Alternative Energy Blog

AI Data Centers Are Rewriting the Rules of Power Infrastructure

Jim Cahill — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:25:32 GMT

TL;DR AI data centers require far more power than traditional facilities. The electrical grid cannot yet support this scale or volatility. Onsite, islanded power systems are becoming the preferred approach. Project coordination is a major challenge across multiple suppliers. Automation providers play a key role in enabling speed-to-power. Why this matters now Many people are […]

The post AI Data Centers Are Rewriting the Rules of Power Infrastructure appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Optimizing Power Plant Efficiency with Pressure Relief and Blowdown Valves

Jim Cahill — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 03:30:12 GMT

In high-pressure, high-temperature service, small deviations in valve performance translate into measurable efficiency losses and safety risk. Code-compliant selection, proven design features, and factory-verified testing help operators avoid unplanned outages, extend maintenance intervals, and protect critical assets.

The post Optimizing Power Plant Efficiency with Pressure Relief and Blowdown Valves appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Understanding Valve Operations in Heat Recovery Steam Generators

Jim Cahill — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 13:00:41 GMT

HRSG valve applications span an unusually wide range of operating conditions. During startup, a feedwater valve may see the full discharge pressure of the boiler feed pump against an empty, atmospheric-pressure drum, creating severe cavitation potential.

The post Understanding Valve Operations in Heat Recovery Steam Generators appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

OEM Improves Transformer Oil Filling Accuracy and Fatigue Test Reliability with Coriolis Measurement

Jim Cahill — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 16:00:56 GMT

Ensuring accuracy and repeatability in transformer manufacturing is critical, not only for product quality, but also for long-term performance and reliability in the field. The team at Asya Trafo, a leading transformer test equipment manufacturer, faced a familiar challenge: how to improve oil filling precision and mechanical fatigue testing consistency while reducing maintenance and operational […]

The post OEM Improves Transformer Oil Filling Accuracy and Fatigue Test Reliability with Coriolis Measurement appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Protecting Critical Infrastructure: NERC CIP-015-01 and Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM)

Jim Cahill — Wed, 20 May 2026 13:00:22 GMT

We unpack what the NERC CIP-015-01 standard requires, the compliance timelines utilities must plan for, and the practical challenges of deploying monitoring inside operational technology environments.

The post Protecting Critical Infrastructure: NERC CIP-015-01 and Internal Network Security Monitoring (INSM) appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Quantum Cascade and Tunable Diode Laser Technologies Simplify Analyzers for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems

Jim Cahill — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:00:32 GMT

Power, Apr 2026, Smart Systems Power Up Modern Emissions Monitoring; by Keith N. Linsley: https://www.powermag.com/smart-systems-power-up-modern-emissions-monitoring/

The post Quantum Cascade and Tunable Diode Laser Technologies Simplify Analyzers for Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Turning Flow Data into Operational Advantage: Inside the Micro Motion™︎ Coriolis Transmitter Portfolio

Jim Cahill — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:00:49 GMT

Across industries—from chemical and energy to life sciences—operators are being asked to do more with less. Processes must run reliably, systems must integrate smoothly, and regulatory expectations continue to rise. At the same time, traditional approaches to flow measurement verification often introduce downtime, site visits, and uncertainty that teams can’t afford. As product managers for […]

The post Turning Flow Data into Operational Advantage: Inside the Micro Motion™ Coriolis Transmitter Portfolio appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Turning Flow Data into Operational Advantage: Inside the Micro Motion™︎ Coriolis Transmitter Portfolio

Jim Cahill — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:00:49 GMT

The post Turning Flow Data into Operational Advantage: Inside the Micro Motion™ Coriolis Transmitter Portfolio appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

The Fast Path to Better Performance in Older Turbines

Jim Cahill — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:19:00 GMT

The world has been harvesting wind as an energy source for a very long time. Don Quijote was “tilting at windmills” in the 17th century, long before anyone imagined a car, much less an electric one. We’ve come a long way from simply using the wind to grind grain and pump water. Today, wind turbines […]

The post The Fast Path to Better Performance in Older Turbines appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

The Fast Path to Better Performance in Older Turbines

Jim Cahill — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 12:19:00 GMT

The post The Fast Path to Better Performance in Older Turbines appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Turning Renewable Data into Actionable Grid Intelligence

Jim Cahill — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:05:10 GMT

Managing power generation is complex even in the best of times, but with an emerging new energy economy, operations have become significantly more difficult. Today, organizations are not just trying to manage many different OEM versions of a single type of generation asset. Instead, they are combining multiple types of generation—solar, wind, battery storage, hydrogen, […]

The post Turning Renewable Data into Actionable Grid Intelligence appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Mastering Hybrid Generation with Integrated Control

Jim Cahill — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 13:51:37 GMT

Modern society is facing two complex challenges emerging in parallel. On one hand, electrification around the globe is expanding at a mind-blowing rate. AI, personal electronics, electric vehicles, and more have dramatically increased energy consumption, and there seems to be no end in sight. At the same time, calls for a higher percentage of renewable […]

The post Mastering Hybrid Generation with Integrated Control appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

Bringing Order to Distributed Energy Complexity

Jim Cahill — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 13:05:28 GMT

There is more pressure than ever on power generation companies to increase output, and many organizations are finding that the best way to do so is to find new, nontraditional ways to accomplish increased throughput. As a result, the world is seeing a major shift in the way power is being delivered. The modern power […]

The post Bringing Order to Distributed Energy Complexity appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

The Renewable-Ready Roadmap for Hyperscale Data Centers

Jim Cahill — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:44:16 GMT

There is no shortage of content these days covering the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), both in the world in general and across industrial manufacturing. AI is exciting, and will unquestionably create a paradigm shift in decision making, industrial acceleration, workforce upskilling and mobility, and more automated workflows in the years ahead. But another, […]

The post The Renewable-Ready Roadmap for Hyperscale Data Centers appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.

The Renewable-Ready Roadmap for Hyperscale Data Centers

Jim Cahill — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 13:44:16 GMT

The post The Renewable-Ready Roadmap for Hyperscale Data Centers appeared first on the Emerson Automation Experts blog.