EnergyTech Podcast

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 tagsImproving queue handling and gateway performancePropagating alarm events through Sparkplug MQTTTwo-way alarm acknowledgment between edge and central gatewaysPerformance improvements for Ignition 8.3Containerizing the Chariot MQTT ServerDeploying industrial data infrastructure at the edgeReducing cloud traffic and infrastructure costsMaintaining control of critical operational dataWhether 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 SolutionsHost: Mike Flores, Energy Tech PodcastLocation: Solar & Battery Discovery Day — San Diego, CaliforniaLearn more:Cirrus Link Solutions: https://cirrus-link.com/Inductive Automation: https://inductiveautomation.com/fastSubscribe for more conversations about industrial automation, operational technology, energy innovation, SCADA, MQTT and digital transformation.#MQTT #IndustrialAutomation #IgnitionSCADA00:00 Introduction from San Diego00:49 Meet Nathan Davenport of Cirrus Link02:00 Cost, complexity and cybersecurity03:25 Diagnosing industrial data and network problems04:22 Why every project needs a North Star05:16 Digital transformation without a strategy06:45 Scaling the industrial data pipeline07:33 MQTT Engine queue and performance improvements10:53 Sending alarm events over Sparkplug MQTT12:33 Moving alarms between edge and central gateways14:13 Two-way alarm acknowledgment and clearing14:34 Improving Ignition 8.3 performance at scale16:25 Chariot MQTT Server containerization18:05 Edge computing and reducing cloud costs18:49 Closing thoughtsMusic: “Fast Life” by Uygar Duzgun, courtesy of Epidemic Sound.

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 networksWhether 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 BitzarakisManaging Director, BroadbandSelect Spectrumhttps://www.selectspectrum.comRecorded live at the 2026 ENTELEC Conference & Expo in Galveston, Texas.Presented by OpSite EnergyOpSite 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.comSubscribe 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 Sound00:00 Introduction from ENTELEC 202600:52 Meet Andreas Bitzarakis01:13 What Select Spectrum Does01:42 Connectivity Challenges in Remote Oil & Gas02:32 Private Networks and Operational Data Control03:00 Buying, Leasing and Selling Spectrum Rights03:48 What Select Spectrum Does—and Does Not Do04:39 Serving Operators of Every Size05:37 Who Leads Private Network Decisions?06:12 Engineering and Technology Partnerships06:52 The Biggest Spectrum Availability Challenge08:26 Solving the Missing Piece in Network Projects09:19 Exclusive FCC-Licensed Spectrum10:24 Broadband, Narrowband and Industry Expertise10:55 Band 54 for Critical Infrastructure11:58 How to Work with Select Spectrum12:23 What Andreas Hopes to Accomplish at ENTELEC13:27 Closing Thoughts

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 contextThe 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 synchronizationLearn more:Tiger Data: https://www.tigerdata.com/TimescaleDB Enterprise: https://www.tigerdata.com/timescaledb-enterpriseIgnition and TimescaleDB: https://www.tigerdata.com/blog/ignition-and-timescaledb-perfect-pairingInductive 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 #TimescaleDB00:00 Introduction00:45 Why Tiger Data Created TimescaleDB01:19 From Industrial IoT to the Factory Floor02:00 Connecting TimescaleDB with Ignition03:19 Modern Industrial Data Architecture04:25 Five Requirements of an Operational Data Platform05:26 Handling Late-Arriving Data and Operational Context06:46 Cloud Costs, Local Infrastructure and AI07:27 Three Ways to Deploy TimescaleDB08:08 Building a Hybrid Edge-to-Cloud Architecture09:41 TimescaleDB for Modern Applications10:50 AI Agents and Full-Stack Development12:01 MCP, Agent Skills and Edge AI13:03 Using AI to Investigate Industrial Alarms14:18 Connecting Alarms, Operator Notes and Context14:34 Semantic Search, Vector Search and RAG15:35 Moving From Individual Assets to Fleet Scale16:16 Five Data Requirements for Industrial Operations17:00 Multi-Site and Distributed Edge Deployments17:32 How to Get Started With Tiger Data18:32 Live Sync From Industrial Sites to the Cloud19:24 Tiger Data at the Ignition Community Conference19:41 Closing

