Schneider Electric has completed its takeover of California-based Operation Technology, also known as Etap, to spearhead smart and green electrification.

Schneider announced in November last year its plan to purchase a controlling stake in Etap, which will be consolidated within its energy management business.

Etap is an energy management and engineering company specialising in modelling, simulation, design, planning, monitoring, control, operator training, optimisation and automation of power systems. Its integrated digital-twin platform offers a suite for use by enterprises.

Etap has been around for over 35 years, providing products used by more than 10,000 companies ranging from generation, transmission, distribution, industrial, transportation and data centres to low-voltage power systems.

The Etap investment completes Schneider’s existing software portfolio for electricity power systems. Its technology will be integrated in Schneider’s cloud-based platform for the design and operation of mission-critical power systems using vendor-agnostic software-driven modelling, design, real-time predictive simulation and operation. This will help deliver end-to-end lifecycle digitalisation and bring enhanced efficiency, sustainability and resiliency to a broader audience and customer base.

Users across critical process and hybrid industries, power plants and grids, data centres, railways, and airports could benefit from enhanced modelling, design and predictive maintenance capabilities, supporting better integration of renewables, microgrids, fuel cells and battery storage technology.

By 2040, the world of electricity will be profoundly different: the share of electricity in everything will double, reaching at least 40 per cent of final energy consumption; and six times more electricity will be generated from solar and wind. Electrical distribution systems must digitise to support the energy transition. The combination will help improve power system performance from modelling, to design, to operations to drive improved grid asset performance, saving up to 20 per cent in total capital expenditure.

By digitally streamlining complex mission-critical systems, the joint Schneider Electric and Etap offering should improve the power system production process through standardised vendor-agnostic and application-specific design templates, digital twin-enabled data models, and product libraries.

They also aim to protect operational staff and equipment from arc flash, overvoltage and overheating, and improve system uptime, anticipate failures and protect critical loads through preventative and predictive maintenance. Finally, the merger should facilitate the addition of renewables, microgrids, fuel cells and battery storage technologies.

“We are delighted to welcome the Etap team on board,” said Jean-Pascal Tricoire, CEO of Schneider Electric. “We share a passion for the digitalisation of electrical design and the streamlining of every stage in the electrical installation life cycle, from design and build, to operate and maintain. Both of our companies are preparing for a world that will be smart and green, by becoming increasingly digital and electric. By joining forces with Etap, we are entering a new chapter of advanced electrical distribution, with more digitalisation on a global scale, and new tools to empower our customers and partners to make informed decisions and reach new levels of efficiency and sustainability.”

The integration of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure power design platform and Etap’s electrical software design should extend their reach across multi-vendor operating platforms to millions of connected assets across energy-intensive and mission critical power systems applications.

Following Schneider’s recent investment in IGE+XAO and Alpi, this further enhances its digital twin and software capabilities in power, grid and mission-critical sectors, driving sustainability, efficiency and resiliency.

Etap will continue to operate as an agnostic, independent software vendor, while its products should strengthen Schneider’s position as a player in electrical design, operations and maintenance.

“We are extremely pleased to join Schneider Electric, a trusted and respected global company,” said Farrokh Shokooh, CEO of Etap. “We are energised by the synergies that will bring the technologies and expertise of Etap and Schneider together to serve our customers. Now, Etap is even better positioned to offer an intelligent electrical digital twin platform with integrations to support our customers across multiple industries in accelerating productivity and increasing efficiency for planning, automation, operation, optimisation and management of their power systems.”