EnergyTech Podcast

Opsite Energy

Energy Innovation meets Industrial Technology: There is finally a podcast that balances technical depth with real-world applicability for field teams, operations groups, and senior leaders who want to see a real return on technology , IiOT, and AI Investments

  1. Aug 25

    Building Modern Solar & BESS Control Systems with Ignition - Ep 096

    What happens when BESS tag counts explode, data speeds accelerate, and renewable projects that once took years must now be commissioned in months? Recorded live at Inductive Automation’s Solar & BESS Discovery Day in San Diego, EnergyTech Podcast host Mike Flores sits down with Ian Kawas, Technical Consultant for SCADA & Automation at NEI Electric Power Engineering. Ian explains how Battery Energy Storage Systems are changing the demands placed on renewable-energy SCADA and OT infrastructure. The conversation covers Ignition, power plant controllers, HMIs, industrial networking, Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, MQTT, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the growing shortage of well-rounded SCADA engineers. Topics include: ⚡ How solar PV and BESS control requirements differ ⚡ Using Ignition as the operator interface for power plant controllers ⚡ Connecting Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA, MQTT and third-party I/O servers ⚡ Managing rapidly increasing BESS tag counts and data speeds ⚡ Coordinating solar and battery assets on shared transmission infrastructure ⚡ Why renewable-energy project schedules are accelerating ⚡ Building redundancy and faster industrial networks ⚡ The shortage of multidisciplinary SCADA engineers ⚡ Using AI and LLMs to troubleshoot complex automation problems ⚡ Balancing cost, complexity and industrial cybersecurity Learn more about NEI Electric Power Engineering: https://neiengineering.com Presented by OpSite Energy Insight Driven Remote Optimization https://www.opsiteenergy.com Subscribe to the EnergyTech Podcast for more conversations about SCADA, industrial automation, operational technology, artificial intelligence and the future of energy operations. 00:00 Introduction from Solar & BESS Discovery Day 00:48 Meet Ian Kawas of NEI 01:03 Solar PV and battery-storage experience 01:35 Complexity, cybersecurity and fragmented telemetry 02:03 Modbus, DNP3, OPC UA and MQTT 03:03 How NEI uses Ignition and OPC UA 03:48 Substation data and real-time plant control 04:14 Coordinating solar and battery assets 04:49 Ignition as the operator interface 05:25 Supporting owners, utilities, developers and EPCs 06:53 Cloud data demands and rising BESS tag counts 08:04 Faster networks and system redundancy 08:49 Why renewable projects must move faster 10:02 MQTT, UDTs and plant-level limitations 11:27 The shortage of well-rounded SCADA engineers 12:42 Cost, complexity and cybersecurity 13:09 Using AI for SCADA troubleshooting 14:10 Building connections at Solar & BESS Discovery Day 15:08 Closing remarks Music: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” courtesy of Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com #BESS #SCADA #IndustrialAutomation

  2. Aug 17

    Private 5G for Industrial AI: Refineries, Robotics & Edge Computing | Celona – EP 095

