As we approached the end of the AVEVA 2025 event, I had the pleasure of interviewing Phanney Kim Brevard, the Chief Strategy Officer of ETAP, a technology leader specializing in software solutions for the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of electrical power systems.
Through digital twin technology, ETAP empowers operators and energy stakeholders to manage energy systems confidently by simulating various scenarios. Phanney discussed the critical role of ETAP’s software in the nuclear energy sector, emphasizing its importance for the safe operation and management of power plants:
“We support a wide range of industries, with most U.S. nuclear power plants relying on our technology to model, design, and simulate their electrical networks before operation. Through digital twin technology, we enable operators to confidently manage power systems by simulating different scenarios and variables, even testing changes without impacting actual operations,” explained Phanney.
Focusing on power rather than just processes, ETAP’s digital twin software can effectively simulate and map energy consumption across plants or refineries, demonstrating how specific changes may affect power loads, energy flows, and intake—ultimately ensuring optimal efficiency and safety. According to Phanney, there is increasing demand from energy operators to understand the safety of their operations and the need for software training, such as digital twins, for risk mitigation:
“Operations teams may not always have electrical engineers, but they need to understand how to run their plants and react safely to energy changes. The key is situational awareness—recognizing when something is wrong and understanding the context. Our partnership with Aveva plays a crucial role in bridging the gap and training teams to handle these scenarios.”
These challenges are becoming more common as utilities face rising demands and new energy sources introduce additional obstacles for energy providers. However, one thing is clear: modernization must occur without disrupting existing processes and workflows to fully reap the rewards of further digitization:
“Modernization must happen without disrupting what already works. There’s little room for error in power management, but current challenges also open doors for co-opetition and new partnerships. The future lies in building mutual trust and collaboration between utilities and energy suppliers to ensure a stable, adaptable grid,” Phanney remarked.
In March 2024, ETAP unveiled the world’s first digital twin that simulates factory power requirements from grid to chip in partnership with NVIDIA, utilizing its Omniverse platform as part of a broader effort to modernize existing systems. Phanney shared his excitement about this development and its potential impact on the power usage of large AI-driven factories:
“NVIDIA’s Omniverse is making significant strides in modeling the electrical demands of large AI data factories, not just data centers. These facilities, which are fundamentally based on AI technology, change energy loads and requirements, affecting what utility companies can provide. We’re witnessing exciting progress in this area.”
As we wrapped up our conversation, we touched on the use of industrial AI within ETAP’s services. Phanney emphasized that the company aims to continue training operators on how to use its AI-driven tools, such as the newly released ETAP AI learning module, enabling them to navigate the decision-support model more effectively and understand the implications of their choices from a power perspective.
As I left the conversation, I was energized by Phanney’s enthusiasm and passion for ETAP as a catalyst for digitization within the power industry. By collaborating with partners like NVIDIA, ETAP aims to enhance factory safety, efficiency, and sustainability in alignment with emission reduction targets in the fight against climate change. ETAP’s solutions will play a crucial role in realizing this mission with a wide scope of impact.
