阅读说明：本技术 太阳能发电控制装置 (Solar power generation control device ) 是由 阿部典行 于 2021-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明的目的在于通过由太阳能电池发电得到的电力高效地对蓄电装置进行充电。太阳能发电控制装置控制能够通过由分别设置于车身的不同表面的多个太阳能电池面板发电得到的电力对蓄电池进行充电的太阳能发电系统,并具备：获取部,其获取表示多个太阳能电池面板所包含的各个太阳能电池面板的输出的信息；确定部,其基于由获取部获取的表示太阳能电池面板的输出的信息,从多个太阳能电池面板中确定进行用于对蓄电池充电的发电的太阳能电池面板；以及控制部,其使通过由确定部确定的太阳能电池面板发电得到的电力对蓄电池的充电进行,并使通过由其他太阳能电池面板发电得到的电力对蓄电池的充电停止。(The purpose of the present invention is to efficiently charge a power storage device with electric power generated by a solar cell. The solar power generation control device controls a solar power generation system capable of charging a storage battery with power generated by a plurality of solar cell panels respectively provided on different surfaces of a vehicle body, and includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating an output of each of the plurality of solar cell panels; a determination section that determines a solar cell panel that performs power generation for charging the storage battery from among the plurality of solar cell panels, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell panel acquired by the acquisition section; and a control unit that charges the storage battery with the power generated by the solar cell panel specified by the specifying unit and stops charging the storage battery with the power generated by the other solar cell panel.)

1. A solar power generation control device that controls a solar power generation system capable of charging a power storage device of a vehicle with electric power generated by a plurality of solar cells respectively provided on different surfaces of a vehicle body,

the solar power generation control device is provided with:

an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating an output of each of the plurality of solar cells;

a determination section that determines a starting solar cell that performs power generation for charging the electrical storage device from among the plurality of solar cells, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell acquired by the acquisition section;

and a control unit that charges the power storage device with the power generated by the starting solar cell specified by the specification unit, and stops charging the power storage device with the power generated by another solar cell different from the starting solar cell.

2. The solar power generation control apparatus according to claim 1,

the acquisition unit acquires information indicating an output per unit area of each of the solar cells as information indicating an output of each of the solar cells.

3. The solar power generation control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the determination unit determines the solar cell having an output equal to or higher than a threshold value as the starting solar cell.

4. The solar power generation control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,

the determination unit includes a prediction unit that predicts, for each of the solar cells, gain power in a case where the power storage device is charged with power generated by the solar cell, based on information indicating an output of the solar cell and power consumption in a case where the power storage device is charged with power generated by the solar cell,

the determination unit determines the solar cell, for which the gain power is predicted to be 0 or more by the prediction unit, as the starting solar cell.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a solar power generation control device that controls a solar power generation system.

Background

Conventionally, there is a solar power generation system including a solar cell and a power storage device, and configured to charge the power storage device with power generated by the solar cell. In general, such a solar power generation system is activated when irradiation light to the solar cell is detected (specifically, when the output voltage of the solar cell is greater than a predetermined voltage value), and charges the power storage device with power generated by the solar cell. Patent document 1 describes that such a solar power generation system is provided in a vehicle.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2015-85707

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

When the solar power generation system is installed in a vehicle, it is conceivable to dispose a plurality of solar cells on different surfaces of a vehicle body. In the case where a plurality of solar cells are arranged on different surfaces of a vehicle body, there is room for improvement in that the power storage device cannot be efficiently charged with the electric power generated by the solar cells only by activating the solar power generation system when there is irradiation light to the solar cells.

The invention provides a solar power generation control device which can efficiently charge a power storage device with electric power generated by a solar cell when a plurality of solar cells are respectively arranged on different surfaces of a vehicle body.

Means for solving the problems

A solar power generation control device according to the present invention controls a solar power generation system capable of charging a power storage device of a vehicle with electric power generated by a plurality of solar cells respectively provided on different surfaces of a vehicle body, the solar power generation control device including:

an acquisition unit that acquires information indicating an output of each of the plurality of solar cells;

a determination section that determines a starting solar cell that performs power generation for charging the electrical storage device from among the plurality of solar cells, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell acquired by the acquisition section;

and a control unit that causes the power storage device to be charged with the electric power generated by the starting solar cell specified by the specifying unit, and that causes the power storage device to be stopped from being charged with the electric power generated by another solar cell different from the starting solar cell.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, when the plurality of solar cells are disposed on different surfaces of the vehicle body, the power storage device can be efficiently charged with the electric power generated by the solar cells.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle provided with a solar power generation system controlled by a solar power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement position of each solar cell panel.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the power generation control device according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control processing performed by the power generation control device of the present embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