    Industrial AI, autonomous robots and connected workers all depend on one thing: reliable, low-latency connectivity. Recorded live at ENTELEC 2026 in Galveston, Texas, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Pradhyum Ramkumar, Head of Product Marketing, Sales & Partner Enablement at Celona, to explore how private 5G is transforming connectivity across refineries, manufacturing plants, warehouses and other mission-critical industrial environments. Pradhyum explains why traditional Wi-Fi often struggles in large, metal-dense facilities, and why private 5G can provide broader, more reliable coverage with significantly fewer radios. The conversation explores: * Why unreliable connectivity keeps industrial workers tied to pen and paper * Private 5G versus traditional industrial Wi-Fi * How Celona’s 5G LAN integrates with existing IT and OT networks * Zero Trust security and the separation of IT and OT traffic * Celona MicroSlicing™ and quality-of-service management * Connecting legacy Modbus devices through industrial gateways * Private 5G for connected workers, autonomous vehicles and robotics * Remote operation of cranes, drilling equipment and industrial assets * Why low latency is essential for industrial AI and edge inference * Reducing cabling, infrastructure and deployment costs * RF planning and the process of deploying a private 5G network * Applications across energy, manufacturing, logistics, healthcare and higher education As industrial companies move toward edge AI, robotics and remote operations, private 5G may become the critical connectivity layer that makes those technologies possible. Guest: Pradhyum Ramkumar, Head of Product Marketing, Sales & Partner Enablement, Celona Hosts: Jeff Perry and Mike Flores, Energy Tech Podcast Location: ENTELEC 2026 — Galveston, Texas Learn more: Celona: https://www.celona.io/ ENTELEC: https://www.entelec.org/expo/ OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/ Subscribe for more conversations about industrial automation, operational technology, private wireless, SCADA, edge computing and industrial AI. Music: “Fast Life” by Uygar Duzgun, courtesy of Epidemic Sound. #Private5G #IndustrialAI #OperationalTechnology 00:00 Introduction from ENTELEC 2026 00:49 Meet Pradhyum Ramkumar and Celona 01:08 Why industrial AI depends on connectivity 02:27 Why refineries still rely on pen and paper 03:43 Why Wi-Fi struggles in industrial environments 04:59 What makes private 5G different 05:51 300 Wi-Fi access points vs. 10 private 5G radios 06:36 Celona’s turnkey 5G LAN architecture 07:24 Integrating private 5G with IT and OT networks 09:28 Zero Trust security and existing firewalls 10:05 Separating IT and OT with MicroSlicing 10:59 Connected workers and robotics in hazardous environments 13:35 The future of autonomous industrial operations 15:04 Remote cranes, drilling and real-time control 15:44 RF planning and private 5G deployment 17:48 Connecting Modbus and legacy equipment 19:17 Edge AI and local inference 21:59 The cost case for private 5G 22:58 Applications beyond oil and gas 23:16 Closing thoughts

  3. Aug 10

    Scaling Industrial MQTT: Alarms, Edge Architecture & Ignition 8.3 - EP 094

    How do you scale an industrial MQTT architecture without sacrificing performance, reliability or trust in the data? Recorded at Inductive Automation’s Solar & Battery Discovery Day in San Diego, Mike Flores sits down with Nathan Davenport, Vice President of Sales Engineering at Cirrus Link Solutions, to discuss the technical and strategic challenges behind large-scale industrial data systems. Nathan explains why successful digital transformation begins with a clearly defined “North Star”—and how cost, complexity and cybersecurity shape nearly every industrial data architecture. The conversation also explores: Scaling MQTT Engine for millions of industrial tags Improving queue handling and gateway performance Propagating alarm events through Sparkplug MQTT Two-way alarm acknowledgment between edge and central gateways Performance improvements for Ignition 8.3 Containerizing the Chariot MQTT Server Deploying industrial data infrastructure at the edge Reducing cloud traffic and infrastructure costs Maintaining control of critical operational data Whether you work in manufacturing, renewable energy, oil and gas, utilities, automation or industrial IT/OT, this episode offers a practical look at building scalable and resilient industrial data pipelines. Guest: Nathan Davenport, VP of Sales Engineering, Cirrus Link Solutions Host: Mike Flores, Energy Tech Podcast Location: Solar & Battery Discovery Day — San Diego, California Learn more: Cirrus Link Solutions: https://cirrus-link.com/ Inductive Automation: https://inductiveautomation.com/ fast Subscribe for more conversations about industrial automation, operational technology, energy innovation, SCADA, MQTT and digital transformation. #MQTT #IndustrialAutomation #IgnitionSCADA 00:00 Introduction from San Diego 00:49 Meet Nathan Davenport of Cirrus Link 02:00 Cost, complexity and cybersecurity 03:25 Diagnosing industrial data and network problems 04:22 Why every project needs a North Star 05:16 Digital transformation without a strategy 06:45 Scaling the industrial data pipeline 07:33 MQTT Engine queue and performance improvements 10:53 Sending alarm events over Sparkplug MQTT 12:33 Moving alarms between edge and central gateways 14:13 Two-way alarm acknowledgment and clearing 14:34 Improving Ignition 8.3 performance at scale 16:25 Chariot MQTT Server containerization 18:05 Edge computing and reducing cloud costs 18:49 Closing thoughts Music: “Fast Life” by Uygar Duzgun, courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

