At EPS, we specialize in delivering comprehensive engineering and consulting services to the energy industry, encompassing oil & gas, electrical power, and renewable energy sectors. With our deep technical expertise and industry insights, we help clients navigate the complexities of the energy technologies, economics, regulations, and business appraisals to achieve their strategic objectives.
Hydrogen Production Technologies: Electrolysis, steam methane reforming, safety and explosions.
Fuel Cell Systems: Evaluating applications for stationary and mobile power.
Energy Storage and Grid Management:
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Designing and integrating storage solutions.
Microgrids and Smart Grids: Enhancing grid resilience and efficiency.
Why Choose EPS for Energy Industry Services?
Technical Excellence and Industry Experience
Our team brings decades of experience and a wealth of knowledge across the energy sector.
Multidisciplinary Expertise: Chemical, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering.
Certified Professionals: Licensed engineers and accredited experts with hands-on industry experience.
Cutting-Edge Methodologies: Utilizing the latest tools, technologies, and best practices.
Customized Solutions for Your Unique Challenges
We understand that every project and operation is unique. Our services are tailored to meet your specific needs.
Client-Centered Approach: Collaborating closely to understand your objectives and constraints.
Innovative Problem Solving: Developing creative solutions for complex challenges.
Strategic Insights: Providing actionable recommendations to drive efficiency and growth.
Proven Track Record of Success
EPS has delivered profitable outcomes for clients across the energy industry for over three decades.
Extensive Project Portfolio: Experience across the spectrum of energy technologies.
Satisfied Clients: Numerous testimonials attesting to EPS’s effectiveness and professionalism.
Industry Recognition: Trusted by leading energy corporations worldwide.
Representative Engagements
A selection of EPS engagements across engineering, forensics, and valuation.
Electric Utility Rate Structures, Pricing and Trading
Challenge
A large utility company and its parent corporation were accused of unjust enrichment through a bribery scheme that influenced favorable legislative changes, leading to unfair rate hikes for millions of customers.
Solution
EPS provided astute energy and electric utility valuation services, quantifying the economic impact of these legislative changes and uncovering significant damages related to unjust rate increases and overstated benefits of utility infrastructure projects.
Result
EPS's findings were pivotal in supporting the plaintiffs' case, helping to demonstrate the financial harm caused to utility customers, and contributed significantly to the legal proceedings aimed at obtaining restitution for the affected ratepayers.
Intellectual Property Dispute Involving Global Licensing Fees
Challenge
A technology company developed a coal gasification process and transferred ownership to a major energy corporation, which subsequently failed to remit the agreed-upon license fees, leading to financial disputes and losses for the original developer.
Solution
EPS provided an expert valuation of the intellectual property and conducted a thorough analysis of licensing agreements to quantify the unpaid royalties. EPS also uncovered concealed assignments and discrepancies in reported revenues.
Result
EPS's findings supported the technology company in pursuing compensation, highlighting the extent of unpaid royalties and ensuring clarity in the valuation of the intellectual property assets.
Wind Energy Project Asset Valuation and Trade Secret Dispute
Challenge
Two energy development firms were in dispute over the valuation of wind project assets and alleged misappropriation of trade secrets involving wind data.
Solution
EPS investigated wind energy project development assets, assessed the contractual obligations under an asset purchase agreement, examined the claims of trade secret misappropriation, and appraised the financial impacts of the contracts and corresponding breaches.
Result
EPS's expert renewable energy analysis clarified asset ownership and appraised the financial value owed for the use of the project assets. This facilitated the rightful owner to secure compensation and successfully counter unsupported claims from the opposing party.
Solar Energy Technologies and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets
Challenge
A solar energy technology company faced allegations of trade secret misappropriation related to proprietary solar panel technologies, with conflicting narratives around the value and confidentiality of the claimed information.
Solution
EPS conducted an in-depth forensic investigation, analyzing whether the designated documents met trade secret criteria and appraising the economic value of the alleged misappropriated technologies.
Result
EPS demonstrated that the purported trade secrets were largely obsolete, publicly known, or lacked independent economic value, significantly weakening the claimant's case. This contributed to a favorable arbitration outcome by effectively disputing and vast dismissal of the $34 million in claims.
A global energy firm faced significant discrepancies in the valuation of their first-of-a-kind IsoAlky Retrofit Project by a taxing authority, which did not account for atypical costs associated with the pioneering energy technology.
