Live from Ignition ICC 2025 in Sacramento!

In this episode, we sit down with Rene Gamero, Industry 4.0 Executive at Opto 22, to unpack what modern edge computing really looks like across energy, distributed generation, and industrial operations.

We dig into Opto 22’s long relationship with Inductive Automation, what makes Groov EPIC a true IPC + PLC + HMI platform, and why energy operators—from oil & gas to solar and battery storage—are rapidly adopting an edge-first architecture.

Rene breaks down:

- Why edge computing is gaining massive traction in oil & gas

- The three pillars operators care about: cost, complexity & cybersecurity

- How Opto 22 simplifies UDT structure, MQTT/Sparkplug, and standardization

- Real-world case study: Half-gigawatt distributed solar deployment across Chile

- Why Groov EPIC’s long-term form factor commitment (20+ years) matters

- How Opto22’s learning kits and training accelerate POCs and modernizations

- ICC 2025 insights: Ignite 8.3 momentum, Prove-It sessions, and community growth

- If you’re evaluating edge solutions, upgrading legacy PLC infrastructure, or considering MQTT/UNS architectures with Ignition, this is a must-watch.

Links

Opto 22 Website: https://www.opto22.com

Energy Tech Podcast (YouTube): https://youtube.com/@EnergyTechPodcast

Ignition ICC: https://inductiveautomation.com/icc

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro

00:10 – Welcome to the Energy Tech Podcast

00:26 – Live at ICC 2025 in Sacramento

00:47 – Guest intro: Rene Gamero, Opto 22

01:12 – What Rene does at Opto22 & global coverage

01:55 – Opto22 + Inductive Automation partnership

03:00 – ICC 2025 momentum, growth & first-time attendees

04:10 – Why podcasts matter at ICC

05:20 – Edge computing in oil & gas

06:30 – ICC “level up”: venue, 8.3 release, Prove It sessions

07:40 – Energy industry modernization outlook

08:45 – Where Opto22 fits: Edge, UDT structure & standardization

09:50 – How Opto22 trains OT teams

11:00 – Deep dive: Groov EPIC = IPC + PLC + HMI

12:40 – Hardware simplicity & expandability

14:30 – The “lightbulb moment”: realizing EPIC is a full platform

15:20 – Cost, complexity & cybersecurity pillars

17:00 – SIL & safety considerations

18:45 – Reducing complexity across mixed vendor environments

20:20 – Cybersecurity built into EPIC from day one

22:10 – Distributed energy case study (Chile solar fleet)

24:40 – Standardizing remote generation sites

25:40 – Final thoughts & discount for Energy Tech listeners

26:05 – Closing remarks – Like & Subscribe

Music: Uygar Duzgun / “Fast Life” / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com