Power Onward

Powering paradise comes with significant responsibilities.
In this episode of Power Onward, Kim talks with Sherif about how battery energy storage systems (BESS) are changing the way Australia and the Asia Pacific region keep the lights on.
From rooftop solar in suburban neighborhoods to remote islands, luxury resorts, and fast-growing data centers, Sherif shares how smarter storage is making energy cleaner, more reliable, and more cost-effective.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How BESS turns daytime solar into evening power for homes, schools, and councils
How hybrid systems can cut diesel fuel use dramatically in remote and island communities
Why data centers now look at BESS as part of core energy strategy, not just backup

Additional Resources:
Cummins Microgrids
Cummins BESS webpage 
Why battery storage is now essential to microgrid development
Key tips to help understand battery energy storage systems
Power Onward podcast: Beyond your average household battery
What are battery energy storage systems?
How BESS is driving grid stability, supporting renewables, and accelerating the Middle East region’s clean energy goals

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to the [3-minute Power Up] to get breakthrough stories and the latest innovations in power technology delivered  straight to your inbox: https://www.cummins.com/news/podcast#subscribe  

Dive into the conversation:
(00:00) This is Power Onward
(01:22) How BESS shows up across APAC
(02:33) Energy shifting 101
(04:04) Pairing diesel, solar, and BESS to cut fuel use in remote locations
(05:01) A Pacific Island project that unlocks energy independence and steadier power
(05:53) How islands are using renewable microgrids as a differentiator
(07:06) Data centers, AI, and why batteries now support the digital world
(08:16) Where BESS is headed next in APAC
(08:54) The human impact behind the tech

What if the stuff we throw away could keep trucks moving?

In this episode of Power Onward, Kim sits down with Dave to talk about renewable natural gas, aka RNG, and how it turns things like landfill trash, cow manure, and food waste into clean, usable fuel. They break down what RNG actually is, how it’s made, and why more fleets are already using it.

They also explore what makes the Cummins X15N engine a game changer, how RNG stacks up against diesel, and how cow waste fits into a surprisingly full-circle clean energy story.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How RNG’s carbon intensity can go below zero
Why dairy farms are key players in clean fuel
What drivers are saying about switching to RNG engines

Articles
Natural gas readiness
X15N Engine | Cummins Inc.
How to transition your fleet to natural gas engines
Reducing your company’s Scope 3 Emissions with RNG
The legacy of a “King” ft. David J. King

Additional Resources:
RNG Coalition Infographic
BioTown Ag
The Transport Project
Clean Energy Fuels
RNG Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to the [3-minute Power Up] to get breakthrough stories and the latest innovations in power technology delivered  straight to your inbox: https://www.cummins.com/news/podcast#subscribe  

Dive into the conversation:
(00:00) This is Power Onward
(00:33) What RNG is and how it’s made
(02:11) From waste to pipeline-ready fuel
(03:37) Where RNG fits into commercial fleets
(04:15) How RNG helps fleets cut emissions and costs
(05:15) Why RNG can be carbon-negative
(06:48) California’s RNG adoption and what it shows
(08:34) A full-circle dairy farm story
(12:02) The X15N engine’s first year in action
(17:49) What drivers say about RNG behind the wheel

How do we keep AI running when the grid starts to strain?
Bhargava joins Kim to explore the pressure data centers are placing on global power systems. He explains what’s changing in energy demand, why data center operators are bringing their own power, and how Cummins is stepping in with more sustainable solutions.

Through examples such as battery energy storage systems (BESS) and advanced generators, Bhargava shares how technology is adapting to keep up with AI’s around-the-clock needs. He also explains the misconception that reliability and sustainability are at odds, when in fact, they work better together.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the invisible systems powering our digital lives.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
How data centers are shifting energy strategies to meet AI’s nonstop power demands
Why grid constraints are fueling innovation in on-site energy
What Cummins is doing to help keep AI online and emissions down
Additional resources
Global reach, local support for data center power
First Down: meet the Gridiron Greats of power systems
Powering sustainable data centers
Three Emerging Trends in data center sustainability
Evolution of DC Onsite Power Use

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to the [3-minute Power Up] to get breakthrough stories and the latest innovations in power technology delivered  straight to your inbox: https://www.cummins.com/news/podcast#subscribe  

