ETAP Announces ETAP 2026 – Powering Continuous Energy Intelligence

ETAP 2026 enables the move from static, point-in-time analysis to a living, continuously updated power system model.

Irvine, California – May 20, 2026 - ETAP®, a global leader in electrical digital twin solutions, today announced the release of ETAP 2026, a transformative platform engineered to address the accelerating complexity of modern power systems and enable continuous energy intelligence across the full electrical lifecycle.

A physics-based electrical digital twin is a living virtual model of an electrical power system that uses verified engineering data and the laws of electrical physics to predict how the system will perform in real-world conditions, helping teams test decisions before they affect physical infrastructure. As global electrification intensifies, power systems are undergoing a fundamental shift - becoming more dynamic, distributed, and interconnected than ever before. Rapid renewable adoption, the rise of gigawatt-scale data centers, electrified transportation, and the expansion of battery energy storage systems are redefining how electrical infrastructure must be designed, analyzed, and operated.

ETAP 2026 is purpose-built for this new reality.

More than a software release, ETAP 2026 represents a step-change toward an AI-augmented, physics-based electrical digital twin - enabling organizations to design, plan, operate, optimize, and automate power systems with unprecedented accuracy, speed, and confidence.

The most powerful tool an electrical engineer can have is a model that truly reflects reality - not a drawing, not a point-in-time study, but a living, intelligent, continuously updated representation of their power system from design through commissioning and daily operations. That is ETAP 2026: Continuous Energy Intelligence.” said Tanuj Khandelwal, Chief Executive Officer of ETAP.

Built for the mega trends shaping the energy landscape

ETAP 2026 directly addresses the most critical forces transforming the industry:

  • Energy Transition & Decarbonization – accelerating renewable integration while maintaining grid reliability
  • Electrification at Scale – supporting data centers, transportation, and industrial electrification
  • Grid Complexity & Decentralization – managing DERs, inverter-based resources, and dynamic system behavior
  • Workforce Transformation – augmenting engineering productivity amid skills shortages
  • Digitalization & Cybersecurity – enabling secure, connected, and data-driven operations

With more than 50 new capabilities and hundreds of enhancements, ETAP 2026 helps organizations move faster while reducing engineering, operational, and compliance risk. As large-scale energy infrastructure expands, utilities, data center operators, renewable developers, industrial facilities, and engineering consultants must make higher-stakes decisions across increasingly complex power systems. ETAP 2026 gives these teams a trusted, continuously updated digital foundation to evaluate scenarios earlier, validate designs with greater confidence, improve safety planning, prioritize maintenance based on system impact, and operate infrastructure closer to its true capacity. The result is faster project execution, better use of existing assets, fewer operational blind spots, and stronger resilience across the full electrical lifecycle - from planning and design to commissioning, compliance, and daily operations.

Nine pillars of innovation driving continuous energy intelligence

ETAP 2026 delivers major solutions advancing the future of intelligent power system management, by building on nine pillars of innovation:

  1. User Experience
  2. AI & Intelligence
  3. Cloud & Cybersecurity
  4. Safety & Protection
  5. Dynamics & Transients
  6. Renewables & Grid Compliance
  7. Asset Management & Maintenance
  8. Data Exchange & Interoperability
  9. Automation & Operations

These pillars converge into a unified platform powered by advanced technology and one of the industry’s most comprehensive engineering libraries - expanded in this release with over 23,000 validated equipment models, enabling engineering-grade, physics-based accuracy at scale.

ETAP 2026 Top Highlights: Innovation aligned to emerging market needs

Feeder Hosting Capacity

Identify system constraints in renewable energy hosting with precision analysis

As distributed energy resources rapidly proliferate, utilities face mounting pressure to accelerate interconnections without compromising reliability.

ETAP 2026 introduces an advanced, multi-constraint approach to Feeder Hosting Capacity. By simultaneously evaluating voltage, harmonics, fault levels, and protection limits, utilities can:

  • Unlock additional DER capacity with precision
  • Identify true feeder and system constraints
  • Optimize infrastructure investments
  • Improve feeder reliability, flexibility, and expansion planning

This directly supports utilities navigating aggressive decarbonization targets and regulatory expectations.

AI Auto-Complete & Electric AI Copilot

Scaling engineering productivity in a resource-constrained world

With increasing system complexity and an experienced workforce shortage, engineering efficiency has become mission critical. 

ETAP 2026 expands its AI capabilities with a private, high performance AI Copilot and embedded AI Auto-Complete - delivering context-aware assistance directly within the power system modeling environment. Engineers can use AI to:

  • Query system data using natural language
  • Automatically generate diagrams and reports
  • Receive intelligent design suggestions in real time

This is AI designed for critical infrastructure - private, trusted, and purpose-built for power systems engineering.

DC Arc Flash Transient Analysis

Advancing safety for high-growth segments like Data Centers and BESS

The rapid expansion of DC-based systems - particularly in data centers and battery energy storage - has introduced new safety challenges not addressed by traditional steady-state methods.

ETAP 2026 introduces physics-based transient DC Arc Flash analysis, enabling accurate modeling of fast-evolving fault behavior and protective device response. Organizations can:

  • Improve PPE accuracy and safety planning
  • Reduce overdesign and operational costs
  • Ensure compliance with evolving safety standards

This capability is critical for mission-critical infrastructure where safety, uptime, and regulatory compliance are non-negotiable.

Transmission Systems – Grid Compliance

Advancing transmission reliability, compliance, and system utilization in an increasingly constrained grid

As transmission networks operate under higher loading conditions and system operators face growing pressure to maximize existing infrastructure, accurate thermal analysis and standards compliance have become critical for reliable grid operation and planning.

ETAP 2026 expands transmission thermal limit analysis capabilities with enhanced support for industry standards and system-wide assessment methodologies - helping electronic transmission (ET) operators and planners evaluate transfer capability, identify limiting elements, and improve operational confidence. Electronic Transmission Planners can use ETAP to:

  • Optimize transmission utilization while maintaining reliability and operational margins
  • Support compliance with FERC Order 881 and Ambient Adjusted Ratings (AAR) requirements
  • Apply IEEE 738, IEEE 605 and C57.91 thermal methodologies
  • Evaluate thermal limits across complete transmission paths and contingencies

A platform designed for the energy systems of tomorrow

By combining AI, advanced simulation, and a unified electrical digital twin, ETAP 2026 enables organizations to move from static, point-in-time analysis to a living, continuously updated model of their power system - from design through daily operations.

ETAP 2026 Commercial Release is now available. For more information, visit https://etap.com/product-releases/etap-2026-release.

 

About ETAP

Built on 40 years of expertise, ETAP is a global leader in digital twin solutions for electrical and power systems, from design and engineering to operations and maintenance. Through its integrated electrical digital twin platform, ETAP delivers continuous energy intelligence through cloud-leveraging technologies, ensuring universal accessibility for designers, engineers, and operators, accelerating their digital energy transformation - even in the highest regulated environments.

Trusted by engineers, over 20,000 enterprises globally rely on ETAP to unlock total efficiency and sustainability at all stages of the lifecycle for infrastructure, building, industry, and utilities. Driven by excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, the deep expertise at ETAP is supported by the dedication of more than 1,000 employees and a strong community of active users. ETAP is headquartered in Irvine, California, with regional operations around the globe to support our local customers.

For further information:

(949) 900-1000

pr@etap.com

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