controls each configuration provided in the local controller <NUM>. Specifically, in order to control the power of the facility <NUM>, the controller <NUM> instructs the device to set an operating state of the distributed power supply by transmitting the second message and receiving the second message response. In order to control the power of the facility <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may instruct the distributed power supply to report information of the distributed power supply by transmitting the second message and receiving the second message response.

A fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> (hereinafter, adjustment target) according to the invention will be described below.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a control according to the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency is different for each fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target. Specifically, the control according to the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency includes a short cycle control in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is a short cycle (for example, from approximately several tens of seconds to approximately several minutes), a middle cycle control in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is a middle cycle (for example, from approximately several minutes to approximately several tens of minutes) longer than the short cycle, and a long cycle control in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is a long cycle (for example, from approximately several tens of minutes to approximately several hours) longer than the middle cycle.

Here, the short cycle control may be referred to as a governor free (GF). The short cycle control is a control to eliminate the supply and demand fluctuation which cannot be followed by the middle cycle control. For example, this supply and demand fluctuation may be caused by the operation stop of the adjustment power supply operating in the short cycle control.

The middle cycle control may be referred to as a load frequency control (LFC) and may be referred to as an automatic frequency control (AFC). The middle cycle control is a control to eliminate the supply and demand fluctuation in which a supply and demand prediction is difficult.

The long cycle control may be referred to as a dispatching power control (DPC), or may be referred to as an economic load division control (EDC). The long cycle control is a control to eliminate the supply and demand fluctuation based on the supply and demand prediction.

In such a condition, the communicator <NUM> of the power management server <NUM> constitutes a receiver receiving, from an upper management server (for example, the power company <NUM>), an adjustment request for requesting a fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of a power grid <NUM> for each fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target. The communicator <NUM> of the power management server <NUM> constitutes a transmitter transmitting, to the adjustment power supply, an adjustment instruction for instructing the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> according to the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target requested by the adjustment request. Note that the control message transmitted from the power management server <NUM> to the facility <NUM> (the local controller <NUM>) may be considered to be an example of the adjustment instruction transmitted to the facility <NUM>.

The management unit <NUM> of the power management server <NUM> manages a correspondence relationship between the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target instructed by the adjustment instruction and the adjustment power supply. For example, the management unit <NUM> manages the correspondence relationship illustrated in <FIG>. The correspondence relationship includes a facility ID, an equipment ID, and the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target.

The facility ID is an information element specifying the facility <NUM> including the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is transmitted. The equipment ID is an information element specifying the adjustment power supply. The equipment ID may include an information element indicating a type of the adjustment power supply, or may include an information element such as a character string individually assigned to the adjustment power supply. The fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is a fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target instructed to the adjustment power supply by the adjustment instruction. The fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target includes the short cycle, the middle cycle, and the long cycle.

In a case where an additional adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> is required, the controller <NUM> of the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship.

First, the controller <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted as an adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. For example, in a case where the adjustment instruction has been already transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300A, and the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B and the facility 300C, the controller <NUM> determines, from among the adjustment power supplies in the facility 300B and the facility 300C, the adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted.

Second, in a case where the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target required in the additional adjustment is a first cycle, the controller <NUM> may determine an adjustment power supply to which an adjustment instruction for instructing a second cycle longer than the first cycle as the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is transmitted as an adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. For example, in a state where the adjustment instruction of the long cycle has been already transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300A, and the adjustment instruction of the middle cycle has been already transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B and the facility 300C, in a case where the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target required in the additional adjustment is the middle cycle, the controller <NUM> determines, from among the adjustment power supplies in the facility 300A, the adjustment power supply to which the control instruction of the middle cycle is to be transmitted.

In a case where the controller <NUM> receives, from the upper management server (for example, the power company <NUM>), the additional adjustment request, the controller <NUM> may determine that the additional adjustment is required. In a case where the controller <NUM> determines that the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> is insufficient based on a monitoring result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may determine that the additional adjustment is required. The monitoring result may be obtained by the power management server <NUM> directly monitoring the frequency of the power grid <NUM>, or may be obtained from a result of monitoring the frequency of the power grid <NUM> by each facility <NUM>.

A power management method according to the embodiment will be described below. Here, a case is exemplified in which the adjustment instruction is transmitted for each facility <NUM>.

First, a case will be exemplified in which the additional adjustment instruction is transmitted to an adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S11, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the power company <NUM>, an adjustment request in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle.

