Leading Analyst Firm Lists Ventyx Solution at Xcel Energy Among 'Handful' of Worldwide Virtual
Power Plant Projects
SmartGridCity(TM) Implementation Highlighted in VPP Report
ATLANTA, March 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Ventyx®, the world's largest private software, data and advisory
services provider to the energy and utility industry, today announced that the successful implementation
of its Smart Grid Operations solution at Xcel Energy has been recognized by leading industry analyst firm
IDC Energy Insights as one of the few Virtual Power Plant (VPP) projects currently being deployed
around the world. The Ventyx solution is an integral component of the utility's SmartGridCity™ initiative in
Boulder, CO, designed to turn complex meter-level data into the actionable intelligence required to deploy
and effectively manage the Boulder Smart Grid.
In the December 2009 report, Defining the Virtual Power Plant, IDC Energy Insights analysts define a
virtual power plant as "a technical, operational, and economic construct that aggregates distributed supply
and demand resources in a manner that enables the VPP operator to treat the distributed energy
resources as if they were a single power plant." Despite a number of challenges, VPPs offer many
potential benefits, say the analysts. Among these are enabling distributed generation plants (and the grid
as a whole) to be operated more efficiently and economically, providing greater flexibility in integrating
small-scale renewable energy technologies, reducing emissions and improving the reliability, security and
flexibility of supply.
"The Ventyx software includes the capability to define and manage VPPs and will play an important role
as Xcel Energy customers begin participating in SmartGridCity demand response programs," said IDC
Energy Insights Research Manager Marcus Torchia. "Ventyx retail operations applications will be used to
define customers that are part of a VPP along with related connectivity, meter and energy management
device information. Ventyx generation operations applications will be used to optimize the entire portfolio
of energy resources, including VPPs, and create dispatch schedules."
Through this VPP capability, the Ventyx software will help Xcel Energy connect the results of the demand
response programs and distributed energy resources to trading portfolio operations and investment
decisions. As a result, the software will help give SmartGridCity customers greater control over their
energy consumption, and help Xcel Energy realize the operational and financial benefits of implementing
a Smart Grid.
Ventyx is actively working to duplicate its successful deployment in Boulder in other regions around the
world, including Europe. In fact, Xcel Energy's SmartGridCity has been hailed as a model for awards from
Ofgem's 500 million pounds Sterling Low Carbon Networks Fund for large-scale trials of advanced
technology and commercial initiatives. "The VPP capabilities of our Smart Grid Operations solution meets
a growing need among utilities," said Ventyx Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer Andy Bane. "It
enables them to process and act on complex information from across the entire energy value chain from
generation to consumption. And, we back our solution with deep domain expertise in the utility industry.
As a result, we can help utilities deploying Smart Grids to increase operational efficiencies, maximize and
optimize the use of distributed energy resources and help the energy consumer make more informed
choices about how and when they use power."
For more information on the Ventyx software for Smart Grids and Virtual Power Plants, visit the Smart
Grid Operations page on our Website. To purchase and download a copy of the IDC report, visit the
Energy Insights Website.
About Ventyx
Ventyx is a leading business solutions provider, delivering asset management, mobile workforce
management, energy portfolio management, and customer care solutions to more than 1,250 energy,
utility and communications customers, as well as to asset-intensive customers in selected commercial
markets. Ventyx delivers best-of-breed business solutions that maximize operational and financial
performance, backed by the industry's deepest available industry-specific domain expertise. For more
information, visit our Website at www.ventyx.com.
Ventyx is a registered trademark of Ventyx Inc. Other company and product names may be trademarks
of the respective companies with which they are associated.