  4. Aug 5

    How Licensed Spectrum Powers Private 5G in Oil & Gas | Select Spectrum EP 093

    Industrial digital transformation starts with reliable connectivity—and in remote oil and gas operations, traditional carrier coverage is not always available where the work happens. Recorded live at ENTELEC 2026 in Galveston, Texas, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Andreas Bitzarakis, Managing Director of Broadband at Select Spectrum, to discuss how licensed wireless spectrum supports private LTE and 5G networks across oil and gas, utilities, and other critical infrastructure. Andreas explains how Select Spectrum helps organizations identify, acquire, lease, or sell spectrum rights—and why selecting the right frequency for the right geography is a critical early step in private network development. Topics include: ⚡ Private LTE and 5G networks for oil and gas ⚡ Connectivity challenges in remote operating areas ⚡ Licensed spectrum versus shared spectrum ⚡ Buying and leasing FCC-licensed spectrum rights ⚡ Why spectrum availability varies by location ⚡ Supporting SCADA, telemetry, video, and operational data ⚡ Working with operators, engineers, integrators, and equipment manufacturers ⚡ Broadband and narrowband spectrum options ⚡ Band 54 for utilities and critical infrastructure ⚡ Building secure, operator-controlled private networks Whether you work in operational technology, telecommunications, SCADA, industrial automation, engineering, or digital transformation, this conversation provides a practical introduction to the spectrum decisions behind reliable private wireless networks. Guest: Andreas Bitzarakis Managing Director, Broadband Select Spectrum https://www.selectspectrum.com Recorded live at the 2026 ENTELEC Conference & Expo in Galveston, Texas. Presented by OpSite Energy OpSite Energy provides 24/7 remote operations, SCADA and control room services, alarm management, industrial automation, OT/IT integration, and industrial AI solutions. Learn more: https://www.opsiteenergy.com Subscribe to the Energy Tech Podcast for more conversations covering operational technology, SCADA, industrial automation, private wireless networks, cybersecurity, AI, and energy infrastructure. Music: Uygar Duzgun – “Fast Life” Courtesy of Epidemic Sound 00:00 Introduction from ENTELEC 2026 00:52 Meet Andreas Bitzarakis 01:13 What Select Spectrum Does 01:42 Connectivity Challenges in Remote Oil & Gas 02:32 Private Networks and Operational Data Control 03:00 Buying, Leasing and Selling Spectrum Rights 03:48 What Select Spectrum Does—and Does Not Do 04:39 Serving Operators of Every Size 05:37 Who Leads Private Network Decisions? 06:12 Engineering and Technology Partnerships 06:52 The Biggest Spectrum Availability Challenge 08:26 Solving the Missing Piece in Network Projects 09:19 Exclusive FCC-Licensed Spectrum 10:24 Broadband, Narrowband and Industry Expertise 10:55 Band 54 for Critical Infrastructure 11:58 How to Work with Select Spectrum 12:23 What Andreas Hopes to Accomplish at ENTELEC 13:27 Closing Thoughts

