Que: Bentley Systems has been instrumental in modernising electrical grids globally. Could you share how Bentley’s solutions, particularly in India, are contributing to the modernisation of the electric grid and the integration of renewable energy source

Ans: Bentley Systems is leading the modernisation of electric grid infrastructure globally and in India, driving the shift toward a sustainable energy future. As the demand for efficient and reliable power systems grows in India, our solutions are crucial in helping utilities and energy providers transform their grid infrastructure to tackle modern challenges and enable strong economic growth.

At the core of this transformation is Bentley’s OpenUtilities, which supports the digitalisation of utility operations. OpenUtilities offers powerful tools for designing, modeling, and analysing electrical grid infrastructure designs, allowing for optimised design and enabling the construction of reliable and resilient distribution assets. This means that utilities can not only build faster to keep up with demand but also ensure that energy is delivered more reliably and efficiently.

When it comes to integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind, solutions like PLS-CADD are critical. This software helps engineers design transmission lines that seamlessly connect large-scale solar and wind farms, hydroelectric facilities, and cleaner sources of energy production to the grid, ensuring that energy can be distributed effectively across the country. Given India's ambitious economic growth goals, this is a key area where Bentley is contributing significantly.

Additionally, our Digital Twin technology provides utilities with a comprehensive, detailed view of the grid and the surrounding environment. This allows infrastructure owners to simulate and plan for future expansion, taking into account the challenges of the existing world around new and existing infrastructure. By doing so, utilities can ensure that their grids remain resilient, scalable, and capable of accommodating the growing proportion of renewables in the energy mix.

Que: Bentley’s OpenUtilities suite offers a range of tools for electric utilities. How does OpenUtilities help Indian utility companies optimise their network planning, asset management, and overall grid performance?

Ans: Bentley’s OpenUtilities is vital for Indian utility companies to optimise network planning and grid performance amid rising demand for reliable power distribution. Our solutions enhance operational efficiency, improve grid reliability, and facilitate the integration of new energy sources. OpenUtilities provides advanced tools to make informed decisions about design choices including optimising for cost and construction techniques.

For asset management, our AssetWise solution offers real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, allowing utilities to track the health of critical infrastructure like transformers and transmission lines. Continuous monitoring helps prevent unexpected failures and extends equipment lifespan. Bentley’s solutions deliver data-driven insights for optimising grid performance. Additionally, our digital twin technology allows utilities to create virtual models of their infrastructure. By utilising real-time data, they can simulate scenarios, assess asset health, and plan expansions accurately, ensuring grid stability and informed decision-making.

Que: The concept of Digital Twins is gaining traction in infrastructure management. How is Bentley's iTwin platform enhancing grid reliability and efficiency for electric utilities?

Ans: Bentley’s iTwin platform is transforming electric utilities' grid management by enhancing reliability and efficiency. With the rise of Digital Twins, our platform significantly changes how utilities operate their grid infrastructure.

At its core, the iTwin platform enables utilities to create a comprehensive digital replica of their physical grid by integrating the existing physical model of the network with many other sources of intellignce such as proposed designs, environmental factors, adjacent infrastrucure assets, and more. This digital twin provides an accurate, up-to-date view of grid performance, asset conditions, and potential issues, which directly supports better decision-making and operational optimisation.

As India expands its renewable energy capacity, the iTwin platform is instrumental in integrating renewable sources like solar and wind into the grid. The platform allows utilities to simulate the impact of renewables on grid stability and optimise load management, ensuring a smoother transition to cleaner energy.

Additionally, the iTwin platform supports a Common Data Environment (CDE), which fosters seamless collaboration across teams. By breaking down information silos, it enables utilities to coordinate more effectively, especially when managing complex power transmission and distribution networks.

Que: Bentley Substation and the tools for T&D network design are widely used by EPC firms in India. Could you elaborate on how these tools have transformed substation design processes and what impact they’ve had on reducing design time and errors?

Ans: Bentley’s OpenUtilities Substation and PLS-CADD have revolutionised T&D design for EPC firms in India by enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and collaboration. These tools streamline workflows, significantly reducing design time and errors.

OpenUtilities Substation provides an integrated platform that combines electrical, physical, and structural design, enabling multi-disciplinary teams to collaborate seamlessly and eliminate traditional silos. PLS-CADD ensures smooth coordination between substation design and transmission and distribution line layout, minimising miscommunication errors.

Key advantages include the automation of complex tasks such as equipment placement and cable routing in OpenUtilities Substation, and conductor sagging and route optimisation in PLS-CADD. This automation speeds up the design process, reduces workload, and enhances accuracy.

