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Power Onward is the podcast that unveils how power technology shapes your everyday life.
From the tech powering your daily life to the innovations driving industries forward, we talk about it all.
Brought to you by Cummins, each episode explores what’s fueling the future and why it matters for your mission, business, and community.
This is Power Onward,
the podcast that unveils how power
technology shapes your everyday life.
You are listening to Power Onward.
What is power in your world? Power Onward.
This is Power Onward,
the podcast that unveils how power
technology shapes your everyday life.
You're sitting on a beach and the
sound of waves are gently crashing.
A warm breeze is in the air and the
feeling of total relaxation is upon you.
It's the perfect vacation, right?
But here's something you might not think
about while you're soaking up the sun.
How is all of this powered
in places like the Maldives?
With over a thousand islands, each
island relies on its own microgrid,
keeping everything running smoothly from
the lights in your resort to the air
conditioning in your room.
All of it depends on the energy solutions
that are shaping the way we think
about power. Today,
we're diving into how these innovations
are pushing the boundaries of what's
possible in the energy transition.
And the big question is how do we power
the world's growing demand for energy
without tipping the scales
on our planet? Hi, I'm Kim.
And I am Sherif.
Hi Sherif.
Let's talk a little bit more about
the energy transition where you are.
So tell us where are you based and how
does power generation come to life in
your region?
First of all, thank you Kim for having
me. I'm based in Melbourne, Australia,
across Australia and
the Asia-Pacific region.
We are seeing battery energy storage
systems making a real difference.
It reduces reliance on fossil fuels,
supports renewable integration,
improves network resiliency and helping
saving cost. Across Asia Pacific,
we see applications like peak shaving,
demand response, load management,
backup power, and EV charging,
and they are all transforming
how energy is managed.
That is so much when you
hear battery energy storage,
sometimes you think of just storage,
but there are so many more utilities
to this product. Earlier in the season,
when I talked to Aaron Gold,
it was like an introduction to be and
I was learning a little bit more and we
were all just in awe of
how impactful it can be.
But you're already seeing best in
action in your region, which is amazing.
Tell us some of those common
applications of bests in Asia Pacific.
Yeah, across Australia and Asia Pacific,
battery energy storage
systems is used in many ways,
but in the commercial and
industrial applications,
three applications truly stand out.
Remote energy shifting of grid and
hybrid applications and peak shaving.
Do you mind if we dig into each
of these a little bit deeper,
starting with renewable energy shifting?
Energy shifting is about optimizing
renewable energy resources.
Australia has one of the highest
rooftop solar penetrations globally.
During the day, we often produce
more energy than we can use,
but in the evening when demand
peaks, the sun has already set this,
captures that excess solar
energy and releases it later,
cutting down grid demand, lowering bills,
and easing pressure on the network.
It's like having a time
machine for energy,
store it when it is cheap and clean
and use it when it is expensive and
critical. We are seeing this across
houses, commercial buildings,
schools, and regional councils.
Everyone is looking for smarter ways,
smarter ways to manage
their energy profile.
I really like the analogy of a time
machine because storing it and dispersing
and distributing it when it's needed most
is very integral and the applications
are things that we can sometimes
take for granted. Like you said,
commercial buildings,
universities and schools councils,
like there is a lot of great
applications for best. Very brilliant.
I think you had mentioned something
about off-grid and remote applications as
well as peak shaving.
Can we dig into those?
Across Asia Pacific Diesel has long
been the go-to power source because it's
reliability, but it's also
expensive and carbon intensive.
By combining BESS with renewables and
gen sets, we can hybridize those systems.
That means running
generator sets less often,
sometimes cutting fuel
consumption by 30 to 50%.
It's not just the environmental benefits,
it's also about the
operational efficiency in fuel.
Trucks have to drive hundreds
of kilometers into remote areas.
Every liter saved matters,
and our customers are realizing that
sustainability can lower their total cost
of ownership.
I really like that note.
It's not just about environmental
benefit that is massive,
but it's also about
operational efficiencies,
which really help our customers understand
the importance of these products and
how it impacts their bottom line.
So earlier you touched on
remote communities and I
feel like this is something
near and dear to your heart, isn't it?
It truly is.
Many communities are still demand
on small stations and face frequent
outages. This gives them
energy independence,
steady power for schools,
clinics, and local businesses.
One example that stays with me, Kim,
is a Pacific Island project I'm working
on where integrating solar and BESS can
cut diesel usage by 40%. The
impact is not just on emissions;
it changes daily life.
