EnergyTech Podcast

Live from Inductive Automation’s ICC 2025 in Sacramento, Mike sits down with Mark La Liberte (HMS Networks) to unpack why Red Lion’s DA50/DA70 and FlexEdge have become go-to edge gateways for energy, water/wastewater, and data centers. We dig into store-and-forward, Sparkplug B / MQTT, OPC UA, DNP3, ruggedization, and how Crimson® 3.2 collapses multiple boxes (edge gateway + router/firewall + HMI + cellular + basic control) into one platform.We also cover:- Why Ignition 8.3 and the expanded ICC venue are a “level up”- The case for a “Prove It” track focused on the energy sector- Practical wins: reducing cost & complexity while improving cybersecurity- Real-world stories: Modbus RTU to MQTT in minutes, DA50/DA70 in the field, FlexEdge sleds- Support & training: free tech support, fast response, hands-on enablement for OT & ITGuest: Mark La Liberte, HMS NetworksTopics: Edge computing, MQTT/Sparkplug B, OPC UA, Crimson 3.2, FlexEdge, DA50/DA70, N-Tron switches, CANbus/J1939, cellular/Starlink backhaul, NAT, deadbands, UDTs/AOIs, store-and-forward.Presented by OpSite Energy — Insight-Driven Remote Optimization.🔗 Energy Tech Podcast: https://opsiteenergy.com/all_podcast🔗 OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/🔗 HMS Networks: https://www.hms-networks.com/Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Intro / music00:10 – Welcome & guest intro (HMS + Mark La Liberte)01:08 – Why HMS supports the Ignition community & digital transformation02:12 – ICC “Leveling Up”: new venue, Ignition 8.3, and “Prove It” ideas03:29 – Red Lion strategy and role within HMS Networks03:32 – Security + protocols: DNP3, Modbus RTU → OPC UA / MQTT / Sparkplug B05:20 – Field story: Modbus water meters → MQTT with a Red Lion DA5006:11 – DA50/DA70 & FlexEdge: HDMI, headless HMI, store-and-forward (256 GB)07:40 – Bandwidth savings with MQTT publish-on-change / deadbands08:05 – Modular sleds, cellular as a weak link, NAT & networking notes09:52 – Rugged switching (N-Tron) & harsh environments / temps10:07 – Popular sleds & protocols: RS-485/Modbus, OPC UA sharing, CANbus/J1939, Starlink12:06 – Targeting the “big three”: cost, complexity, cybersecurity13:20 – Crimson 3.2 as the differentiator; replacing multiple boxes (under ~$3K)14:38 – Crimson capabilities: multi-protocol, headless HMI, VPN, diagnostics, deadbands16:26 – Fast time-to-value: AB tags, UDTs/AOIs, publishing in minutes18:58 – Getting started: download C3.2, emulator, Windows 11; free tech support & response times21:02 – Training for OT & IT; global coverage21:57 – Wrap-up & call to actionUygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

In this episode, co-hosts Jeff Perry and Mike Flores are joined by Daniel Netto (VP of Compliance at Opsite Energy) to dive deep into how data & AI are being used to understand the pipeline regulatory audit landscape — using real audit data from the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) and focusing on how these insights can drive better control-room operations, compliance and training.You'll learn:◽How RRC audit data is collected, structured and analyzed◽What AI tools (GenSpark.ai, Amplify, VZero) are being used to scrape, parse and visualize audit findings.◽Key trends from 2024-2025: procedure-based vs observation-based violations, alarm‐management top categories, controller-training deficiencies.◽The role of mindset, accountability and documentation in successful control-room and pipeline-audit readiness.