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 CybersecuritySCADA SecurityAI Data CentersBattery Energy Storage Systems (BESS)ROC & SOC ConvergenceRemote OperationsIgnition ModulesDigital TwinsAI Threat DetectionMQTT & Unified NamespaceIndustrial NetworksGrid SecurityCritical Infrastructure ProtectionVish 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 Introduction00:30 Meet Vish Ganti, President & COO of Durk01:05 Securing the Future of Energy Infrastructure02:00 Why ROC & SOC Must Converge03:10 OT Cybersecurity vs Traditional IT Security05:10 Living-Off-the-Land Attacks on Energy Systems06:00 East-West Traffic & OT Network Monitoring07:00 Human Factors in OT Cybersecurity08:20 Bringing Cybersecurity into Operations09:45 Built-In Security for Ignition11:10 AI Threats to Industrial Control Systems12:25 How Durk Discovers OT Assets13:50 Digital Twins & Threat Modeling15:00 AI Data Centers & Grid Reliability16:00 Unified Namespace & MQTT Security18:00 Standardizing Energy Asset Data Models19:00 Scaling Secure Energy Operations21:45 Final Thoughts: Bridging Operations & CybersecurityMusic: Uygar Duzgun – "Fast Life"Courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com#OTCybersecurity #SCADA #IndustrialAutomation #CriticalInfrastructure #AIDataCenters #BatteryStorage #Ignition #OperationalTechnology #CyberSecurity #IndustrialCybersecurity #MQTT #UnifiedNamespace #Energy #GridSecurity #EnergyTechPodcast

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 measurementPressure transmittersDifferential pressureGuided wave radarBluetooth device setupHazardous area instrumentationOil & gas applicationsWater & wastewaterOEM & EPC integrationIndustrial automationInstrumentation best practicesWhether 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 Introduction00:50 Meet Russ Simonson from VEGA01:35 Working Across Multiple Industries02:55 Beyond Tank Level Measurement03:55 Pressure Transmitters Explained05:00 Helping Customers Select the Right Instrumentation06:10 Bluetooth Device Configuration07:20 Simplifying Instrument Setup08:00 Trial Programs & Real-World Testing08:45 Flood Monitoring Applications09:00 VEGA's Most Underrated Product09:45 Pressure Measurement Applications10:30 Working with EPCs & OEMs11:20 Getting Specified Early in Projects12:00 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