Lights will stay on at night,
clinics and hospitals will
have uninterrupted power.
That's when technology meets our purpose.
Very strong technology meeting purpose,
and that is when you get down to the
basics of it, that is the purpose of it,
right? To serve us in ways that makes
our lives more convenient. So Sherif,
what about Fiji or the Maldives where
these resorts heavily rely on diesel for
24 7 applications?
That's a great point. Resorts and islands
destinations have a unique challenge.
They need uninterrupted power
for their guest comfort,
but they also are operating in a
very delicate environment where
sustainability is part of their plan.
This is becoming a game-changer
here by integrating with solar,
with existing diesel systems.
Resource can cut diesel usage
dramatically while keeping operations
seamless. It's clean,
quiet and reduces environmental
footprint that visitors can care about.
Some resources are now advertising their
renewable microgrids as part of their
guest experience.
This is proofing that Sustainability
can also be a differentiator.
That is amazing. Also, what a
flex to be able to say like, oh,
we have our own personal
microgrid on our resorts.
Something that we don't realize is that
reliable technology actually can lead to
luxury, especially when we're
talking about vacations and resorts.
So we've discussed remote
communities, touristic islands.
Let's switch gears for a moment because
a recurring theme on this season of
Power Onward has been how Cummins is
deeply ingrained in the AI expansion and
digital transformation.
What products are you seeing
making an impact in this space?
Absolutely. In fact, that's one of the
fastest growing segments, data centers,
and now the heartbeat of the digital
world from streaming to cloud computing to
artificial intelligence and they demand
both reliable energy and sustainable
energy. This plays a
revolutionary role here.
It acts as a backup and grid support
system by supplying power, quality,
managing peaks,
and even allowing data
centers to participate in
the demand response markets.
That's why data centers
are turning to come.
Data centers already trust our gen
sets and they are asking to bear
the same dependability
with our clean, silent,
and fast responding energy storage units.
It's not just a backup power anymore.
It's becoming a core part of energy
strategy for critical facilities.
And for Cummins,
it is exciting to help you to shape
that transition from conventional backup
power to integrated low emission
systems that keep digital infrastructure
running.
So Sherif, we've got energy shift,
diesel savings, remote empowerment,
power independence. Where do you
see this going in apac? Next?
We are moving from demonstration to
deployment and we are moving fast.
Over the next five years,
I think BESS will become
as essential as generators.
Once were in Australia,
that means energy independence
and decarbonization hand in hand.
Across Asia-Pacific, it
means the resilience,
the ability to keep lights on through
stones, distance or demand peaks.
And for Cummins, it's about
using our heritage, power,
reliability to shape the clean energy air.
Well, before we wrap,
I'd love to know what you find most
rewarding working in this industry.
You've been in power
generation for so long.
Honestly,
it's seeing the change firsthand when
a site that used to rely purely in
diesel switches to hybrid power or
when a community realizes that they can
control their own energy
future, it's those moments.
It's not about technology, it's
about people. You can see pride,
you can see independence,
you can see hope,
and that's what keeps me excited
about what we do at Cummins.
Well, there you have it. From sunny
beaches to bustling data centers.
One thing is clear for us and that's the
energy transition and how it's making
waves. So Sherif,
thank you so much for taking time out of
your evening to share some insights on
how power generation is evolving in APAC.
Thank you so much, Kim.
Alright, so what's the
big idea for this episode?
Remote Islands luxury resorts and data
centers all have one thing in common.
They depend on innovative energy solutions
to keep everything running smoothly.
As Sherif shared with us, microgrids,
solar and battery storage aren't just
about providing power where it's needed
most. They're pushing the
energy transition forward,
making sustainability and
reliability work hand in hand.
The big idea we have to build the future
of energy in a way that protects our
planet in. The more we embrace
innovative technologies,
the closer we get to a world where we
can power everything we need without
compromising the future.
Power Onward.
Thank you for listening to Power Onward.
Your support means the world to
us. If you enjoyed this episode,
please don't forget to subscribe,
rate and review on your
favorite podcast platform.
If you want to dig deeper
on what we covered today,
check out the show notes for
additional links or go to
cummins.com/podcast. Until next time,
Power Onward.
We are from Cummins,
the company that's been innovating
toward the future for more than a hundred
years. We're no strangers to rapid change,
global shifts and economic uncertainty.
We want to be your constant during
the energy transition. Whenever,
wherever, forever Power Onward.