1 vehicle

2 solar power generation system

10. 10a, 10b, 10c solar cell panel (solar cell)

32 solar power generation control device

321 acquisition part

322 determining part

322a prediction unit

323 control unit

50 accumulator (storage battery)

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a solar power generation control apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, front-back, left-right, and up-down are described in terms of directions viewed by a user of the vehicle. In the drawings, the front, the rear, the left, the right, the upper, and the lower of the vehicle are denoted as Fr, Rr, R, U, and D, respectively.

[ VEHICLE ]

First, a vehicle including a solar power generation system controlled by a solar power generation control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1. In fig. 1, the solid line indicates the control wiring, and the double dashed line indicates the power wiring.

In fig. 1, a Vehicle 1 is an electric Vehicle (electric Vehicle) which includes a solar power generation system 2 capable of generating power by irradiation light (hereinafter, also simply referred to as irradiation light) irradiated to the Vehicle 1, a traveling motor 3 (for example, a three-phase ac motor) driven by power generated by the solar power generation system 2, and which can travel by power of the traveling motor 3. The irradiation light is, for example, sunlight with a light source of the sun. The sunlight may include direct light directly reaching the ground (i.e., the vehicle 1) and scattered light scattered and reflected by clouds, dust in the atmosphere, and the like and then reaching the ground.

[ solar power generation System ]

As shown in fig. 1, the solar photovoltaic system 2 includes a solar cell panel 10, a photosensor unit 20, a solar photovoltaic control unit 30, a charge control device 40, and a battery 50.

The solar cell panel 10 is an example of a solar cell in the present invention. The solar cell panel 10 is configured by, for example, connecting a plurality of solar cells that convert light energy into electric power in series, and outputs electric power generated by the plurality of solar cells in response to irradiation light to the solar power generation control unit 30. In the vehicle 1, a plurality of such solar cell panels 10 are provided, and the plurality of solar cell panels 10 are connected to the solar power generation control unit 30, respectively.

Specifically, the solar cell panel 10 includes a solar cell panel 10a, a solar cell panel 10b, and a solar cell panel 10 c. The solar cell panel 10a, the solar cell panel 10b, and the solar cell panel 10c are disposed on different surfaces of the vehicle body. An example of the arrangement positions of the solar cell panels 10a, 10b, and 10c will be described later with reference to fig. 2.

In the present embodiment, an example in which three solar cell panels 10, i.e., the solar cell panel 10a, the solar cell panel 10b, and the solar cell panel 10c, are provided will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, one or two, or four or more solar cell panels 10 may be provided.

In addition, a solar cell sensor unit (illustrated as PVS in fig. 1) 11 is provided so as to correspond to each solar cell panel 10. The solar cell sensor unit 11 detects the output of the corresponding solar cell panel 10, and transmits a detection signal including the detection result and an identifier (i.e., ID) of its own device to the solar power generation control unit 30. The solar cell sensor unit 11 detects an output voltage and an output current of the solar cell panel 10 as an output of the solar cell panel 10. Thus, the solar power generation control unit 30 (for example, a solar power generation control device 32 described later) can acquire information indicating the output voltage and the output current of each solar cell panel 10 based on the detection signals from the respective solar cell sensor units 11.

The optical sensor unit 20 includes an optical sensor such as a photodiode that converts light energy into electric power, and is configured to be able to detect the intensity (e.g., illuminance) of light in the vehicle interior of the vehicle 1 by the optical sensor. Hereinafter, the light inside the vehicle 1 is also referred to as an inside light. The optical sensor unit 20 transmits a detection signal including information indicating the intensity of the detected vehicle interior light to the solar power generation control unit 30. In addition, when there is no interior light, the light sensor unit 20 transmits a detection signal indicating that the intensity of the interior light is 0 (zero), for example, to the solar power generation control unit 30. Thus, the solar power generation control unit 30 (for example, a solar power generation control device 32 described later) can acquire information indicating the presence or absence of the interior light and the intensity of the interior light based on the detection signal from the optical sensor unit 20.