  5. Jul 27

    Ignition + TimescaleDB: A Modern Industrial Data Architecture - Ep 092

    How should industrial companies store, connect, and use massive amounts of operational data—from the edge to the cloud? Mike Freedman, co-founder and CTO of Tiger Data, joins Mike Flores on the Energy Tech Podcast to discuss how TimescaleDB and Inductive Automation’s Ignition platform are helping modernize industrial data infrastructure. Recorded live in San Diego at Inductive Automation’s Solar & BESS Discovery Day, this conversation explores the future of industrial historians, time-series data, unified namespace architectures, edge computing, hybrid cloud deployments, AI agents, and alarm intelligence. Mike explains the five requirements of a modern operational data platform: • High-speed ingestion across millions of tags • Economical long-term data storage • Fast historical and real-time queries • Support for late-arriving and backfilled data • The ability to connect time-series data with operational and business context The conversation also examines how AI agents can analyze alarms, operator notes, asset models, technical documentation, and real-time process data to help operators understand why an event occurred—without removing the human from the decision-making process. Topics include: • The Tiger Data and Inductive Automation partnership • TimescaleDB as a modern industrial historian • Ignition and PostgreSQL integration • Unified Namespace and MQTT architectures • On-premises, edge, cloud, and hybrid deployments • Local AI models and sovereign GPU infrastructure • MCP, agentic applications, and industrial data • AI-assisted alarm investigation • ISA-18.2 alarm management • Semantic search, vector search, and RAG • Moving from individual assets to fleet-scale operations • Multi-site visibility and live data synchronization Learn more: Tiger Data: https://www.tigerdata.com/ TimescaleDB Enterprise: https://www.tigerdata.com/timescaledb-enterprise Ignition and TimescaleDB: https://www.tigerdata.com/blog/ignition-and-timescaledb-perfect-pairing Inductive Automation: https://inductiveautomation.com/ Subscribe to the Energy Tech Podcast for more conversations covering industrial automation, operational technology, SCADA, energy infrastructure, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and the future of remote operations. #IndustrialAutomation #IgnitionSCADA #TimescaleDB 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Why Tiger Data Created TimescaleDB 01:19 From Industrial IoT to the Factory Floor 02:00 Connecting TimescaleDB with Ignition 03:19 Modern Industrial Data Architecture 04:25 Five Requirements of an Operational Data Platform 05:26 Handling Late-Arriving Data and Operational Context 06:46 Cloud Costs, Local Infrastructure and AI 07:27 Three Ways to Deploy TimescaleDB 08:08 Building a Hybrid Edge-to-Cloud Architecture 09:41 TimescaleDB for Modern Applications 10:50 AI Agents and Full-Stack Development 12:01 MCP, Agent Skills and Edge AI 13:03 Using AI to Investigate Industrial Alarms 14:18 Connecting Alarms, Operator Notes and Context 14:34 Semantic Search, Vector Search and RAG 15:35 Moving From Individual Assets to Fleet Scale 16:16 Five Data Requirements for Industrial Operations 17:00 Multi-Site and Distributed Edge Deployments 17:32 How to Get Started With Tiger Data 18:32 Live Sync From Industrial Sites to the Cloud 19:24 Tiger Data at the Ignition Community Conference 19:41 Closing

  6. Jul 22

    AI Data Centers, SCADA & OT Cybersecurity: Why the ROC and SOC Must Converge - Ep 091

    As AI data centers, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and remote operations continue to grow, operational technology (OT) cybersecurity has become one of the industry's biggest challenges. At Inductive Automation's Solar & Battery Discovery Day, we sat down with Vish Ganti, President & COO of Durk, to discuss how critical infrastructure operators can better secure SCADA systems, energy assets, and remote operations. Topics include: OT Cybersecurity SCADA Security AI Data Centers Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) ROC & SOC Convergence Remote Operations Ignition Modules Digital Twins AI Threat Detection MQTT & Unified Namespace Industrial Networks Grid Security Critical Infrastructure Protection Vish explains why traditional IT cybersecurity approaches aren't enough for operational technology and how operators can gain real-time situational awareness without disrupting operations. ⚡ Learn more about industrial operations and automation: https://www.opsiteenergy.com 🎙 Subscribe for weekly interviews covering industrial automation, SCADA, AI, cybersecurity, Ignition, networking, and remote operations. 00:00 Introduction 00:30 Meet Vish Ganti, President & COO of Durk 01:05 Securing the Future of Energy Infrastructure 02:00 Why ROC & SOC Must Converge 03:10 OT Cybersecurity vs Traditional IT Security 05:10 Living-Off-the-Land Attacks on Energy Systems 06:00 East-West Traffic & OT Network Monitoring 07:00 Human Factors in OT Cybersecurity 08:20 Bringing Cybersecurity into Operations 09:45 Built-In Security for Ignition 11:10 AI Threats to Industrial Control Systems 12:25 How Durk Discovers OT Assets 13:50 Digital Twins & Threat Modeling 15:00 AI Data Centers & Grid Reliability 16:00 Unified Namespace & MQTT Security 18:00 Standardizing Energy Asset Data Models 19:00 Scaling Secure Energy Operations 21:45 Final Thoughts: Bridging Operations & Cybersecurity Music: Uygar Duzgun – "Fast Life" Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com #OTCybersecurity #SCADA #IndustrialAutomation #CriticalInfrastructure #AIDataCenters #BatteryStorage #Ignition #OperationalTechnology #CyberSecurity #IndustrialCybersecurity #MQTT #UnifiedNamespace #Energy #GridSecurity #EnergyTechPodcast