Solution
EPS conducted a detailed technical assessment and financial appraisal of the first-of-a-kind technology, distinguishing typical from atypical expenses in the $560 million construction, and applied fair market value principles to establish the correct valuation.
Result
EPS’s analysis demonstrated the proper taxable value of the construction work in progress (CWIP), significantly reducing the client's ad valorem assessment by correcting the inflated valuation initially set by the taxing authority.
Technology and Equipment Provider for Renewable Waste-to-Energy Facility
Challenge
A renewable municipal waste-to-energy technology and equipment provider faced allegations of design defects, including faulty equipment, poor operational controls, unwanted byproducts, and inconsistent environmental emissions.
Solution
EPS conducted a detailed engineering analysis of the technology and equipment to determine and confirm its superior performance while identifying severe issues with the owner’s equipment, processing out-of-specification waste materials, poor water treatment, and unreliable environmental controls.
Result
EPS determined the root causes of the owner’s operational issues, enabling effective operational changes and eliminating alleged rectification works and damages, thereby saving substantial costs for the technology provider and facility owner.
Technical Investigation and Financial Appraisal of Equipment Failure and Facility Shutdown
Challenge
A steel mill facility experienced chronic materials handling and operational issues, including a catastrophic collapse and shutdown during a severe snowstorm.
Solution
EPS conducted a thorough engineering and equipment maintenance assessment, including site inspections and a appraisal of the equipment and blast furnace operations..
Result
The evaluation determined negligible damages to the client, a controls and equipment supplier, providing a clear quantification of risks for the resolution of the dispute through impartial engineering and appraisal analysis.
Technical and Financial Appraisal of World-Class Fuel Gasifier Technology
Challenge
An energy technology developer encountered allegations of design defects and material and liquidated damages from a customer.
Solution
EPS conducted an in-depth forensic investigation of the gasifier technology, including engineering reviews and appraisals of the equipment value at different stages of its technology lifecycle.
Result
EPS provided expert testimony that demonstrated no evidence of the alleged defects, supporting a favorable resolution of approximately $70 million for the client and substantiation of the energy conversion technology’s continued fair market value.
Oil Refinery Explosion, Chemical Release, and Root Cause Analysis
Challenge
A major oil refinery experienced a catastrophic explosion in Superior, Wisconsin, resulting in extensive property damage, injuries to over 70 workers, and the evacuation of 27,000 residents due to a release of hazardous chemicals into the community.
Solution
EPS conducted an insightful forensic investigation accurately, determining the root causes of the equipment failures, operational procedures, safety procedure failures, generation of blast waves, and the release of hazardous chemicals.
Result
EPS's investigation and testimony provided prevailing testimony for four lawsuits, including a class action for the community and three workplace injury lawsuits for contract workers.
Technical Evaluation of Renewable Energy Technology Performance
Challenge
A renewable energy biomass cogeneration plant experienced operational deficiencies, including multiple fires, leading to disputes over the provided technology’s design and performance.
Solution
EPS conducted a forensic investigation, assessed the materials handling and quality, and evaluated the technology’s energy-generating performance.
Result
EPS’s forensic analysis established the absence of design deficiencies, demonstrated the contractual compliance of the technology, and identified the owner’s operational inefficiencies, thereby dismissing the litigation.
Engineering Expertise Overcomes Data Gaps in Renewable Ethanol Explosion Investigation
Challenge
A devastating explosion at a farm silo resulted in significant structural damage and loss of life, with renewable ethanol and fermentation-related causes suspected. However, critical production data and laboratory samples were not preserved by the owner, complicating the investigation.
Solution
EPS engineers performed forensic analyses, including debris mapping, blast force calculations, and process evaluations, to identify the origin and cause of the explosion. EPS’s investigation confirmed the presence of ethanol that had been improperly handled during the biofuel production supply chain.
Result
The investigation determined biofuel manufacturing operational missteps, key safety protocol violations, and destruction of data, resulting in a pre-trial award for the deceased’s family.
Economic Implications in Oil Field Services Industry Dispute
Challenge
An oil field services company in the Niobrara-DJ Basin faced significant financial challenges from its business partners during a rapid downturn in crude oil prices, with allegations of management failing to anticipate and mitigate the market impact.
Solution
Leveraging expertise in economic analysis, EPS demonstrated the strong correlation between crude oil prices and demand for oil field services, exposing critical flaws in the actions of the business partners.
Result
EPS provided pivotal evidence about the energy industry's market dynamics, demonstrating the predictability of the downturn, which substantively informed the court proceedings and clarified the parties' financial responsibilities. This analysis enabled the client to recover the monies owed successfully.