Dive into the conversation:
(00:00) This is Power Onward
(00:26) How data centers silently power your digital life
(01:31) Cummins’ role in keeping AI engines always on
(02:57) What 36 gigawatts of energy demand means
(04:19) Why AI growth is reshaping energy infrastructure
(06:29) Grid constraints explained through real-world examples
(10:37) Breaking down reliability and sustainability pressures
(13:30) What Tier 4 and BESS mean for emissions
(15:50) How Cummins keeps your AI running smoothly
(17:34) Cummins’ bold roadmap for powering the AI future

What connects the trucks in remote mines to the phones in our pockets?

Guilherme shows Kim how copper, iron, and other essential minerals fuel not only machinery but also the digital world we live in. From electric vehicles to data centers, mining plays a central role in the systems we rely on every day.
He shares what it’s like to stand beside a 400-ton truck, how massive mine sites operate like cities, and why copper remains critical to AI expansion. With firsthand stories from Peru and insights from his time at Cummins, Guilherme brings the mining industry into focus.
This conversation reveals how power begins long before the plug and how Cummins is contributes from the ground up.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
How haul trucks and excavators move hundreds of tons in a single load.
What it takes to power mine sites located far from the grid.
Why mining is opening more doors for women across the industry.

Additional Resources
Pit to port: An interactive experience
Milestone in assembly
Cummins, Vale, and Komatsu advance joint dual fuel program to develop large truck engine powered by both ethanol and diesel
Power with purpose: How the QSK95 is redefining ultra-class mining productivity
Cummins and Komatsu to collaborate on joint mining hybrid development plan

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to the [3-minute Power Up] to get breakthrough stories and the latest innovations in power technology delivered  straight to your inbox: https://www.cummins.com/news/podcast#subscribe  

Dive into the conversation:
(00:00) This is Power Onward
(01:15) Why the mining image in your head is outdated
(02:13) The childhood toy that sparked a mining career
(03:37) How mining connects to everything we use daily
(04:13) How big are haul trucks, really?
(08:08) How Cummins supports both mining and data centers
(10:09) A haul truck built entirely by women
(11:16) What’s next for cleaner mining technology
(13:05) How off-grid mine sites stay powered with Cummins
(15:52) Visualizing the QSK95 engine
(17:27) Life on a 10-days-in, 10-days-out schedule
(19:40) What 190 gallons of fuel per hour looks like
(20:21) How one engine contains 16 RAM truck engines

What does power mean when the grid isn’t guaranteed? 
Tanya joins Kim from Johannesburg to discuss how Cummins is supporting communities across Africa and the Middle East. Their efforts span hospitals, telecom towers, data centers, and homes, providing innovative and reliable energy solutions.

With a background in design and a passion for people, Tanya brings a fresh perspective to power technology. She highlights the beauty found in even the smallest engine components, the significance of battery energy storage systems, and how Cummins empowers individuals to shape their own careers.

This episode serves as a reminder that when power and purpose intersect, the possibilities are endless.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why power reliability is critical in regions like Africa and the Middle East—and how Cummins is meeting that need.
How creativity, not just engineering, has a place in shaping the future of power.
Why believing in yourself is the first step to making a real impact at Cummins.

Additional Resources
Valuing the power of difference
The Keeper. The Preserver. The Archivist.
The delicate art of designing for the future
From Capitol Hill to clean energy
The DNA of an engineer

Interested in learning more? Subscribe to the [3-minute Power Up] to get breakthrough stories and the latest innovations in power technology delivered  straight to your inbox: https://www.cummins.com/news/podcast#subscribe  

Dive into the conversation:
(00:00) This is Power Onward
(00:33) Tanya shares how engine parts became works of art
(02:47) From design agency to Cummins creative
(05:01) The power of storytelling through visuals and campaigns
(06:22) Why creativity belongs in a technical world
(07:57) Tanya explains the energy challenges across her region
(09:40) Battery energy storage systems making a real impact
(11:10) Her superpower is spotting strengths in others
(14:46) Navigating languages, cultures, and currencies
(17:38) Cummins is chosen for product strength and people commitment
(19:54) Tanya’s message to employees: trust your value and speak up