The solar power generation control unit 30 includes a power conditioner 31 and a solar power generation control device 32. A plurality of power conditioning devices 31 are provided so as to correspond to the respective solar cell panels 10. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the power conditioner 31a is provided corresponding to the solar cell panel 10 a. In addition, a power conditioner 31b is provided corresponding to the solar cell panel 10 b. The power conditioner 31c is provided corresponding to the solar cell panel 10 c.

Each power conditioner 31 receives the power generated by the corresponding solar cell panel 10 and outputs the received power to the charge control device 40. The power conditioner 31 may output the power generated by the corresponding solar cell panel 10 to the charge controller 40 directly, or may output the power to the charge controller 40 via another power conditioner 31.

In addition, each power conditioner 31 controls the power generated by the corresponding solar cell panel 10. Specifically, each power conditioner 31 is controlled by Maximum power point tracking control (hereinafter also referred to as MPPT control) so as to maximize the power generated by the corresponding solar cell panel 10. The power conditioner 31 can be realized by a so-called micro converter having a function of MPPT control, for example.

Hereinafter, the combination of the solar cell panel 10a and the power conditioner 31a may be referred to as a first solar power generation unit α. The battery 50 can be charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10a by operating the first solar power generation unit α by consuming a predetermined electric power (for example, the electric power for operating the power conditioner 31 a).

Hereinafter, the combination of the solar cell panel 10b and the power conditioner 31b may be referred to as a second solar power generation unit β. The battery 50 can be charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10b by operating the second solar power generation section β by consuming a predetermined electric power (for example, the electric power for operating the power conditioner 31 b).

Hereinafter, the combination of the solar cell panel 10c and the power conditioner 31c may be referred to as a third solar power generation unit γ. The battery 50 can be charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10c by operating the third solar power generation unit γ by consuming a predetermined electric power (for example, the electric power consumed for operating the power conditioner 31 c).

The solar power generation control device 32 is an example of the solar power generation control device of the present invention. The solar power generation control device 32 controls the solar cell panels 10 and the like that generate power for charging the battery 50, for example, based on the outputs of the solar cell panels 10. The solar power generation control device 32 controls, for example, an operation mode of the solar power generation system 2.

In the present embodiment, the solar power generation system 2 can adopt, as the operation mode, a start-up mode and a stop mode (sleep mode) in which the solar power generation system 2 consumes less power than the start-up mode. Specifically, the start mode is an operation mode in which the battery 50 is charged with the electric power generated by 1 or more solar cell panels 10.

Specifically, the solar power generation control device 32 can operate or stop the solar power generation unit for each solar power generation unit. In the startup mode, the solar power generation control device 32 operates 1 or more solar power generation units, and charges the battery 50 with the power generated by the solar cell panel 10 of the operated solar power generation unit. On the other hand, in the solar power generation unit whose operation has stopped, for example, the power conditioner 31 turns off a function other than the communication function (for example, a function of performing MPPT control) of communicating with the solar power generation controller 32. This reduces the power consumption of the solar power generation unit that has stopped operating, and therefore the power consumption of the entire solar power generation system 2 is reduced.

The rest mode is an operation mode in which the battery 50 is not charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10. That is, when the solar power generation unit is in the sleep mode, the operation of all the solar power generation units is stopped. In the rest mode, the function of charging the battery 50 may be appropriately stopped by another component (for example, the charge control device 40) as well as the power conditioner 31. A configuration example of the solar power generation control device 32 will be described later by using fig. 3.

The charge control device 40 receives the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10 via the solar power generation control unit 30, and charges the battery 50 with the received electric power. The battery 50 is an example of the power storage device of the present invention, and is configured by connecting a plurality of battery modules 51 in series. The plurality of battery modules 51 are connected to the charge control device 40, and the charge control device 40 can selectively charge the battery modules 51.

For example, the charge control device 40 distributes electric power to the battery modules 51 so as to equalize the remaining capacities of the battery modules 51 and charges them. The charge control device 40 can be realized by a predetermined integrated circuit, for example. The electric power of the battery 50 is supplied to the traveling motor 3 via the power conversion device 4 that converts direct current into alternating current. The power conversion device 4 can be realized by an inverter device, for example.

[ example of arrangement position of each solar cell panel ]

Next, an example of the arrangement position of each solar cell panel 10 will be described with reference to fig. 2. As shown in fig. 2, the solar cell panel 10a is disposed on the roof 1a of the vehicle 1 in a state in which a light receiving portion capable of receiving irradiation light faces upward. The solar cell panel 10b is disposed in the engine cover portion 1b of the vehicle 1 in a state in which a light receiving portion capable of receiving the irradiation light is directed upward. The solar cell panel 10c is disposed on the left side portion 1c (e.g., left side door) of the vehicle 1 in a state in which a light receiving portion capable of receiving the irradiation light is directed leftward.

