Applied Computing and KBR have launched INSITE 3.0, an AI-powered platform that uses physics-embedded, real-time intelligence to optimize ammonia plant operations, improving efficiency, safety, and reliability.
Applied Computing and KBR, Inc. have announced the launch of INSITE 3.0, an advanced artificial intelligence–powered platform aimed at significantly improving the efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance of ammonia production facilities. The new solution is designed to support low-emission operations while enhancing energy efficiency and operational stability across ammonia plants worldwide.
INSITE 3.0 represents the next evolution of KBR INSITE®, KBR’s established digital platform that delivers remote technical assistance and advisory services to industrial operating facilities. The latest version introduces a major technological advancement through the integration of physics-embedded AI, enabling real-time analysis and optimization of complex industrial processes. This enhanced capability allows plant operators to improve daily operational decision-making, reduce unplanned downtime, increase production yields, and enhance overall plant safety.
The solution brings together the complementary strengths of both organizations. U.K.–based Applied Computing contributes its foundational artificial intelligence expertise developed specifically for energy and industrial operators, while KBR adds its extensive experience in traditional and sustainable energy solutions, advanced engineering, plant design, and critical infrastructure delivery. This collaboration allows INSITE 3.0 to merge deep domain knowledge with cutting-edge AI capabilities.
At the core of INSITE 3.0 is Orbital, Applied Computing’s proprietary AI model. Unlike conventional analytics tools, Orbital is engineered to process 100 percent of plant operational data continuously and in real time. By embedding engineering and physical principles directly into the AI framework, the platform generates explainable, transparent insights that plant operators can trust and implement immediately. This prescriptive, agentic-AI approach supports proactive operational decisions rather than reactive problem-solving.
According to Applied Computing President Dan Jeavons, ammonia production facilities are among the most complex industrial systems in operation today. He highlighted that KBR’s ammonia licensing portfolio accounts for approximately half of the world’s installed ammonia production capacity, providing an unmatched opportunity to deploy INSITE 3.0 at scale. The platform, he noted, unlocks value beyond the reach of traditional systems by delivering reliable, physics-grounded insights that directly improve performance, safety, and efficiency.
Ammonia plays a vital role in addressing several global challenges. It is essential to global food security through fertilizer production, while also gaining attention as a zero-carbon fuel and a practical carrier for hydrogen storage and transportation. These attributes make ammonia increasingly important in efforts to decarbonize sectors such as shipping, power generation, and heavy industry.
Hari Ravindran, Senior Vice President of KBR’s Sustainable Technology Solutions business, emphasized ammonia’s growing importance to both the global economy and the energy transition. He stated that by combining KBR’s more than 75 years of ammonia synthesis expertise with Applied Computing’s advanced AI technology, INSITE 3.0 has the potential to fundamentally change how ammonia plants are operated. The platform is designed to help customers maximize production yields, lower emissions, and improve overall economic performance—key priorities for the coming decade.
By uniting foundational AI, deep process engineering knowledge, and a global ammonia footprint, Applied Computing and KBR aim to deliver a scalable, future-ready solution that enhances plant efficiency, resilience, and decarbonization in an increasingly interconnected industrial landscape.