◽How OpSite Energy applies these insights for clients, and how you can too🔗 Links & ResourcesOpSite Energy: https://www.opsiteenergy.comGenSpark.ai: https://www.genspark.aiAmpify: https://www.ampify.comTexas RRC pipeline safety data: https://apps.rrc.texas.gov/portal/s/inspections📬 For business/consulting inquiries: info@opsiteenergy.com👍 If you found this episode valuable, please like, subscribe and ring the bell for future installments. Drop a comment below with your biggest takeaway or questions for our next episode.0:00 Intro & Welcome 0:10 Episode overview and guest introduction 1:00 Background: Texas RRC & Pipeline Audit Framework 2:20 How state audit agencies work with federal rules (DOT/FEZA) 4:10 Demo: Raw audit data scraping via VZero 6:00 Using GenSpark & Ampify for data parsing and dashboarding 8:22 Key findings: 80+ inspection lines, 15 operators, ~10 distinct violation types 9:20 Breakdown: 73% procedure-based + 27% observation‐based 10:00 Defining “procedure”, “observation” and “records” violations 11:19 2024 data deep dive: eight operators cited, peak month May 13:11 Preparing for an audit: strategy, records, controller interview 14:38 2025 data update: more violations, new categories (emergency procedures, leak detection) 17:03 Sentiment analysis from executive closing letters 18:10 Doubling of violations 2024→2025; documentation & training gaps 20:05 Audit readiness: know your plan, engage operations people, accountability 22:13 Procedural rollout: controllers must follow the plan and screen actions 25:22 The role of AI in drafting procedures — caution & review required 30:32 Opsite’s offer: how we help you, reach-out & next steps 31:56 Outro & plug for CRM series Uygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, we sit down with Jonathan Huddle of Electron Automation—long-time oil & gas practitioner, electrician, and core member of the Ignition Oil & Gas Collective (IOGC).Jonathan walks through 25+ years in OT/SCADA and the hard-won patterns that actually scale: why UDTs and a clean tag model / unified namespace are non-negotiable, how and when to move from Vision to Perspective for responsive/mobile UX, planning scalable architectures that survive M&A and 10× tag growth, and practical ways to blend MQTT + “cloud” with on-prem realities. We also kick around the current AI/ML/MCP hype cycle and where near-term wins likely show up (alarm management, pipeline recommendations, maintenance).Recorded live at ICC 2025.Presented by OpSite Energy — Insight-Driven Remote Optimization.What you’ll learn:- Building a durable UDT/tag structure as the foundation for UNS, Perspective, and downstream analytics.- When & why to standardize on Perspective (and stop shipping new Vision projects)- Scaling patterns for 0.5M → 1M+ tags, load balancing, and planning for M&A- Blending MQTT + data center/cloud without breaking operations- A pragmatic take on AI/ML/MCP in industrial environments (early wins & pitfalls)- How communities like IOGC accelerate real-world adoptionIf you enjoyed this, hit Like and Subscribe to Energy Tech Podcast.📨 Have a topic or guest in mind? Comment below!00:00 Intro — Live from ICC 202500:34 Guest intro: Jonathan Huddle (Electron Automation)01:31 Early roots: electronics repair → troubleshooting mindset02:08 25 years in oil & gas automation; host-side SCADA; Ignition journey03:49 Electrician background & why hardware perspective matters04:10 Inside the IOGC: origins, purpose, 275+ companies, ~400 members05:22 ICC 2025 theme “Level Up” — what’s different this year06:40 The recurring challenge: bad tag structures & why UNS matters08:59 UDTs as leverage for Perspective & future analytics/AI10:56 Rapid iteration story: delivering features in hours, not weeks12:22 Do it at the edge: context where it’s created13:31 From Vision → Perspective: mobility & responsive by default15:22 Scaling architectures & planning for growth/M&A16:46 Load balancing, tag providers, and “infinite” front-end scale18:58 Quoting & architecture tools; getting to cost quickly19:08 “Masterclass” mode — cloud data, MQTT, & on-prem reality20:55 AI/ML/MCP hype: pragmatic adoption and real use cases22:39 Ignition updates (file-based tags, new modules) & impact24:15 Where MCP may land first: alarms, pipeline recs, maintenance25:50 Takeaways from ICC 2025 & staying energized by the community26:30 Wrap-up & subscribeUygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Recorded live from Inductive Automation’s ICC 2025 in Sacramento, host Mike Flores sits down with Jap Johal from QCA to discuss how Ignition is transforming bulk handling, terminal