In this way, the solar cell panel 10a, the solar cell panel 10b, and the solar cell panel 10c are disposed at different positions of the vehicle 1. The solar cell panels 10a, 10b, and 10c have sizes corresponding to the surfaces on which they are arranged. Therefore, the areas of the light receiving portions (hereinafter, also referred to as light receiving areas) of the solar cell panels 10 are different from each other.

As described above, in the solar photovoltaic system 2, four or more solar cell panels 10 may be provided, and for example, the solar cell panels 10 may be provided also in the right side portion (for example, the right side door) of the vehicle 1 in the same manner as the left side portion 1c of the vehicle 1. The optical sensor of the optical sensor unit 20 is disposed on the vehicle interior side of the roof portion 1a of the vehicle 1 with the light receiving portion directed toward the vehicle interior side, for example, and the illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

[ functional Structure of solar Power Generation control device ]

Next, an example of the functional configuration of the solar power generation control device 32 will be described with reference to fig. 3. As shown in fig. 3, the solar power generation control device 32 includes an acquisition unit 321, a determination unit 322, and a control unit 323.

The acquisition unit 321 acquires information indicating the output of each solar cell panel 10. The acquisition unit 321 acquires, for example, information indicating an output per unit area of each solar cell panel 10 as information indicating an output of each solar cell panel 10. Here, the output per unit area of the solar cell panel 10 is obtained by dividing the generated power of the solar cell panel 10 by the light receiving area of the solar cell panel 10. The generated power of each solar cell panel 10 can be obtained based on the detection signal from each solar cell sensor unit 11. Information indicating the light receiving area of each solar cell panel 10 is stored in the solar power generation control device 32 in advance, for example.

The determination unit 322 determines the solar cell panel 10 that generates power for charging the battery 50 from among the plurality of solar cell panels 10, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell panel 10 acquired by the acquisition unit 321. The determination unit 322 determines the solar power generation unit that operates to charge the battery 50, for example, based on the output per unit area of each solar cell panel 10.

Specifically, the determination unit 322 determines to operate the solar power generation unit including the solar cell panel 10 having the output per unit area equal to or greater than the threshold value. In other words, in this case, the determination unit 322 determines to stop the operation of the solar power generation unit including the solar cell panel 10 having the output per unit area smaller than the threshold value. The information indicating the threshold value is stored in advance in the solar power generation control device 32, for example. The determination unit 322 may be configured to determine that the solar power generation unit including the solar cell panel 10 having the output per unit area equal to or greater than the threshold value is operated when the irradiation light to the vehicle 1 is direct light, that is, when the irradiation light to the vehicle 1 substantially does not include a scattered light component.

The determination unit 322 may determine that the solar power generation unit having the gain power of 0 or more is to be operated. That is, in this case, the determination unit 322 includes a prediction unit 322 a. The prediction unit 322a predicts, for each solar cell panel 10, the gain power in the case where the battery 50 is charged with the power generated by the solar cell panel 10, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell panel 10 and the power consumption in the case where the battery 50 is charged with the power generated by the solar cell panel 10.

The prediction unit 322a predicts gain power (hereinafter, also referred to as gain power of the first solar power generation unit α) when the battery 50 is charged with power generated by the solar cell panel 10a, for example, based on a difference between the generated power of the solar cell panel 10a and the consumed power of the first solar power generation unit α. Specifically, for example, when Pa is the generated power of the solar cell panel 10a and Pb is the power consumption of the first solar power generation unit α, the prediction unit 322a predicts Pa — Pb as the gain power of the first solar power generation unit α.

Similarly, the prediction unit 322a predicts gain power in the case where the battery 50 is charged with the power generated by the solar cell panel 10b (hereinafter, also referred to as gain power of the second solar power generation unit β) based on the difference between the power generated by the solar cell panel 10b and the power consumption of the second solar power generation unit β. The prediction unit 322a predicts gain power in the case where the battery 50 is charged with the power generated by the solar cell panel 10c (hereinafter, also referred to as gain power of the third solar power generation unit γ) based on the difference between the power generated by the solar cell panel 10c and the power consumption of the third solar power generation unit γ. Information indicating the power consumption of each solar power generation unit is stored in advance in the solar power generation control device 32, for example.