  7. Jul 20

    VEGA Reveals the Measurement Technology Most Engineers Overlook - Ep 090

    When most people think of VEGA, they think of radar tank level measurement. But that's only part of the story. At ENTELEC 2026, we sat down with Russ Simonson of VEGA to discuss the company's complete portfolio of industrial instrumentation, including pressure transmitters, radar level sensors, Bluetooth configuration, hazardous area applications, wastewater, oil & gas, EPC projects, and more. Topics include: Radar level measurement Pressure transmitters Differential pressure Guided wave radar Bluetooth device setup Hazardous area instrumentation Oil & gas applications Water & wastewater OEM & EPC integration Industrial automation Instrumentation best practices Whether you're working in upstream, midstream, downstream, water treatment, or industrial manufacturing, this conversation highlights how modern instrumentation is becoming easier to deploy while improving reliability. ⚡ Learn more about industrial operations and automation: https://www.opsiteenergy.com 🎙 Subscribe for weekly conversations with leaders in industrial automation, OT cybersecurity, SCADA, AI, networking, and remote operations. 00:00 Introduction 00:50 Meet Russ Simonson from VEGA 01:35 Working Across Multiple Industries 02:55 Beyond Tank Level Measurement 03:55 Pressure Transmitters Explained 05:00 Helping Customers Select the Right Instrumentation 06:10 Bluetooth Device Configuration 07:20 Simplifying Instrument Setup 08:00 Trial Programs & Real-World Testing 08:45 Flood Monitoring Applications 09:00 VEGA's Most Underrated Product 09:45 Pressure Measurement Applications 10:30 Working with EPCs & OEMs 11:20 Getting Specified Early in Projects 12:00 ENTELEC 2026 Takeaways #IndustrialAutomation #OilAndGas #Instrumentation #SCADA #PressureTransmitters #RadarLevel #LevelMeasurement #ProcessAutomation #ENTELEC #EnergyTechPodcast #OperationalTechnology #OT #WaterTreatment #Manufacturing #vegan Music: Uygar Duzgun – "Fast Life" Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

  8. Jul 15

    Private 5G vs Wi-Fi for Industrial Operations | Clover IQ CEO

    Industrial digital transformation doesn't start with AI—it starts with reliable connectivity. In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, recorded live at Intellic 2026, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Huned Lohia, CEO of Clover IQ, to discuss how private 5G networks are changing industrial operations across oil & gas, chemical plants, refineries, and large industrial facilities. Rather than simply deploying wireless infrastructure, Clover IQ takes a vendor-agnostic consulting approach—helping operators understand business outcomes, site requirements, ROI, and long-term operational value before investing. Topics include: ⚡ Private 5G vs traditional Wi-Fi ⚡ Digital transformation in industrial facilities ⚡ Rail yard wireless connectivity ⚡ Vendor-agnostic network design ⚡ CBRS and enterprise spectrum ⚡ AI-ready infrastructure ⚡ Industrial mobility ⚡ Site surveys and network planning ⚡ Mission-critical communications ⚡ Industrial cybersecurity considerations Whether you're an automation engineer, operations manager, OT professional, or responsible for digital transformation initiatives, this conversation provides practical insights into building industrial wireless networks that actually deliver business value. Guest Hunaid Lotia CEO — Clover IQ Presented by OpSite Energy OpSite Energy provides: • 24/7 Remote Operations Centers • SCADA & Control Room Operations • Alarm Management & Rationalization • Industrial AI Solutions • Ignition Development • Digital Transformation Consulting Learn more: https://www.opsiteenergy.com ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Meet Clover IQ 01:28 What Clover IQ Actually Does 02:09 Challenges of Industrial Connectivity 03:27 Huned's Background in Telecommunications 05:34 Why Oil & Gas Became Their Focus 06:30 Rail Yard Wireless Use Cases 07:02 Site Surveys & Vendor-Agnostic Design 08:35 Serving Customers Across North America 09:20 Deployment Strategy & Installation 10:09 CBRS, Private 5G & Industrial Spectrum 11:14 Biggest Challenges in Private 5G Adoption 12:36 Understanding Mission-Critical Requirements 13:15 Hidden Costs in Industrial Digital Transformation 14:13 Planning Before Technology 16:17 AI-Ready Infrastructure 17:23 Training & AI Adoption 18:20 Business Outcomes First 19:26 Final Thoughts 20:20 Closing Music: Uygar Duzgun – "Fast Life" courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

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Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Energy Innovation meets Industrial Technology: There is finally a podcast that balances technical depth with real-world applicability for field teams, operations groups, and senior leaders who want to see a real return on technology , IiOT, and AI Investments

Information

  • Creator
    Opsite Energy
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    EnergyTech Podcast

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