Adile Ajaja with EVLO Energy Storage
Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Adile Ajaja, Director of Digital Technology at EVLO Energy about “Securing Energy Storage”.
Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast featuring Adile, an electrical engineer and expert in grid-scale energy storage systems. Adil discusses his background with Hydro Quebec and the evolution of his company, EVLO, which focuses on innovative and cost-efficient energy solutions. They delve into the importance of cybersecurity in energy systems, emphasizing a life-cycle approach to protect against attacks and failures. Adile highlights the challenges of integrating legacy systems with modern cybersecurity measures, as well as the increasing demand for power due to data centers and AI processing. He also touches on Hydro Quebec’s strategies to manage this demand through efficiency and renewable energy sources.
Paul Bernard with ARCOS
Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Paul Bernard, President/CEO at ARCOS about “Scaling technology companies for long-term success”.
Scott MacKenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, featuring Paul Bernard, President and CEO of ARCOS, a company that helps utilities manage call-outs, crew management, and damage assessment. Arcos’ solutions integrate with various systems like asset management and GIS to provide linemen with real-time, situational awareness, enhancing safety and efficiency. The company, backed by Vista, has grown significantly, integrating acquisitions like Clearion for vegetation management. Arcos’ platform is configurable and user-friendly, crucial for adoption by linemen. The company aims to expand beyond utilities into other industries with similar needs.
Arthur Jen and Carlos Gamarra PowerGen
Industrial Talk is onsite at PowerGen and talking to Carlos Gamarra and Arthur Jen about “Power Generation Technical Assistants”.
Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial talk podcast at PowerGen in Dallas, Texas, featuring Carlos Gamarra and Arthur Jen. Carlos, Vice President of the Houston Advanced Research Center, and Arthur, Program Coordinator for the Western Region of the DOE-funded On-Site Energy Technical Assistance Partnership (On-Site Energy TAP), discuss their roles in promoting distributed generation technologies and energy storage. They provide no-cost technical assistance, educational webinars, and case studies to help end users adopt these technologies. The program is technology-agnostic and region-specific, addressing the unique energy needs of different states. They emphasize the importance of a balanced energy portfolio and the challenges of finding the right mix of technologies for each location.
Matt Burton with Siemens
Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Matt Burton, Vice President at Siemens Grid Software about “Grid solutions that improves resiliency and reliability”.
Scott MacKenzie hosts an industrial podcast featuring Matt Burton, VP of Software Sales for Siemens’ US and Mexico grid software. They discuss the shift from linear to non-linear power systems due to distributed energy resources (DER). Burton highlights the need for technology and change management to adapt to this new landscape. He emphasizes the importance of data management for efficiency and the role of regulatory bodies in facilitating these changes. Burton also notes the global nature of these challenges, with similar issues in Europe, Australia, and Asia. He concludes by discussing the potential for small modular reactors and the future of load growth and power conditioning.
Marcus McCarthy with Siemens Grid Software
Industrial Talk is onsite at DistribuTech 2025 and talking to Marcus McCarthy, Sr. Vice President at Siemens Grid Software about “Energy Solutions for the Future”.
Scott MacKenzie and Marcus McCarthy discuss the evolving utility industry and the role of digital twins in improving efficiency and reliability. Marcus highlights the challenges of aging infrastructure, increased power demand, and the need for carbon removal. He emphasizes the importance of accurate digital models for better planning and decision-making. Marcus explains how Siemens’ digital twin solutions enable real-time operations and scenario simulations, enhancing network management. They also touch on the practicality of cloud technology and the industry’s readiness to adopt new technologies. The conversation underscores the urgency for utilities to invest in digital twins to meet future energy demands and optimize grid performance.