US power operator NAES and Gecko, which develops AI-driven platforms using robotics, have announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the reliability and operational efficiency of American power production.
The companies announced an initial multi-year agreement valued in excess of $100m with the option for the deal to grow beyond $250m as demand warrants with one focus: modernizing power plants to meet the energy crisis in America.
The agreement lays the foundation for NAES and Gecko to combine in robotics and AI-driven platforms with deep operational excellence in the energy sector — in both thermal and renewable energy — as the US faces the threat of insufficient energy. Caused by an awakening of technology, including AI and data centres, transportation, electrification and the re-industrialisation of America, an increased national demand of around 16% is projected in the next four years on the US grid. Data centre power demand alone will grow 160% by 2030.
With NAES powered by Gecko, power production facilities will improve their use of advanced technology like AI-driven platforms with the advantage of being built on the back of robots collecting data and taking actions in the real world. The two companies will also seek to attract the talent, investment and governmental support necessary to transform the sector and future-proof against any further crises.
“The demand for energy is going to grow substantially over the next five to ten years, and we need to be smarter about how technology can support our workforce and infrastructure to deliver this,” said Mark Dobler, president and CEO of NAES.
“Throughout its history, Pennsylvania has been on the cutting edge of robotics, technology, and energy – and this partnership between Gecko and NAES shows what the next generation of energy projects could look like in the Commonwealth,” said Governor Josh Shapiro.
“Under my Administration, I have an energy plan to spark new innovation and build a more reliable, affordable energy grid by incentivizing new projects, streamlining permitting approvals, and encouraging communities to lower utility bills through shared energy resources. By coming together around an energy strategy, we can support groundbreaking projects like this, lower costs for consumers, create more jobs, and position the Commonwealth to continue to be a national energy leader for decades to come.”
Gecko’s wall-climbing robots, drones, robot dogs, and fixed-sensors collect data on critical infrastructure, which is fed into Gecko’s AI-powered software platform, Cantilever, to view and identify asset health issues, as well as accurately predict optimizations of plant asset performance. Not only does this reduce unexpected downtime and reactive maintenance through prediction models, but it also allows facilities to learn from similar Cantilever-run facilities about how to yield the most optimum performance without causing catastrophic failures.
Attracting and retaining top talent has become a significant challenge for the power industry as approximately four workers retire for every one that is hired. While the tech sector thrives with an abundance of applicants, the power industry often struggles to compete. By embracing cutting-edge technologies, like AI and robotics, NAES and Gecko plan to make the power industry a more attractive destination for top talent. Additionally, critical knowledge about how to run the traditional assets will not be forgotten.
NAES manages the second largest fleet of power generation assets in the US and, unlike regulated utilities, has developed its know-how from delivering services to hundreds of customers over four decades. Data from Gecko Robotics has shown that its AI-driven platform and robotic technology can reduce reactive maintenance by 80% and double the lifespan of an asset —improving the reliability of infrastructure.
The historic new partnership will support the reliability of infrastructure managed by NAES as demands for power production and the professionals who operate them are expected to grow further over the next decade.
Jim Cornall is editor of Deeptech Digest and publisher at Ayr Coastal Media. He is an award-winning writer, editor, photographer, broadcaster, designer and author. Contact Jim here.
