Schneider Electric and its California-based power system design subsidiary Etap have developed a physics-based digital twin to help utilities and critical infrastructure operators strengthen resilience and accelerate time-to-power.

The announcement was made at last week’s DTech show in San Diego, California.

Schneider Electric acquired Etap in 2021. As a provider of electrical power system modelling and simulation software, Etap complements Schneider’s digital grid capabilities by delivering engineering-grade analysis and lifecycle modelling for utilities and critical infrastructure.

“Until now, utilities have operated two separate worlds, one for planning, another for operations,” said Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of Etap (etap.com). “We’ve collapsed that divide. This isn’t simulation anymore. It’s a living digital twin that thinks alongside the grid while validating protection schemes before they execute, anticipating faults before they cascade. As electrification accelerates and extreme weather rewrites the rules, utilities need more than faster analysis. They need a system that already knows what’s coming. That’s what we’ve built.”

Integrated with Schneider Electric’s One Digital Grid Platform and EcoStruxure ArcFM Web – a GIS for a complete, location-based view of utility assets – the physics-based digital twin links network data with real-time operations. By combining spatial intelligence with simulation-grade modelling, utilities can move beyond static visualisation to predictive insights, enabling them to anticipate outcomes before switching and align planning with live grid conditions.

Unlike generic digital twins, Etap’s model is grounded in electrical physics, enabling operators to:

• Run contingency scenarios and validate protection coordination.
• Conduct arc-flash studies and ensure compliance with NFPA 70E.
• Simulate switching outcomes before execution to reduce risk and improve safety.
• Maintain a single, unified model from design through operations, eliminating data silos and reducing errors.

As utilities face the challenges of rapid electrification, extreme weather and rising reliability expectations, engineering-grade simulation is critical for informed decision-making. Etap’s capabilities extend beyond utilities to mission-critical sectors such as data centres, healthcare and aerospace, where downtime is unacceptable.

“By combining Etap’s engineering rigour with Schneider Electric’s industry-leading geospatial technologies, operators gain a unified, lifecycle model that reduces risk and accelerates modernisation,” said Ruben Llanes, digital grid CEO at Schneider Electric.

The system has been validated across more than 50,000 installations worldwide, including tier-four data centres and nuclear facilities. Utilities can achieve up to 40% faster DER interconnection and 30% fewer nuisance trips through automated protection coordination.

Introduced last year, Schneider Electric’s One Digital Grid Platform (iotm2mcouncil.org/iot-library/news/smart-energy-news/schneider-ai-platform-enhances-grid-resiliency/) is a unified, AI-enabled software environment that helps utilities modernise operations, integrate renewables and accelerate time-to-power without costly infrastructure overhauls. Built on an open, modular architecture, it combines distribution management, real-time analytics and edge automation to deliver faster decision-making, improved resilience and enhanced customer engagement, all from a single, interoperable platform.

Schneider Electric (www.se.com) has a portfolio that includes intelligent devices, software-defined architectures, AI-powered systems, digital services and expert advisory. It has 160,000 employees and a million partners in over 100 countries.