Update (Sept. 15, 2025): We are proud to announce that Ryan Severe and Puget Sound Energy have been named the winner of the 2025 Green Cross for Safety Innovation Award. The recognition honors his implementation of Sytis’s TC-90™ system, which has transformed maintenance safety protocols at PSE.
The National Safety Council (NSC) has named Ryan Severe of Puget Sound Energy (PSE) a Finalist for the 2025 Green Cross for Safety Innovation Award.
This prestigious honor follows Severe’s pioneering implementation of SYTIS’ TC-90™ Bi-spectral Card Camera in PSE wind turbines. The TC-90™ boasts an embedded, compact design featuring a wide angle thermal and optical lens, making it ideal for power panel monitoring. Enhanced by InfraSpec™ software, the TC-90™ safely monitors critical components remotely, and in real-time — preventing issues before they arise.
The TC-90™ was initially introduced to diagnose unknown triggers for PSE’s frequent and costly downtimes, fires and electrical arc blasts in their Vestas V80 wind turbines. Following years of frustration and months of unsuccessful investigations with traditional methods, the SYTIS infrared technology instantaneously revealed that the contactors and the lead wires connected to them were operating at temperatures far above their respective manufacturers’ rating.
In addition to identifying and resolving PSE’s recurring downtimes, the TC-90™ implementation has unintentionally revolutionized safety capabilities across their wind turbine O&M. Severe reports:
- Tower climbs reduced by over 50%, substantially eliminating associated risks.
- Diagnostics can now be performed from the comfort of the technician's office, from the base of the turbine and/or a vehicle, mitigating unnecessary climbs.
- When electricians do need to scale turbines, they are fully briefed on the issue at hand prior to ascent, resulting in better preparation, decreased downtime and less unwelcome dangers.
- Early warnings from the InfraSpec™ software identify the anomalies and stop issues before escalation.
- No exposure to live electrical current during installation or diagnostics.
- The TC-90™ technology has been repurposed to diagnose and monitor converter faults in addition to power panels, enhancing site-wide standards and awareness.
Severe’s successful implementation of TC-90™ and its enhancement of safety standards paves the way for making remote, condition-based maintenance a scalable reality and standard for wind farm O&M.
To learn more, read the full case study: Case Study. Applying Continuous Infrared Camera Technology and Software at Puget Sound Energy
Ryan Severe’s Finalist announcement has been published by NSC and Occupational Health & Safety Magazine. Winners will be announced September 15th, 2025.
At time of publication, Ryan Severe and Puget Sound Energy were shortlisted for RenewableUK’s Global Offshore Wind 2025 Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award, earning global recognition. Winners will be announced October 14th, 2025 in London, UK.