In step S12, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. Here, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted is the adjustment power supply in the facility 300A.

In step S13, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300A, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle. The facility 300A controls the adjustment power supply with the middle cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S14, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the power company <NUM>, an adjustment request in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the long cycle.

In step S15, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship managed by the management unit <NUM>. Here, since the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted is the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B.

In step S16, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300B, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the long cycle. The facility 300B controls the adjustment power supply with the long cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

Second, a case will be exemplified in which the additional adjustment instruction is transmitted to an adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has been transmitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S21, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the power company <NUM>, an adjustment request in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle.

In step S22, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. Here, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supplies to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted are the adjustment power supplies in the facilities 300A and 300B.

In step S23, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facilities 300A and 300B, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle. The facilities 300A and 300B control the adjustment power supply with the middle cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S24, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the power company <NUM>, an adjustment request in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the short cycle.

In step S25, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship managed by the management unit <NUM>. Here, since the adjustment instruction of the middle cycle longer than the short cycle has been transmitted to the facility 300B, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted is the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B. However, the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted may be the adjustment power supply in the facility 300A.

In step S26, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300B, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the short cycle. The facility 300B changes the control of the adjustment power supply from the middle cycle control to the short cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

Third, a case will be described in which the power management server <NUM> autonomously determines that the additional adjustment is required.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S31, the facility 300A performs the long cycle control.

In step S32, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the power company <NUM>, an adjustment request in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle.

In step S33, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship managed by the management unit <NUM>. Here, since the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted to the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted is the adjustment power supply in the facility 300B.

In step S34, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300B, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle. The facility 300B controls the adjustment power supply with the middle cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S35, the power management server <NUM> determines whether the additional adjustment is required. Here, the description will be continued assuming that the additional adjustment is determined to be required. As described above, in a case where the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid is determined to be insufficient based on the monitoring result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM>, the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> is determined to be insufficient. The monitoring result may be obtained by the power management server <NUM> directly monitoring the frequency of the power grid <NUM>, or may be obtained from a result of monitoring the frequency of the power grid <NUM> by each facility <NUM>. The monitoring result may be obtained by a report described in a modification example <NUM> described below.

In step S36, the controller <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship managed by the management unit <NUM>. Here, since the adjustment instruction of the long cycle longer than the middle cycle has been transmitted to the facility 300A, the description will be continued assuming that the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted is the adjustment power supply in the facility 300A.

In step S37, the controller <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300A, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle. The facility 300A changes the control of the adjustment power supply from the long cycle control to the middle cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In the embodiment, in a case where the additional adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> is required, the power management server <NUM> determines the adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship managed by the management unit <NUM>. According to such a configuration, an influence on the control based on the already transmitted adjustment instruction can be suppressed, and the frequency of the power grid <NUM> can be appropriately adjusted.

For example, in the power management server <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may determine the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted as an adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. According to such a configuration, since the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted is added, the influence on the control of the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> can be suppressed.

For example, in a case where the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target required in the additional adjustment is the first cycle, the power management server <NUM> may determine an adjustment power supply to which an adjustment instruction for instructing a second cycle longer than the first cycle as the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is transmitted as an adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted. According to such a configuration, since the fluctuation cycle adjusted by the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has been already transmitted is made shorter, the influence on the control of the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> can be suppressed as compared with the case where the fluctuation cycle adjusted by the adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has been already transmitted is made longer.

Modification example <NUM> of the embodiment will be described below. In the following, differences from the embodiment will be described.

Although not specifically mentioned in the embodiment, in a modification example <NUM>, the communicator <NUM> of the power management server <NUM> receives, from the adjustment power supply, a report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM>. The communicator <NUM> may receive the report from the facility <NUM>. The adjustment result may include an information element indicating whether the frequency of the power grid <NUM> has been adjusted based on the adjustment instruction. The adjustment result may include a state of the frequency of the power grid <NUM>. The adjustment result may include an information element indicating whether the adjustment power supply has been controlled based on the adjustment instruction. The adjustment result may include an information element indicating an operating state of the adjustment power supply.

In such a case, the communicator <NUM> receives, from a first adjustment power supply (facility <NUM>) to which the first cycle has been instructed as the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target, the report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> at a first time interval. On the other hand, the communicator <NUM> receives, from a second adjustment power supply (facility <NUM>) to which the second cycle longer than the first cycle has been instructed as the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target, the report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> at a second time interval longer than the first time interval.