The determination unit 322 may determine the solar power generation unit predicted by the prediction unit 322a that the gain power is 0 or more as the solar power generation unit that operates, and may determine the solar power generation unit predicted that the gain power is less than 0 as the solar power generation unit that stops operating. In this case, when the irradiation light to the vehicle 1 contains a scattered light component, the specifying unit 322 may specify as the solar power generation unit to be operated the solar power generation unit predicted to have the gain power of 0 or more.

The control unit 323 controls charging of the battery 50 by the solar power generation system 2 based on the processing result of the determination unit 322. Specifically, the control unit 323 operates the solar power generation unit determined to be operated by the determination unit 322, and charges the battery 50 with the electric power generated by the solar cell panel 10 of the solar power generation unit. The control unit 323 can charge the battery 50 with the electric power generated by the solar power generation unit by operating the power conditioner 31 of the solar power generation unit determined to be operating.

On the other hand, the control unit 323 stops the operation of the solar power generation units other than the solar power generation unit determined to be operated by the determination unit 322. The control unit 323 can stop charging of the battery 50 by the solar power generation unit by, for example, turning off a function other than the communication function of the power conditioner 31 of the solar power generation unit that is stopped to communicate with the solar power generation control device 32.

In this way, the solar power generation control device 32 can operate only the solar power generation section including the solar cell panel 10 having an output per unit area equal to or greater than the threshold value. Thus, the solar power generation control device 32 can operate only the solar power generation section including the solar cell panel 10 expected to have sufficient generated power, and can efficiently charge the battery 50 with the power generated by the operated solar power generation section while suppressing the power consumption of the solar power generation system 2.

The solar power generation control device 32 operates only the solar power generation unit having the gain power of 0 or more. Thus, the solar power generation control device 32 can operate only the solar power generation unit predicted to generate more power than the power consumption at the time of operation, and can efficiently charge the battery 50 with the power generated by the operated solar power generation unit while suppressing the power consumption of the solar power generation system 2.

The functional units of the solar power generation control device 32 can be realized by executing a predetermined program (software) by a cpu (central Processing unit), for example. Some or all of the functional units of the solar power generation control device 32 may be realized by hardware such as lsi (large Scale integration), asic (application Specific Integrated circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), gpu (graphics Processing unit), or the like, or may be realized by cooperation of software and hardware.

[ control processing by solar power generation control device ]

Next, an example of control processing of the solar power generation system 2 by the solar power generation control device 32 will be described with reference to fig. 4. The solar power generation control device 32 performs the control processing shown in fig. 4, for example, when the operation mode of the solar power generation system 2 is set to the stop mode.

As shown in fig. 4, the solar power generation control device 32 first waits the solar power generation system 2 in the idle mode (step S01), and when a predetermined timing arrives, determines whether or not to set the system to the start mode (step S02). In step S02, for example, when the output of any one of the solar cell panels 10 is equal to or greater than the threshold value (that is, when any one of the solar cell panels 10 is generating power), the solar power generation control device 32 determines that the start mode is set. If it is determined that the activation mode is not set (no in step S02), the solar power generation control device 32 proceeds to the process of step S01.

If it is determined that the solar power generation system is in the startup mode (yes at step S02), the solar power generation control device 32 sets the solar power generation system 2 to the startup mode (step S03), and acquires information indicating the output per unit area of each solar cell panel 10 (step S04).

Next, the solar power generation control device 32 compares the outputs per unit area of the solar cell panels 10 with each other (step S05), and determines whether or not the irradiation light includes scattered light (step S06). In step S06, for example, if the difference between the outputs per unit area of the solar cell panels 10 is smaller than the threshold value, that is, if the solar cell panels 10 generate power substantially equally, the solar power generation control device 32 determines that the irradiation light includes scattered light.

In step S06, the solar power generation control device 32 preferably considers the detection result of the photosensor unit 20 as well. Specifically, in this case, if the difference between the outputs per unit area of the solar cell panels 10 is smaller than the threshold value and the difference in illuminance between the inside and the outside of the vehicle is also smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that the irradiation light includes scattered light.

When it is determined that the irradiation light does not include scattered light (no in step S06), the solar power generation control device 32 operates the solar power generation unit including the solar cell panel 10 having an output per unit area equal to or greater than the threshold value, and stops the solar power generation unit including the solar cell panel 10 having an output per unit area smaller than the threshold value (step S07), and the process proceeds to step S10.

