Fischer Block's Alliance With Certrec

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.

Solution for Inverter-based Resources Affected by PRC-028

Partnering with Fischer Block, Inc., our expertise will help you achieve compliance with the upcoming PRC-028-1 standard. Fischer Block, Inc.’s powerful SMART Block® edge devices meets the Fault Recording data capture requirements laid out by NERC. This data can then be harnessed through predictive analytics to optimize facility performance, enhance reliability, and reduce downtime.

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.

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 for 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 the 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 120 generating facilities establish and maintain NERC Compliance Programs. We manage the entire NERC compliance program for 60+ registered entities in the US and Canada that trust us to decrease their regulatory and reputational risk. Certrec is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certified and has successfully completed annual SOC 2 Type 2 examinations.

For press and media inquiries, please contact marketing@certrec.com.

Related Publications

White Paper on How Power Plants Can Utilize AI and Machine Learning to Reduce Costs and Improve Reliability

Download 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.

AI to Boost Your Utility’s Resilience: Certrec & Fischer Block, Inc.’s Alliance

Download our datasheet to discover how Certrec & Fischer Block, Inc.’s partnership can enhance your utility’s resilience.

Certrec and Fischer Block, Inc. have formed a strategic alliance that combines their industry-leading expertise and innovative approaches to tackle complex challenges. These challenges include enhancing plant resilience, reliability, and safety, modernizing the grid, integrating renewable energy, ensuring cybersecurity, and complying with regulations.

CAISO Memo: Fischer Block and Certrec Provide a Compliant Solution for IBRs

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.

Top Ten Reasons to Digitize Your Power Plant Operations

Download our info guide to find out why you should digitize your power plant operations.

Digitizing the operations of electric power utilities offers several compelling benefits, each contributing to increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the overall efficacy of their operations.

Related Events

Learn How to Comply with PRC-028: What You Must Know about NERC Inverter-Based Resources

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.