Leading Analyst Firm Lists Ventyx Solution at Xcel Energy Among 'Handful' of Worldwide Virtual Power Plant Projects

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.

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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.

SOURCE Ventyx