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 considerationsWhether 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.GuestHunaid LotiaCEO — Clover IQPresented by OpSite EnergyOpSite Energy provides:• 24/7 Remote Operations Centers• SCADA & Control Room Operations• Alarm Management & Rationalization• Industrial AI Solutions• Ignition Development• Digital Transformation ConsultingLearn more:https://www.opsiteenergy.com⏱ Chapters00:00 Introduction00:45 Meet Clover IQ01:28 What Clover IQ Actually Does02:09 Challenges of Industrial Connectivity03:27 Huned's Background in Telecommunications05:34 Why Oil & Gas Became Their Focus06:30 Rail Yard Wireless Use Cases07:02 Site Surveys & Vendor-Agnostic Design08:35 Serving Customers Across North America09:20 Deployment Strategy & Installation10:09 CBRS, Private 5G & Industrial Spectrum11:14 Biggest Challenges in Private 5G Adoption12:36 Understanding Mission-Critical Requirements13:15 Hidden Costs in Industrial Digital Transformation14:13 Planning Before Technology16:17 AI-Ready Infrastructure17:23 Training & AI Adoption18:20 Business Outcomes First19:26 Final Thoughts20:20 ClosingMusic: Uygar Duzgun – "Fast Life" courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing industrial automation—and Ignition 8.3 may be one of the biggest catalysts yet.In this episode of the Energy Tech Podcast, Mike Flores sits down with Patrick Arjento, Control Systems Engineer at Claros Tech, to discuss how AI agents, Infrastructure as Code, and Ignition 8.3 are reshaping industrial engineering, SCADA development, and data center automation.They explore:⚡ AI Agents for industrial engineering⚡ Ignition 8.3 and Infrastructure as Code⚡ Accelerating SCADA development⚡ Data center power demand and AI infrastructure⚡ MQTT, DNP3, Modbus, and industrial interoperability⚡ Human-in-the-loop AI for OT⚡ CI/CD pipelines for industrial automation⚡ The future of engineering teams⚡ Digital transformation in energy and industrial operationsPatrick also shares how startups can move faster, reduce engineering effort, and safely adopt AI while maintaining reliability and cybersecurity.If you're working in SCADA, industrial automation, OT, controls engineering, AI, data centers, or energy, this conversation is packed with insights.Subscribe for more conversations with leaders across Operational Technology, SCADA, AI, Cybersecurity, Data Centers, and Industrial Automation.00:00 Introduction00:58 Patrick's background in Oil & Gas and Claros Tech02:00 From SCADA Engineer to Full-Stack Controls Engineer03:00 Why Ignition is More Than a SCADA Platform04:35 AI Driving Massive Data Center Power Demand06:20 Industrial Protocols: MQTT, Modbus & DNP308:05 AI Agents and Ignition 8.310:15 Infrastructure as Code & MCP11:20 Human-in-the-Loop AI12:05 Cost, Complexity & Cybersecurity15:35 How Claros Delivers Faster Projects16:50 Generational Shift in AI Adoption18:55 Engineering Talent Shortage20:30 Biggest Takeaways from Solar & Battery Discovery Day22:35 The Future of AI + Ignition24:45 What Customers Want Most26:00 Open Architecture & the Future of Industrial Automation27:00 Closing ThoughtsMusic: Uygar Duzgun – Fast LifeCourtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

What does it take to build an AI-ready data center?Recorded live from Inductive Automation's Data Center Discovery Day 2026, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Arlen Nipper, President and Co-Founder of Cirrus Link and one of the original creators of MQTT.The conversation explores why the Unified Namespace (UNS) has become the foundation for modern industrial data architectures, why context matters more than raw data, and how organizations should prepare operational technology for AI.Topics include MQTT, Sparkplug, Ignition Edge, legacy protocols, data contextualization, edge computing, AI adoption, alarm analysis, and the future of real-time industrial operations.Whether you're designing industrial automation systems, operating data centers, managing SCADA infrastructure, or building AI applications for OT, this episode provides practical guidance from one of the industry's leading innovators.Topics Covered- Unified Namespace (UNS)- MQTT architecture- Sparkplug Version 4 updates- Ignition & Ignition Edge- AI readiness for industrial operations- Data contextualization- Edge computing- Legacy Modbus integration- Single Source of TruthAbout Our GuestArlen Nipper is President and Co-Founder of Cirrus Link and one of the original creators of MQTT. For decades, Arlen has helped shape industrial communications, real-time data architectures, and the evolution of Unified Namespace concepts used throughout manufacturing, energy, utilities, and now modern AI-driven data centers.Connect with OpSite Energy🌐 https://www.opsiteenergy.comFollow OpSite Energy for more conversations around:Chapters00:00 Introduction00:19 Welcome from Data Center Discovery Day01:18 Why Unified Namespace Matters02:33 Common UNS Mistakes03:05 Creating a Single Source of Truth05:22 Data Context vs Data Enrichment06:12 Legacy Protocol Challenges07:48 Managing Hundreds of Edge Nodes09:50 When AI Becomes Useful11:56 AI for Alarm Analysis & Operations13:00 Operational Blind Spots in Data Centers15:16 Biggest Integration Challenges16:42 Sparkplug Version 4 Updates19:32 Scaling Industrial Data20:37 Advice for Building a Unified Namespace22:30 Closing RemarksMusic: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