Offshore Oil Platform Investigation and Explosion Analysis
Challenge
A catastrophic explosion occurred on an offshore oil platform during a well-cleaning operation involving hydrogen peroxide, resulting in one death, several workers being injured, and property damage.
Solution
EPS’s multidisciplinary investigation team reconstructed the accident scene using over 500 images, forensic chemical analysis, and mechanical modeling, identifying uncontrolled pressure and temperature excursions as primary factors exacerbated by manual system operations and the absence of oxygen scavengers. The uncontrolled reaction highlighted critical gaps in the service company's safety protocols and system automation.
Result
The investigation accurately determined the incident's root cause and provided the basis for mitigation and settlement of the claims.
Ammonium Nitrate Truck Explosion Analysis
Challenge
A catastrophic explosion occurred during the transport of ammonium nitrate in Arkansas, resulting in the death of the truck driver and widespread property damage. The event raised critical concerns about material compatibility and adherence to safety standards.
Solution
EPS conducted a thorough forensic investigation, analyzing transport materials and ignition sources and ensuring adherence to regulatory standards. The team identified that ammonium nitrate was transported in a partially lined aluminum trailer, a chemically incompatible material that sensitized the explosive reaction.
Result
EPS's expert analysis clarified the root cause of the explosion incident, highlighted failures in safety compliance, and provided improved transport protocols, contributing to the litigation outcome.
Natural Gas Midstream Storage and Pipeline Tax Dispute
Challenge
A dispute arose over ad valorem property tax assessments for natural gas storage facilities across multiple counties in Mississippi. The complexity of appraising salt cavern storage assets and opposing interpretations of economic obsolescence in natural gas storage midstream assets were litigated.
Solution
EPS astutely appraised the natural gas midstream market and property valuations for domestic storage, pipeline transmission, domestic demand, and export markets.
Result
EPS's impartial appraisal defined the accuracy of the County Assessors’ valuations, clarifying tax liabilities and compliance with jurisdictional requirements. EPS’s midstream asset appraisals established equitable assessment practices and informed future appraisal standards.
What Clients Say
“Project management, estimating skills, engineering, and design are all real core strengths of EPS…EPS’s comprehensive energy analysis for coal-fired versus gas-fired steam production, which approached the complexities of our plant’s utility and process systems, is one significant example. The project incorporated operating, maintenance, energy alternatives, risks, and future costs and presented a comprehensive financial assessment to our management in clear and concise language.”
Steve Saunders, Engineering Manager, US Petrochemical Producer
“They can help with project research and analysis, providing clients with options and how they stack up against one another — equipment-wise and energy use-wise — and help conclude which option is best.”
Pat Simms, Global VP, Renewable Chemicals and Biofuels Developer
“Competent, professional, honest, and able.”
“The material can be dry especially … technical material but I think John did a really good job at presenting the material in a way that made it interesting. There was a lot of theory but where it was successful were the practical examples that he incorporated.”
John Havens, Texas Utilities
Our Services Include
Engineering and Technical Consulting
Process Design and Optimization
Equipment Selection and Specification
Performance Benchmarking and Improvement
Project Management and EPCM
Project Planning and Development
Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management
Commissioning and Start-Up Support
Environmental and Regulatory Compliance
Emission Control Technologies Implementation
Regulatory Compliance Audits
Sustainability and ESG Consulting
Risk Management and Safety
Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies
Safety Protocol Development
Emergency Response Planning
Technology Assessment and Innovation
Feasibility Studies for New Technologies
Technology Roadmapping and Derisking
Market Analysis and Competitive Intelligence
Training and Development
Professional Development Courses
Customized Training Programs
Workshops and Seminars on Energy Topics
About Dr. John A. Williams
A Leader in Energy Engineering
Dr. John A. Williams, PE, ASA, MBA, CFEI, AIChE Fellow, is the founder and General Manager of EPS. With over 40 years of operations, engineering, and construction experience, Dr. Williams is a recognized expert in the engineering analysis and financial appraisal of energy, power, and manufacturing technologies.
Dr. Williams offers a unique synergy of engineering knowledge and business acumen that extends from concept to completion. He has developed and instructed courses for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, consistently drawing professionals from Fortune 100 companies.
Credentials
Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) by the American Society of Appraisers in Machinery & Technical Specialties: Energy, Environmental, and Manufacturing Technologies.
Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) by the National Association of Fire Investigators.
Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE Fellow).
PhD in Chemical and Fuels Engineering from the University of Utah