Real-time validation in OpenUtilities Substation ensures compliance with industry standards, while PLS-CADD offers advanced simulations for load impact and mechanical stresses, allowing for early issue resolution.
Bentley’s digital twin technology enables firms to create virtual representations of designs, improving visualisation and supporting scenario planning to optimise designs before construction. This innovation enhances decision-making and reduces rework.

Overall, these integrated workflows, automation, and real-time validation have led to a 30-40 percent reduction in design time. Cloud-based collaboration tools facilitate real-time coordination among engineers, contractors, and clients, further streamlining project execution.

Que: Asset Performance Management (APM) is critical for electric utilities to maintain infrastructure efficiently. How does Bentley’s AssetWise help utilities extend the life of their critical assets?

Ans: Bentley’s AssetWise solution is essential for electric utilities, offering advanced Asset Performance Management (APM) tools that extend the life of critical infrastructure. It enables efficient asset maintenance, minimises unplanned outages, and optimises performance throughout the asset lifecycle.

A key feature of AssetWise is real-time asset monitoring, which allows utilities to track critical operational parameters like temperature and voltage levels. This proactive approach helps identify performance anomalies early, ensuring assets operate optimally for longer.

AssetWise also utilises risk-based asset management, allowing utilities to prioritise maintenance and repairs based on the condition and criticality of each asset. This focus on high-risk assets reduces major failures and optimises resource allocation.

In lifecycle management, AssetWise provides a comprehensive view from design to decommissioning by centralising all asset-related data. This enables informed decisions that extend asset life and optimise maintenance schedules.

Additionally, the asset health indexing feature calculates an asset’s health based on performance indicators, helping utilities identify which assets need attention and which can continue operating efficiently. This targeted maintenance approach reduces unnecessary wear and tear, further extending asset longevity.

Que: Could you share insights on Bentley’s collaboration with key Indian utility companies and government projects?

Ans: Bentley Systems is proud to collaborate with some of the most influential utility companies in India, including State-Owned Transmission Companies, Central Government Public Sector Undertakings, and leading Private Sector EPCs. These partnerships are crucial in supporting India’s ambitious infrastructure and energy initiatives.

We are actively contributing to key government initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti, the National Smart Grid Mission, and the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme. These programs aim to modernise India's energy infrastructure, improve grid reliability, and ensure sustainable energy delivery. Additionally, Bentley is supporting various renewable energy projects, facilitating the seamless integration of solar and wind energy into the national grid.

Bentley’s cutting-edge solutions, including AssetWise, OpenUtilities, and PLS-CADD, are being used by these organisations to drive digital transformation across the transmission and distribution sectors. By leveraging these technologies, Indian utility companies are enhancing operational efficiency, improving asset management, and ensuring more reliable energy delivery to meet the country’s growing demand.

Our collaborative efforts are playing a vital role in the modernisation of India’s grid and are helping to build a future where energy is more accessible, reliable, and sustainable for all.

Que: The demand for smart grids and grid resilience grows, what new trends do you foresee in the electric utilities sector in India and South Asia?

Ans: As the demand for smart grids and grid resilience grows, several key trends are emerging in the electric utilities sector in India and South Asia.

Smart grid technology adoption is rapidly increasing, allowing utilities to integrate advanced communication and control systems for real-time electricity distribution monitoring. This enhances efficiency, reduces transmission losses, and stabilises the grid. Smart meters provide critical real-time energy usage data, enabling dynamic pricing and minimising billing errors. Demand response programs incentivise users to adjust consumption during peak times.

There is also a growing emphasis on integrating renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. Utilities are investing in grid infrastructure to accommodate these intermittent sources while maintaining stability, with battery energy storage systems becoming essential for balancing supply and demand. Hybrid renewable systems combining solar, wind, and battery storage are gaining traction, especially in areas with unreliable access.

Grid resilience is increasingly prioritised due to climate change, leading utilities to invest in technologies that enhance the grid's ability to withstand extreme weather. Localised microgrids can operate independently, providing backup during outages, while smart grids with automation enable quicker fault detection and power restoration.

Decentralisation of power generation is on the rise, focusing on rooftop solar, small-scale wind farms, and distributed energy resources. This shift reduces reliance on centralised plants, allowing consumers to produce energy and introducing challenges in grid management. Innovations like peer-to-peer energy trading and virtual power plants are emerging to optimise energy production and balance the grid.

Data-driven decision-making is becoming integral as utilities leverage big data and AI to optimise grid management, predict energy demand, detect faults, and improve renewable integration. The rise of electric vehicles is creating new demands on the grid, prompting investments in charging infrastructure and upgrades.