Zibelman says the key is Viridity's high-tech software that can turn a mix of demand-response resources and "distributed-generation" units, such as wind microturbines or rooftop solar cells, into a virtual power plant.
With Viridity's help, for example, a university's electricity system could stop being simply an expense. It could become both an energy resource and profit center - and Viridity would share in that profit.
Zibelman says companies such as Viridity will help turn the "smart grid" - the catch-all term for a high-tech electric grid that manages resources far more efficiently than today's system - into reality. She recently answered questions about the part she hopes her new company will play in that future.
Question: How does your new business differ from traditional "demand response"?
Answer: We see that as a rather blunt instrument. When we talk about demand response, we're talking about the ability of customers to voluntarily reduce load during peak periods. What we're looking at with Viridity is recognizing that customers are making a lot of investments in distributed resources such as solar energy or ice storage, as well as building-management systems, and networking those - treating them as a single, unified unit.
Q: Ice storage?
A: There's a type of air-conditioning system called a chiller. You make ice during the night during the off-peak periods, then use the ice to cool your buildings during the day. So you shift your usage.
We also have the ability, through building management systems, for lights to dim or temperatures to change based on prices.
Q: What is Viridity's role?