For example, the facility <NUM> including the adjustment power supply to which the short cycle control is instructed transmits the report to the power management server <NUM> at a short time interval. The facility <NUM> including the adjustment power supply to which the middle cycle control is instructed transmits the report to the power management server <NUM> at a middle time interval longer than the short time interval. The facility <NUM> including the adjustment power supply to which the long cycle control is instructed transmits the report to the power management server <NUM> at a long time interval longer than the middle time interval.

Here, the short time interval may be shorter than the short cycle of the adjustment target in the short cycle control. Similarly, the middle time interval may be shorter than the middle cycle of the adjustment target in the middle cycle control. The long time interval may be shorter than the long cycle of the adjustment target in the long cycle control.

A power management method according to the embodiment will be described below. Here, a case is exemplified in which the adjustment instruction is transmitted for each facility <NUM> and the report is transmitted for each facility <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S41, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300A, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the long cycle.

In step S42, the facility 300A controls the adjustment power supply with the long cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S43, the facility 300A transmits, to the power management server <NUM>, a report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> at the long time interval. In other words, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the facility 300A, the report at the long time interval.

In step S51, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300B, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the middle cycle.

In step S52, the facility 300B controls the adjustment power supply with the middle cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S53, the facility 300B transmits, to the power management server <NUM>, the report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> at the middle time interval. In other words, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the facility 300B, the report at the middle time interval.

In step S61, the power management server <NUM> transmits, to the facility 300C, an adjustment instruction in which the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target is the short cycle.

In step S62, the facility 300C controls the adjustment power supply with the short cycle control in response to the reception of the adjustment instruction.

In step S63, the facility 300C transmits, to the power management server <NUM>, the report including the adjustment result of the frequency of the power grid <NUM> at the short time interval. In other words, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the facility 300C. the report at the short time interval.

In the embodiment, the power management server <NUM> receives, from the first adjustment power supply (facility <NUM>) to which the first cycle has been instructed, the report at the first time interval, and receives, from the second adjustment power supply (facility <NUM>) to which the second cycle longer than the first cycle has been instructed, the report at the second time interval longer than the first time interval. According to such a configuration, the appropriate control based on the report can be performed while suppressing excessive communication between the power management server <NUM> and the facility <NUM> (adjustment power supply).

Although the present disclosure has been described by the above-described embodiment, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the embodiment, the local controller <NUM> provided in the facility <NUM> communicates with the power management server <NUM>. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. The adjustment power supply provided in the facility <NUM> may directly communicate with the power management server <NUM>.

In the embodiment, the solar cell apparatus <NUM> has been exemplified as the adjustment power supply that outputs power by utilizing natural energy. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. The adjustment power supply that outputs power by utilizing natural energy may include one or more adjustment power supplies selected from a wind power generation apparatus, a water power generation apparatus, a geothermal power generation apparatus, and the biomass power generation apparatus.

In the embodiment, the case has been exemplified in which each adjustment power supply includes an individual PCS. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. One multi-DC link PCS may be provided for the two or more adjustment power supplies.

In an embodiment, the case has been exemplified in which the local controller <NUM> is provided in the facility <NUM>. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. The local controller <NUM> may be provided by a cloud service.

Claim 1:
A power management server (<NUM>) comprising:
a receiver (<NUM>) configured to receive, from an upper management server (<NUM>), an adjustment request for requesting a fluctuation adjustment of a frequency of a power grid (<NUM>) for each fluctuation cycle of an adjustment target which is the frequency of the power grid (<NUM>), wherein the fluctuation cycle is a cycle indicating a type of period to adjust the frequency of the power grid (<NUM>);
a transmitter (<NUM>) configured to transmit, to an adjustment power supply, an adjustment instruction for instructing the fluctuation adjustment of the frequency of the power grid (<NUM>) according to the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target requested by the adjustment request;
a management unit (<NUM>) configured to manage a correspondence relationship between the fluctuation cycle of the adjustment target instructed by the adjustment instruction and the adjustment power supply; and
a controller (<NUM>) configured to determine an adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship,
characterized in that
in a case where an additional adjustment of the frequency of the power grid (<NUM>) is required, the controller (<NUM>) is configured to determine an additional adjustment power supply to which an additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted based on the correspondence relationship; wherein
the controller (<NUM>) is configured to determine an adjustment power supply to which the adjustment instruction has not been transmitted, as the additional adjustment power supply to which the additional adjustment instruction is to be transmitted.