Business Details
31 Years
experience
Trusted Power Plant Performance Testing & Consulting Services
Founded in 1995, McHale & Associates has established itself as a leader in power plant performance testing, calibration, and consulting services. Our team of seasoned engineers and technicians brings decades of combined experience in thermal analysis, instrumentation, and performance optimization for power generation facilities worldwide. We specialize in delivering independent, third-party due diligence services, including contractual acceptance testing, risk mitigation, and technology validation through rigorous analysis. Our expertise spans fossil fuel, nuclear, renewable energy, and hydroelectric power plants, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, reliability, and profitability for clients. We maintain an ISO 17025-accredited calibration laboratory and deploy cutting-edge tools to ensure precise measurements and defensible results.Our commitment to innovation is reflected in proprietary software solutions like our Excel Add-In suite for thermodynamic calculations. With a global footprint, we have executed projects across six continents, testing over 340,000 MW of combined capacity. Our principals have served as expert witnesses in international arbitrations, underscoring our technical authority. We collaborate with top-tier partners to deliver comprehensive solutions, from design and startup to outage optimization and long-term performance monitoring, ensuring clients achieve their operational and financial objectives.
Services
Power Plant Testing
Calibration Services
Renewable Energy Consulting
Performance Optimization
Expert Witness Services
Instrument Rental
Thermal Analysis
Emissions Testing
Software Solutions
Field Engineering
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- We offer over 30 years of specialized experience in power plant performance testing.
- Our ISO 17025-accredited calibration laboratory ensures measurement accuracy.
- We deliver solutions for global power generation projects across six continents.
- Our principals have served as expert witnesses in international energy disputes.
- We maintain strategic partnerships for comprehensive project execution capabilities.
Associations and certifications
- ISO 17025
Services
Power Plant Testing
Our power plant testing services verify contractual guarantees through code-compliant assessments of efficiency, capacity, and emissions. Using ASME, ASTM, and ISO standards, we conduct acceptance and routine testing for fossil, nuclear, and renewable energy facilities. Our engineers deliver defensible data to support asset management decisions and performance optimization.
Calibration Services
We provide ISO 17025-accredited calibration for pressure, temperature, and flow instrumentation used in power generation. Our Knoxville, TN laboratory offers precision measurements with 0.04% class accuracy, while mobile services support on-site requirements. This ensures reliable data for critical operational decisions.
Renewable Energy Consulting
Our renewable energy consulting addresses solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects. We perform performance validation, technology assessments, and optimization strategies tailored to specific energy sources. This includes contractual guarantee verification and lifecycle performance analysis to maximize return on investment.
Performance Optimization
We identify efficiency improvements through thermo-economic modeling and root cause analysis. Our solutions reduce emissions, enhance reliability, and improve dispatchability for combined cycle, fossil, and renewable power plants. Customized plans align with client-specific operational and financial goals.
Expert Witness Services
Our engineers provide expert testimony in energy-related disputes, with experience in over a dozen international arbitrations. We prepare technical reports, depositions, and court presentations addressing performance guarantees, equipment failures, and contractual compliance in power generation projects.
People
Michael P. McHale
President
Founder with 35+ years in power plant testing and thermal analysis. Developed proprietary software for performance testing and optimization. Former Chair of ASME Performance Test Codes Committee. Recipient of ASME Performance Test Codes Medal in 2018.
Dr. Thomas Keith Kirkpatrick
Senior Vice President of Operations
26-year veteran in thermal performance testing with a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Leads operations management and serves on ASME Performance Test Codes Standards Committee. Former Chair of ASME PTC 46 Overall Plant Performance.
Shawn M. Goedeke
Principal Performance Engineer
Specializes in gas turbines, HRSGs, and cooling tower testing. Manages CTI Program with expertise in thermal and emissions analysis. Holds PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee Tech University.
Mark A. Smith
Principal Performance Engineer
41-year power industry veteran with expertise in combustion turbines and nuclear plants. Former consultant for Southern Company and Entergy. Licensed engineer in Texas and ASME member since 1985.
Jessica N. Drinnon
Measurement Services Manager
15+ years in calibration laboratory management. Oversees ISO 17025 accreditation and technical training. Expertise spans dimensional, thermodynamic, and electrical calibration for power generation and other industries.
Questions
What power plant testing services do you offer?
We provide contractual acceptance testing, routine performance analysis, and CTI-licensed cooling tower assessments using ASME, ISO, and ASTM standards for fossil, nuclear, and renewable energy facilities.
Are your calibration services internationally recognized?
Yes, our Knoxville laboratory holds ISO 17025 accreditation for pressure, temperature, and flow instrumentation calibration with 0.04% class accuracy.
How do you support renewable energy projects?
We offer performance validation, technology assessments, and optimization strategies for solar, wind, geothermal, and hydroelectric projects to maximize efficiency and ROI.
Can you assist with legal disputes in energy projects?
Our engineers provide expert witness services with experience in international arbitrations related to performance guarantees and equipment failures.
Do you operate globally?
Yes, we've executed projects across six continents, testing over 340,000 MW of combined capacity in 800+ facilities worldwide.
