Citing Mitsubishi Power's Asia Pacific CEO at Singapore International Energy Week, Patrick Rooney writes that new large-frame gas turbine orders deliver around 2031, with 2028 to 2029 slots nearly full. He notes GE Vernova and Siemens Energy are also sold out years forward. Anyone planning new dispatchable capacity on a 2027 or 2028 timeline should check which year the turbine actually arrives.
SMUD runs three robot dogs that inspect substations across a system of more than 270 substations and 400 large transformers. In this Energy Central episode, SMUD's Eric Poff explains why catching a faulty $2,000 component can save a $4 million transformer, and what it takes to turn a pilot into standard practice. It is a utility putting a dollar figure on what one robot inspection catch is worth.
Foundry Robotics raised a $100 million Series A led by Marlinspike to build robot cells trained on reusable assembly skills, so one factory can build many kinds of hardware without a dedicated line for each. Its 130,000-square-foot Bay Area factory targets wire harnesses, underwater vehicles, satellites, drones and telecom gear. The bet is flexible capacity for low-volume, high-mix assembly.
At Saudi Aramco's Yanbu refinery, optimization algorithms adjust production in a closed loop with operators overseeing, while at Ras Tanura the same kind of algorithms only recommend and operators decide. SCG Chemicals reports 99% plant reliability and a ninefold return within six months from an AI-supported digital twin. Same company, two refineries, two levels of autonomy is how most plants will actually adopt it.