Algorithm Development Assistance & Proof-of-Concept

Nexant has always been one of the power industry's premier resources for technological advancement, in terms of research, proof-of-concept, and development for innovations in markets and operations. These are fields in which our engineering analysts and computation-oriented specialists are industry leaders.

Innovative thinking and the implementation of new ideas have been critical in moving the electric energy industry to its current stage of development. Over the past several years, many changes have occurred in electrical energy markets. Many of these changes were driven by FERC's open access transmission rulings and by the emergence of customer choice (direct access), among other factors. As a result, we now have seven independent system operators, all of which have or will have functioning energy markets. In turn, the focus is now on such items as smart grids, demand side management, and environmental improvements.

The overall objectives of all of these developments are to:

• Help markets become more efficient
• Utilize system resources more effectively
• Reduce energy cost
• Increase system reliability
• Maximize consumer benefits to their fullest

These objectives can only be achieved through continuous innovation and, ultimately, bringing new concepts and ideas to the market place. Long before final implementation, these concepts inevitably need to be tested and/or implemented in trial mode.

Nexant's team includes staff with many years of experience in areas as diverse as electric market development, optimization, power system reliability, and renewable energy. We provide "proof of concept" and pre-deployment testing (e.g., verifying solution optimality) for clients seeking to bring new ideas to fruition. For example, we have already assisted ISOs in the development of new optimization techniques and we have tested the workings of a newly developed independent electronic commodities exchange.