automation, and the next generation of industrial data systems.Jap shares insights into:- QCA’s work as a software architecture and integration firm specializing in bulk terminals and automation- How Ignition’s partner ecosystem and MQTT/UNS data models enable better visibility and interoperability- The rise of “digital expectations” in industry—why operators now want Amazon-like ease in control environments- Future-ready ideas like local LLM agents, data-driven operations, and AI-powered insights for industrial efficiencyLinks: 🔗 QCA Systems: http://www.qcasystems.com/🔗 Connect with Jap: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jap-johal/🎧 Energy Tech Podcast: https://opsiteenergy.com/all_podcast 🔗 OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more discussions on SCADA, IoT, MQTT, PHMSA CRM, and the future of control rooms.Chapters:00:00 – Intro and Welcome from ICC 202500:30 – Jap joins from QCA: first impressions of ICC01:15 – Partner ecosystem and collaboration in Ignition02:45 – “Level Up” theme: the Prove It sessions04:00 – What QCA does and Jap’s role as a software architect05:00 – How Ignition integrates across client systems06:30 – QCA’s focus on bulk handling and terminal automation07:50 – Using MQTT for flexible, scalable data movement08:40 – From HMIs to data dashboards and insights09:40 – The challenge of fragmented data and networks11:30 – Future vision: LLMs and AI-driven root cause analysis13:00 – Moving beyond dashboards to conversational analytics14:00 – The “digital expectation” in industrial operations15:00 – Building trust through successful automation projects16:00 – The role of AI, MCP, and Ignition in modernization17:40 – Gaining trust through data and results18:30 – Jap’s final takeaway from ICC: community collaboration19:00 – Closing and outroUygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from Ignition Community Conference 2025 in Sacramento, the Energy Tech Podcast sits down with Bryan Fosmark, IT & Automation Director at Sagepoint Energy, to explore how they’re transforming renewable natural gas (RNG) operations with Ignition 8.3, cloud deployment, and seamless IT/OT convergence.Brian shares how Sagepoint leverages centralized Ignition servers, Perspective projects for mobile and desktop, and API-driven analytics to optimize environmental, compliance, and financial performance across landfill-gas and dairy-farm RNG sites.We also dive into:- How Ignition enables real-time visibility across rural RNG facilities- The role of store-and-forward and MQTT in unreliable-network environments- Managing mergers & acquisitions with plug-and-play SCADA integration- Balancing operations vs IT priorities and building cross-functional teams- The path to deploying AI and MCP (Model Context Protocol) within energy infrastructure- Cost, complexity, and cybersecurity advantages of Ignition📍 Recorded live at ICC 2025 (Sacramento, CA)0:00 – Intro: Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento0:28 – Meet Bryan Fosmark & Sagepoint Energy1:00 – ICC 2025 atmosphere & Ignition 8.3 “Level Up”2:00 – What Sagepoint Energy does: Landfill & RNG projects3:20 – How Ignition drives real-time operations and compliance4:40 – Deploying Ignition in the cloud with enterprise integration6:10 – Designing for mobility and multi-device Perspective apps7:00 – Bridging IT and OT for true convergence8:30 – Containerized development & real-time operator feedback9:20 – Scaling Ignition through M&A and multi-SCADA integration10:30 – Land and expand: How Ignition enables rapid site visibility11:20 – Connectivity challenges and store-and-forward success12:00 – Using MQTT for rural and low-bandwidth operations12:40 – Balancing technology and operations through relationships13:30 – Future outlook: AI, MCP, and next-gen automation15:00 – Private-equity agility & entrepreneurial development16:00 – Cost, complexity & cybersecurity advantages of Ignition18:00 – Takeaways & developer collaboration goals at ICC 202520:00 – Closing thoughts from Mike Flores & Bryan FosmarkUygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, the Energy Tech Podcast sits down with Amy Williams, Solutions Architect at Skellig Automation. We dig into why culture (not tools) is the first domino in digital transformation, how Ignition 8.3 signals a true Industry 4.0 platform, and why empowering frontline operators beats top-down “model → action” thinking.Amy breaks down an edge-first approach, vendor openness, Unified Namespace (UNS) patterns, and practical “land & expand” plays for manufacturers—plus real life-sciences use cases for ML, golden batch, and PAT (process analytical technology).You’ll learn:- Why culture and mindset shifts unlock transformation- What’s meaningful about Ignition 8.3 (and how to use it)- How to empower operators and converge OT/IT- Picking/opening vendors to fit your digital expectations- Land-and-expand steps that actually stick- Life sciences: ML, golden batch, and PAT in the real worldGuest: Amy Williams — Solutions Architect, Skellig AutomationHosts: Mike Flores & Jeff Perry — Energy Tech Podcast🔗 Skellig Automation: https://skellig.com/🔗 Connect with Amy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-williams-a8974b114/🎧 Energy Tech Podcast: https://opsiteenergy.com/all_podcast🔗 OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/Support the show👍 Like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe. Share this with someone moving from Industry 3.0 → 4.0.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:10 Welcome & guest intro (Amy Williams, Skellig)01:35 Skelligs mission: accelerate life sciences with DT02:26 Culture tools: the mindset shift that matters03:48 ICC 2025 “level up”: venue, Ignition 8.3, Prove-It format06:20 What we’re learning at ICC: takeaways so far07:30 Why Ignition 8.3 matters (refactors, MCP server, AI tooling)09:24 OT/IT convergence & empowering frontline operators12:06 Edge-first data: access, model, contextualize for ML/AI14:34 Vendor openness & buyer power: set digital expectations16:36 Where Ignition fits: UNS, enterprise data reconciliation18:16 Real-time supply-chain lens on one digital architecture18:59 Land-and-expand playbook: find gaps, start small, iterate20:06 Life sciences today: ML, golden batch, PAT use cases21:12 Wrap-up & subscribe

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, the Energy Tech Podcast sits down with Zach Scriven—longtime Ignition community leader and UNS evangelist—to talk Level Up, Ignition 8.3, the Prove It wave, and how to actually execute digital transformation (beyond buzzwords). We dig into Unified Namespace (UNS), MQTT/Sparkplug, agile delivery with integrators, and why a top-down digital strategy plus bottom-up execution wins in oil & gas and beyond.What you’ll learn:- Why “strategy first” is step zero for digital transformation- UNS explained (real-time fabric) vs. historians (consumers/nodes)- Ignition 8.3 momentum, MQTT modules, and scale without lock-in- Agile, iterative delivery “turnkey” fantasies- Where energy ops (O&G, RNG, landfill gas, battery/storage, data centers) can startGuest: Zach Scriven — creator/leader in the Ignition community; producer behind early UNS storytelling, Firebrand-winning projects, and the Prove It ethos.Zach Scriven (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackscriven/Inductive Automation / ICC: https://inductiveautomation.com/Energy Tech Podcast: https://opsiteenergy.com/all_podcastOpsite Energy (presenting sponsor): https://opsiteenergy.com/Chapters00:00 Intro00:10 Welcome & ICC 2025 vibe01:25 Why Zach matters: UNS, Prove It, community leadership02:27 “Level Up” at ICC: new venue, Ignition 8.3, Prove It flavor04:55 Early UNS stories (Pioneer project, GAN → MQTT)06:52 UNS ≠ historian; real-time fabric + nodes/consumers08:58 Industry 3.0 → 4.0: practical paths (MQTT brokers, edge, cloud)12:20 Digital transformation strategy: north star, align top-down, execute bottom-up16:40 Agile delivery with internal teams + SIs; why turnkey fails20:55 Personal “Zachisms”: content, brand, mission, values23:00 