Axual and Digital4Grids announce partnership to launch “Kafka4Power” platform

Utrecht, March 7, 2024 – Axual, a leading provider of enterprise event streaming platforms based on Apache Kafka, is thrilled to announce a partnership with Digital4Grids, spearheaded by smart grid expert Laurent Schmitt. This collaboration aims to address the challenges faced by the energy sector, particularly Transmission System Operators (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs), by leveraging Axual’s platform capabilities and Schmitt’s deep industry insights. Axual is currently being used by innovative TSOs and DSOs, including TenneT, Stedin, Eneco, Enexis, and Northpool, showcasing its proven methodology and product.

The energy sector is at a pivotal point, with the integration of renewable energy sources and the need for digital transformation becoming increasingly critical. Axual and Digital4Grids are joining forces to introduce a new control room architecture, as detailed in their joint whitepaper, “Future Control Room Architectures for Grid and Market Integrated Operation.” This document outlines the necessity for real-time data streaming and advanced analytics to enhance grid management, operational efficiency, and cybersecurity in the face of evolving energy demands.

This partnership is set to deliver unparalleled value to the energy market by offering solutions that enable self-service for DevOps teams, comprehensive data governance, and a visual topic graph to illuminate the connections between applications and data topics leveraging industry reference architectures and associated IEC based data exchange standards. Together, Axual and Digital4Grids will provide the energy sector with the tools needed to navigate the complex landscape of renewable integration, regulatory compliance, and digital innovation.

Digital4Grids, brings a wealth of experience and a visionary approach to tackling the challenges of TSOs and DSOs. “Our collaboration with Axual represents a significant leap forward in empowering the energy sector to meet the demands of modern grid management and renewable energy integration while making real-time prosumer interactions seamless,” said Laurent Schmitt.

Jelle Wilders, CCO at Axual, added, “Working with TSOs and DSOs, including TenneT and Enexis, has proven our strength in tackling complex challenges in data management and real-time event streaming. These successes showcase our innovative approach and readiness to address the energy sector’s evolving demands. We’re excited to partner with Digital4Grids to meet the critical needs of the energy sector.”

The partnership is poised to make a significant impact on the energy industry, offering a scalable, secure, and efficient platform to streamline data management and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and reliable energy future. It represents an essential stepping stone to accelerate grid control digital transformation while enabling observability of critical distributed assets such as home storage, V2X and Smart Heating Pumps to mitigate associated congestion in real-time.

About Axual

Axual was founded in 2015 by Jeroen van Disseldorp and is headquartered in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Axual enables (international) organizations to turn their Kafka into a competitive advantage and comes with unique self-service, data governance and security capabilities. Customers include TenneT, Enexis, the Norwegian government, Eneco, Stedin, Rabobank, Volksbank, Logius and more. Read more about Axual on our website.

About Digital4GridsFounded by Laurent Schmitt, a renowned expert in the energy sector, Digital4Grids focuses on advancing digital solutions for grid management. Digital4Grids team expertise and leadership in the integration of digital technologies in the energy sector pave the way for innovative approaches to grid management and renewable energy.

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