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