AI, ML, MCP: leverage and why it widens the gap25:04 What’s next for Zach: building a value-added reseller with real outcomes27:35 Closing & where to followUygar Duzgun “Fast Life” courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, we sit down with Bhavnesh Patel, Go-to-Market lead at RL Core, to unpack how reinforcement learning (RL) is moving from labs to real-world OT/SCADA. We cover RL Core’s agent-based approach (observe → recommend → limited control → scale), where it fits alongside Ignition 8.3, OPC UA, and control systems, and why continuous processes (water/wastewater, solar + storage, oil sands upstream) see fast time-to-value—chemical/energy reductions, smarter setpoints, and adaptable control.What you’ll learn- RL vs. traditional MPC and why “data → action” beats “model → action” for many sites- How RL Core deploys safely in stages and builds operator trust- Where RL is working today: water/wastewater, H₂S scrubbing, solar + batteries, oil sands- Practical paths for integrators and operators to pilot and scaleGuest: Bhavnesh Patel — RL Core (OT software startup applying RL to industrial processes)RL Core: https://rlcore.ai/Opsite Energy (presenting sponsor): https://opsiteenergy.com/Chapters00:00 Intro00:10 Welcome & ICC 2025 vibe01:06 Who is Bhavnesh & RL Core’s focus02:36 ICC “Level Up,” Ignition 8.3, “Prove It”03:08 What RL Core does (reinforcement learning for OT)04:04 RL vs basic PID vs MPC; adaptability without re-modeling05:07 Agent learns by doing; data → action06:00 Where it sits: SCADA/Ignition + OPC UA (read/write)07:00 Safe rollout: observe → tiny control → recommendations → expand08:56 Example outcomes (chemical/energy reductions; continuous improvement)10:22 Use cases in compression fleets & oil & gas11:58 Early-stage focus, ideal partners, role of SIs13:36 “Intrinsically safe” mindset and guardrails16:00 Continuous vs batch; why ROI is stronger in continuous16:54 Industries seeing impact (water/wastewater, solar + storage, oil sands)18:40 Solar + battery dispatch with policy/financial constraints19:42 Readiness checklist & engagement model20:59 Closing + next stepsUygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, Mike chats with systems engineer Adrian Harvey about why this year’s conference feels different—new venue, the Ignition 8.3 release, and a “Prove It” momentum. Adrian walks through a clever Maker Edition inventory app at home (inspired by warehouse projects) and then dives into real-world industrial wins: migrating a fully proprietary RNG plant to Ignition without server credentials, unifying multi-site operations that run different processes, and accelerating delivery with UDTs, PlantPAx structures, and—when needed—MQTT/Sparkplug B. She also shares a rail-facility story that went from zero to a full Ignition platform (plus Perspective mobile apps) in roughly six weeks. The conversation closes on AI: why Model Context Protocol (MCP) excites her, practical MCP prompts for BOM/inventory reconciliation, and potential applications for alarm management in energy.Key takeaways"- ICC 2025 “level up”: venue scale, Ignition 8.3, and hands-on “prove it” culture- Practical migration playbook: document legacy screens → map process → leverage UDTs/OPC → use MQTT/Sparkplug B when protocols block you- Operator-first design: iterate live, maintain consistent layouts, standardize across sites even if processes differ- Speed matters: small teams + clear outcomes + reusable structures = weeks, not months- MCP/AI isn’t hype if scoped to workflows (BOM checks, purchasing, alarm management assistance)Useful links (mentioned or contextually relevant)Ignition by Inductive Automation: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignitionIgnition Perspective Module: https://inductiveautomation.com/ignition/modules/perspectiveIgnition Maker Edition: https://inductiveautomation.com/maker-editionICC (Ignition Community Conference): https://icc.inductiveautomation.com/MQTT (protocol): https://mqtt.org/Sparkplug Specification (Eclipse Foundation): https://sparkplug.eclipse.org/4.0 