Predictive Maintenance
Using AI and Machine Learning to Predict Equipment Failures
Utilizing predictive analytics can reduce the likelihood of plant shutdowns, fines from audits, and reputational damage, ensuring customers have dependable access to electricity from a reliable grid. For example, Fischer Block’s 24/7 spectral monitoring was able to detect a motor’s cracked rotor bar, which avoided a catastrophic failure.
How SMART Block® Technology Works
The SMART Block® devices contain high-resolution sensors for gathering data without disruption to plant operations. After the devices begin gathering data with Fischer Block’s wave iQ® and filtering data through advanced predictive analytics software, Certrec will utilize the Certrec Portal, and regulatory consultants will provide decision-making insights taken from the data.
Gain Regulatory Insights
When this technology is combined with Certrec’s regulatory experience, plants can be warned whenever they must take corrective actions based on diagnostics. Certrec’s experts can then communicate what documentation evidence needs to be gathered for NERC. Through this new alliance, plants get a technological advantage to avoid both plant malfunctions and inadequate paper trails.
Certrec and Fischer Block’s Partnership
Through this alliance, both Certrec and Fischer Block will continue to work toward enhancing the electric grid’s resilience and reliability. Maintenance personnel, engineers, and plant managers will be able to engage potential threats proactively and gather evidence for upcoming audits more efficiently than ever before.
CERTREC X Fischer Block, Inc.
AI-Driven Visibility at Your Fingertips
Keep your plant running smoothly by prediciting faults
Solution for IBRs Affected by CAISO Memo
By leveraging Fischer Block’s data capture capabilities, IBRs affected by CAISO memo can access vast amounts of valuable information. This data can be harnessed through predictive analytics to optimize facility performance, enhance reliability, and reduce downtime.
About Fischer Block:
Applying AI and Machine Learning to electrical signatures, Fischer Block, Inc. brings innovative power system and asset monitoring solutions to the electrical power industry. Combining patented high-resolution edge-intelligent sensors with advanced analytical software solutions, the Fischer Block wave iQ® platform provides grid and plant operators alike, with new insights into power system performance and health of critical assets.
An early warning system into pending problems, fully isolated from command-and-control, the wave iQ® platform offers a new level of safety and security, while helping improve system reliability and resiliency.
To learn more about Fischer Block technologies and how their solutions are currently being deployed across industry, click here.
About Certrec:
Certrec is a leading provider of regulatory compliance solutions for the energy industry with the mission of helping ensure a stable, reliable, bulk electric supply. Since 1988, Certrec’s SaaS applications and consulting know-how have helped hundreds of power-generating facilities manage their regulatory compliance and reduce their risks.
Certrec’s engineers and business teams bring a cumulative 1,500 years of working experience in regulatory areas of compliance, engineering, and operations, including nuclear, fossil, solar, wind facilities, and other Registered Entities generation and transmission.
Certrec has helped more than 200 generating facilities establish and maintain NERC Compliance Programs. We manage the entire NERC compliance program for 80+ registered entities in the US, Canada, and Mexico that trust us to decrease their regulatory and reputational risk. Certrec is ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified and has successfully completed annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations.
For press and media enquiries, please contact Digitization@certrec.com.
Related Publications
Download and read our white paper to understand and gain insights into the potential of AI and machine learning for your power plant.
Our white paper highlights the challenges that utilities face while making power plants resilient and sustainable; how AI and Machine Learning can play a role in mitigating these challenges; and how the partnership between Fischer Block, Inc. and Certrec will prove to be beneficial for the energy industry.
Read our white paper to understand the key aspects of the PRC-028-1 standard and discover how Certrec can assist you in achieving compliance.
The new PRC-028-1 standard plays a pivotal role in guiding the integration of inverter-based resources (IBRs) into the power grid. By embracing the requirements and measures outlined in PRC-028-1, Transmission Owners and Generator Owners can actively contribute to the reliability, security, and resilience of the modern electric power system.
To ensure grid reliability and compliance with regulatory standards, such as the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the industry is now focusing on capturing detailed information for diagnostics and analysis. This guide explores the solution Fischer Block and Certrec provided to address these compliance requirements and enhance the performance of IBR assets.
Related Events
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
CAISO recently put out recommendations for the installation of high-speed data recording capabilities on all inverter-based resources based on the lessons learned from the 2021 loss of over 1,100MW of solar photovoltaic resources in Texas. As a result, a new standard: PRC-028-1 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources has been drafted. Get ahead of the curve and learn how Certrec and Fischer Block, Inc.’s alliance will help customers stay compliant with PRC-028.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- AUGUST 24, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
CAISO recently put out recommendations for the installation of high-speed data recording capabilities on all inverter-based resources based on the lessons learned from the 2021 loss of over 1,100MW of solar photovoltaic resources in Texas. As a result, a new standard: PRC-028-1 Disturbance Monitoring and Reporting Requirements for Inverter-Based Resources has been drafted. Get ahead of the curve and learn how Certrec and Fischer Block, Inc.’s alliance will help customers stay compliant with PRC-028.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- JULY 27, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
CAISO recently put out recommendations for the installation of high-speed data recording capabilities on all inverter-based resources based on the lessons learned from the 2021 loss of over 1,100MW of solar photovoltaic resources in Texas. The fact that the CAISO has published the recommendation is a strong indicator that a system wide requirement could soon be forthcoming.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- JUNE 22, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
CAISO recently put out recommendations for the installation of high-speed data recording capabilities on all inverter-based resources based on the lessons learned from the 2021 loss of over 1,100MW of solar photovoltaic resources in Texas. The fact that the CAISO has published the recommendation is a strong indicator that a system wide requirement could soon be forthcoming.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- MAY 11, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help power plants interpret data gathered from these devices. This free webinar will primarily be focused on use cases.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- APRIL 27, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. This solution is fully compliant with CAISO recommendations described in their 10 April memorandum regarding digital high speed recording devices capturing reliability event data on inverter-based resources. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help power plants interpret data gathered from these devices.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- MARCH 30, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help power plants interpret data gathered from these devices.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- MARCH 16, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help power plants interpret data gathered from these devices. This free webinar will primarily be focused on new imaging techniques that improve fault prediction.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- MARCH 02, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help power plants interpret data gathered from these devices. This free webinar will primarily be focused on use cases.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- JANUARY 20, 2023
- 10:00 to 10:40 AM Central TIme
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help plants interpret data gathered from these devices.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
- DECEMBER 07, 2022
- 10 AM CT
Fischer Block’s CEO, Greg Wolfe, will present their SMART Block® solution and the benefits of digitization. Certrec’s Director of NERC Compliance, Evans Heacock, will explain how Certrec will help plants interpret data gathered from these devices.
Presenters
Evans Heacock
Certrec’s NERC Compliance Director
Greg Wolfe
President & CEO - Fischer Block, Inc.
