How Bentley Systems’ Technology Is Shaping the Future of Electric Utilities

Amsterdam — a city renowned for its waterways and innovative engineering — played host to the 2025 Bentley Systems Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards, celebrating breakthroughs in digital infrastructure and collaboration.

The annual Going Digital Awards honor infrastructure projects that leverage Bentley Systems’ software to improve efficiency, sustainability, and collaboration. This year, nearly 250 projects from 47 countries were nominated across 12 categories. Winners were announced at Bentley’s YII conference, held October 15-16.

Electric Utilities Panel Highlights AI and Collaboration

A key feature of the conference was the Electric Utilities Panel, moderated by Brad Johnson, Director of Electric Utilities at Bentley Systems. Panelists included Stephanie Gossman, Planning & Policy General Manager for Transmission & Distribution at Georgia Power; Mark Tablante, Design Technology Director at Burns & McDonnell; and Savannah Altvater, Head of Distribution & Markets Facilitation at Eurelectric.

Panelists discussed how AI and digital tools are transforming the energy sector. Stephanie Gossman emphasized the importance of flexible design in storm response and consistent collaboration across teams. Savannah Altvater noted that AI enhances jobs rather than replacing people, presenting investment opportunities while cautioning that European AI policy should avoid over-burdensome regulations. Mark Tablante highlighted that smaller companies could achieve more with AI, though adapting can be challenging.

Looking ahead, panelists predicted increased investment in distributed energy resources (DERs) and growing demand for AI to improve data management and operator collaboration. Johnson stressed the need for “efficient use of AI, not just for AI’s sake.”

Going Digital Awards: Recognizing Cutting-Edge Projects

The 2025 Going Digital Award for Transmission & Distribution went to China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. for its application of GIS and BIM digital intelligence across the full lifecycle of China Southern Power Grid’s Guangxi Nanning 500kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project. The project leveraged Bentley technologies to reduce construction duration, minimize terrain disturbance, and save approximately $1.4 million in total investment, with annual O&M savings of around $280,000.

Finalists included:

• Mainstation Schiphol – Amsterdam Airport: This new 50kV and 10kV high-voltage station is part of a larger sustainability-focused masterplan for the airport. Bentley Synchro software enabled a 4D safety walk and early risk optimization, helping the project reduce construction time by four months and excavation time from 30 to 22 days. The team identified and mitigated 45 planning risks and 31 equipment collisions. Internal and external communications were optimized, avoiding financial risk of €100,000, while the 4D safety walk led to a 22% reduction in physical inspections and identification of 40 additional safety risks. “Bentley Synchro 4D Pro has enabled us to complete the project more safely and sustainably, quicker and cost-effectively, which contributes to our digital motto: Build it Before We Built it,” said the project team.
• 132kV Bunning Lake Substation, APD Global (Perth, Australia): This project improved regional energy reliability and supported public transport infrastructure. Bentley tools including MicroStation, OpenUtilities Substation, ProjectWise, iTwin Capture, Descartes, and LumenRT enabled seamless digital transformation. Precision 3D modeling and reality capture allowed stakeholders to virtually navigate the substation before construction, reducing design time by 15%, material waste by 1–2%, and carbon footprint by 10%. The collaborative approach addressed inefficiencies stemming from outdated design methods and allowed multiple teams to work together effectively in a unified digital environment.

• China Energy Engineering Group Guangxi Electric Power Design Institute Co., Ltd. (China): This project applied GIS and BIM digital intelligence across the full lifecycle of the Guangxi Nanning 500kV Power Transmission and Transformation Project. Bentley technologies including OpenBuildings, ProStructures, GeoStation, ElectricalDesigner, ProjectWise, Design Cloud Platform, SYNCHRO 4D, and Smart Insight Platform optimized planning, design, and construction. The team reduced cut height, fill height, and pile foundations, cutting the design cycle from six to four months and construction duration from 26 to 24 months. GIS OpenRoads supported site selection and earthwork calculation, while OpenBuildings and ProStructures enabled site leveling and steel structure modeling. The project ultimately saved $1.4 million in total investment, with annual operational savings of $280,000.

Brad Johnson on Technology and the Future of Utilities

In an interview, Johnson highlighted the significance of OpenUtility Substation Plus, a platform designed to streamline collaboration between engineers and other professionals on substation projects. “It helps reduce errors and rework while elevating job satisfaction,” he said, noting that AI assists with tedious tasks rather than replacing human judgment.

Johnson emphasized the transformative impact of Bentley technology in real-world projects, such as substation reliability improvements at Schiphol Airport, which enhanced energy delivery to critical transportation infrastructure. He also highlighted broader industry trends: accelerating adoption of technology, leveraging AI thoughtfully, and integrating human factors to overcome adoption barriers.

“AI isn’t going to replace the engineer; it’s going to replace the engineer who doesn’t use AI,” Johnson said. “We want to help people upskill and do better work without adding pressure.”

The 2025 Year in Infrastructure and Going Digital Awards showcased how AI, open data, and collaborative digital tools are reshaping the way infrastructure is planned, built, and operated. From Amsterdam Airport to China’s Guangxi Power Grid, Bentley Systems’ technology is enabling faster, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure projects, signaling a future where innovation and efficiency go hand in hand.

Take a look at the event media gallery