Further, if it is determined that the irradiation light includes scattered light (yes in step S06), the solar power generation control device 32 predicts the gain power of each solar power generation unit (step S08). Then, the solar power generation control device 32 operates the solar power generation unit having the gain power of 0 or more, and stops the operation of the solar power generation unit having the gain power of less than 0 (step S09), and the process proceeds to step S10.

Next, the solar power generation control device 32 determines whether or not the state of the irradiation light to the vehicle 1, for example, the intensity, the irradiation position, and the like of the irradiation light have changed (step S10). If the state of the irradiated light has not changed (no in step S10), the solar power generation control device 32 waits until the state of the irradiated light changes. When the state of the irradiated light has changed (yes in step S10), the solar power generation control device 32 determines whether the irradiated light has disappeared (whether the intensity of the irradiated light is 0) (step S11). If the irradiation light does not disappear (no in step S11), the solar power generation control device 32 proceeds to the process of step S04. When the irradiation light disappears (yes in step S11), the solar power generation control device 32 sets the solar power generation system 2 to the stop mode (step S12), and ends the control process shown in fig. 4.

As described above, according to the solar power generation control device 32, when the plurality of solar cell panels 10 are respectively disposed on different surfaces of the vehicle body, the battery 50 can be efficiently charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell panels 10.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications, improvements, and the like can be appropriately made.

For example, although the Vehicle 1 is an electric Vehicle in the above-described embodiment, the Vehicle 1 may be a Hybrid electric Vehicle (Hybrid electric Vehicle) or a Fuel cell Vehicle (Fuel Vehicle).

In the present specification, at least the following matters are described. Note that, although the corresponding components and the like in the above-described embodiments are shown in parentheses, the present invention is not limited to these.

(1) A solar power generation control device (solar power generation control device 32) for controlling a solar power generation system (solar power generation system 2) capable of charging a power storage device (battery 50) of a vehicle with electric power generated by a plurality of solar cells (solar cell panels 10) provided on different surfaces of a vehicle body,

the solar power generation control device is provided with:

an acquisition unit (acquisition unit 321) that acquires information indicating the output of each of the plurality of solar cells;

a determination section (determination section 322) that determines a starting solar cell that performs power generation for charging the power storage device from among the plurality of solar cells, based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell acquired by the acquisition section;

and a control unit (control unit 323) that charges the power storage device with the power generated by the starting solar cell specified by the specification unit, and stops charging the power storage device with the power generated by a solar cell different from the starting solar cell.

According to (1), the starting solar cell that generates power for charging the power storage device is specified based on the information indicating the output of each solar cell, the power storage device is charged with the power generated by the specified starting solar cell, and the power storage device is stopped from being charged with the power generated by another solar cell different from the starting solar cell. Accordingly, the power storage device can be charged only with the solar cell expected to have sufficient generated power, and therefore, the power storage device can be efficiently charged with the power generated by the solar cell.

(2) The solar power generation control apparatus according to (1), wherein,

the acquisition unit acquires information indicating an output per unit area of each of the solar cells as information indicating an output of each of the solar cells.

According to (2), even when the sizes of the solar cells are different from each other, the starting solar cell used for charging the power storage device can be appropriately determined.

(3) The solar power generation control apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein,

the determination unit determines the solar cell having an output equal to or higher than a threshold value as the starting solar cell.

According to (3), since the solar cell whose output is equal to or greater than the threshold value is determined as the starting solar cell, the solar cell expected to have sufficient generated power can be determined as the starting solar cell.

(4) The solar power generation control apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein,

the determination unit includes a prediction unit (prediction unit 322a) that predicts, for each of the solar cells, gain power in a case where the power storage device is charged with power generated by the solar cell, based on information indicating an output of the solar cell and power consumption in a case where the power storage device is charged with power generated by the solar cell,

the determination unit determines the solar cell, for which the gain power is predicted to be 0 or more by the prediction unit, as the starting solar cell.

According to (4), for each solar cell, the gain power in the case where the power storage device is charged with the power generated by the solar cell is predicted based on the information indicating the output of the solar cell and the power consumption in the case where the power storage device is charged with the power generated by the solar cell, and the solar cell predicted that the gain power is 0 or more is determined as the starting solar cell. As a result, the solar cell predicted to generate more electric power than the electric power consumed for charging the power storage device can be identified as the starting solar cell, and the power storage device can be efficiently charged with the electric power generated by the solar cell.