What happens when traditional IT networks collide with operational technology (OT) environments?Recorded live from the ENTELEC 2026 Conference in Galveston, Texas, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with James Rizzler of Cisco Systems to discuss the accelerating convergence of IT and OT, industrial cybersecurity, AI-driven threats, and the future of connected operations.James shares Cisco's perspective on helping OT professionals navigate modern cybersecurity challenges, protecting critical infrastructure, and preparing industrial organizations for the next generation of AI-enabled operations.Topics Include:⚡ IT/OT convergence and digital transformation⚡ Industrial cybersecurity best practices⚡ AI agents and operational technology⚡ Securing connected industrial environments⚡ Cisco Cyber Vision and OT visibility⚡ Network segmentation and defense-in-depth strategies⚡ The future of the Purdue Model⚡ AI readiness for industrial organizations⚡ OT workforce development and training⚡ Cybersecurity risks in connected operations⚡ Industrial networking trends and challenges⚡ Lessons learned from major cyber incidentsWhether you're responsible for industrial networking, cybersecurity, SCADA systems, control rooms, automation, or digital transformation, this episode provides valuable insight into securing the future of connected operations.#OTSecurity #Cybersecurity #Cisco #IndustrialAutomation #SCADA #ENTELEC #OperationalTechnology #AI #IndustrialAI #Networking #CriticalInfrastructure #ControlSystems #DigitalTransformation #EnergyTechPodcastChapters00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:12 James Rizzler's Role at Cisco02:00 The Growing IT/OT Convergence03:05 Common Misconceptions Between IT and OT05:20 How Cisco Bridges IT and OT06:56 Why OT Security Matters More Than Ever08:11 Security Best Practices and Segmentation10:21 Unified Namespace vs Purdue Model12:35 ENTELEC Conference Takeaways13:24 The Need for Cybersecurity Demonstration Labs15:27 AI, AI Agents and Industrial Operations17:00 Cisco's Approach to AI Training18:57 The Future of OT Training and Workforce Development20:17 Cisco Cyber Vision and OT Visibility21:21 Connectivity and Security Challenges Ahead22:20 Closing RemarksMusic: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

What happens after an alarm goes off?Recorded live at Inductive Automation's Data Center Discovery Day in Tysons, Virginia, Jeff Perry and Mike Flores sit down with Brooks Corfage, Sales & Integrator Program Lead at iGear, to discuss how operational teams can close the gap between event detection and problem resolution.Brooks shares how iGear's Squeaks platform integrates with Ignition to help organizations reduce downtime, improve response times, drive accountability, and create a digital thread around incident management. The conversation explores alarm management, mobile notifications, Microsoft Teams integration, no-code dashboards, and how AI may help optimize operational response workflows in the future.Topics Include:⚡ Reducing downtime through faster alarm response⚡ The human response layer in industrial operations⚡ How Squeaks integrates with Ignition⚡ Mobile alarm management and incident workflows⚡ Microsoft Teams integration for operational alerts⚡ Measuring response time and MTTR improvements⚡ No-code dashboards for operational teams⚡ Creating accountability through workflow automation⚡ Capturing operational data for AI analysis⚡ Improving visibility into incident resolution processes⚡ Ignition's growing technology ecosystem⚡ Future trends in operational intelligence and AI#Ignition #IndustrialAutomation #SCADA #DataCenters #OperationalTechnology #OT #MQTT #DigitalTransformation #AlarmManagement #IndustrialAI #OpsiteEnergy #EnergyTechPodcast #InductiveAutomation #iGear #squeaks Presented by OpSite Energy www.opsiteenergy.comChapters00:00 Introduction from Data Center Discovery Day00:55 Meet Brooks Corfage and iGear02:02 How iGear Fits into the Ignition Ecosystem03:39 Solving Operational Blind Spots05:26 Introducing Squeaks06:38 Alarm Management and Accountability07:41 Real-World Customer Use Cases08:40 Mobile Apps and Microsoft Teams Integration09:28 AI and Operational Response Optimization10:20 Measuring Downtime and Response Time Improvements11:33 Why Data Centers Need Better Alarm Response12:37 Key Takeaways from Data Center Discovery Day13:12 The Future of iGear and Ignition Integration14:36 Getting Started with a Proof of Concept15:24 No-Code Dashboards and Data Accessibility17:08 A Family-Built Company with a Long-Term Vision18:43 Closing RemarksMusic: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com