Solutions (the “Prove It” vibe): https://www.4.0solutions.com/Model Context Protocol (MCP): https://modelcontextprotocol.io/00:00 – Intro music00:10 – Welcome to Energy Tech Podcast; guest intro (Adrian Harvey) & ICC 2025 vibes01:03 – Why ICC 2025 feels “leveled up”: new venue, Ignition 8.3, “Prove It” flavor, and podcast on site02:12 – What Adrian hopes to get from ICC; differences from her 2023 Build-a-Thon experience03:28 – Adrian’s Edge Theater talk: Maker Edition inventory app (home electronics “bits & bobs”)04:47 – From warehouse automation ideas to a home AS/RS concept & very “loud/easy” UI choices05:09 – Pivot to industry work: bridging tech & energy (oil & gas, RNG, landfill gas, data centers)06:14 – Case study: migrating a proprietary RNG plant to Ignition (no server passwords!)07:57 – Standardizing multi-site ops in Ignition despite differing processes (membranes, bio-reactors, water)09:11 – Using UDTs/PlantPAx structures; when to lean on MQTT & Sparkplug B to unlock data13:52 – Rail facility story: from zero to full Ignition platform + Perspective mobile apps in ~6 weeks15:11 – Iterative UI with operators; fast feedback, alignment/consistency obsession in Designer16:13 – How Adrian frames new projects: work backwards, small teams, rapid iteration19:26 – Three essentials before “doing Ignition”: shared vocabulary, scoped expectations, relevant possibilities21:14 – “What can Ignition do for me?”—tailoring the pitch to context (MES, historian, WMS, tracking, etc.)22:37 – AI & MCP: why Adrian’s excited; OpenAI DevDay 2023 anecdote22:48 – MCP example: BOM prompts against inventory, web price checks, and energy alarm-management ideas23:39 – Wrap-up & sign-off

Live from ICC 2025 in Sacramento, we sit down with Andrew Hines, Senior Manager of Digital Operations at Autosol. With decades of experience in edge networks and SCADA data collection, Andrew shares how Autosol is helping operators simplify architectures, bridge legacy systems, and enable AI/ML at the edge.In this episode:• Autosol’s role in SCADA polling, OPC UA, MQTT & edge compute• Why Ignition + Autosol is a natural fit for modern architectures• Helping operators migrate from legacy poll/response to edge-driven data• Data simplification: one device, one poll, many consumers• Utilities, oil & gas, and water infrastructure use cases• Digital expectations across generations (Boomer ↔ Gen Z)• Edge Compute as the “plate” analogy (multiple workloads, one box)• Data center & off-grid power challenges: water, cooling, governance• Autosol’s flexibility, openness, and customer-driven feature development• The future of Autosol: enabling AI, machine learning, and MCP with more granular, efficient data📍 Learn more: https://autosoln.com/📍 Inductive Automation Ignition: https://inductiveautomation.com/📍 OpSite Energy: https://opsiteenergy.com/Chapters00:14 Guest Intro – Andrew Hines (Autosol) joins live from ICC 202500:43 What Autosol does + Andrew’s role (Digital Ops & Edge)01:50 Autosol + Ignition partnership explained02:50 Where Autosol fits in edge & server-based architectures04:00 Polling vs Edge-driven: supporting AI/ML at scale05:02 Industry shift: simplification, consolidation & hybrid networks06:29 Autosol’s strategy: legacy customers → edge-ready architectures08:30 Customer-driven development: flexibility & nimbleness09:05 Beyond oil & gas: utilities, water, power infrastructure11:00 Digital expectations & generational workforce gaps12:40 Collaboration, not just software: solving problems with clients14:20 Convergence of data centers, water, and off-grid power15:50 The energy cost of AI: why efficient data pipelines matter17:30 Granular reporting & governance (water/power usage compliance)18:00 Mid-sized operators: how Autosol engages new customers20:05 Edge Compute analogy: plate, knife, fork & the entrée22:00 Flexibility of EACM & multi-application edge boxes23:01 The future of Autosol: openness, AI, and machine learning24:16 Wrap-up & next steps Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com