ETAP Excellence Awards Interview
Sponsored by Future Power Technology
Power Technology Excellence Awards 2024: ETAP
ETAP is headquartered in the USA and is a Triple Category Award Winner in the 2024 Power Technology Excellence Awards

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Future Power Technology: Congratulations on ETAP's recent accolades at the 2024 Power Technology Excellence Awards. How do these awards reflect the company's core values and mission?
Tanuj Khandelwal: ETAP plays a significant role in advancing solar expansion and sustainability through its innovative software solutions, commitment to industry leadership, and active participation in real-world projects. By providing engineers and other professionals with the tools and knowledge they need to design, analyze, and operate sustainable energy systems, ETAP is making a valuable contribution to a cleaner and more sustainable future

Tanuj Khandelwal, CEO of ETAP.
Future Power Technology: ETAP has been recognized for its contributions to environmental sustainability, particularly in solar expansion. Can you elaborate on the strategic initiatives that have driven this success?
Tanuj Khandelwal: This award highlights the commitment to bringing the best user experience with the highest quality standards in software solutions that enable our customers to achieve their sustainability goals, by designing with precision, building with efficiency and operating with confidence.
Future Power Technology: The Caneco Electrical PV module has been pivotal in your innovation award. What inspired its development, and how do you see it transforming the photovoltaic and EV infrastructure landscape?
Tanuj Khandelwal: Caneco Electrical PV module was developed in response to the growing demand for solar energy and the need for specialized software to design and analyze photovoltaic (PV) systems. We recognized that there was a critical lack of efficient and accurate tools to design and size PV systems, most especially one which addresses the compliance checks with relevant safety standards and regulations. With Caneco Electrical PV Module, engineers and designers are now able to meet the demand for solar expansion projects, and this has a positive impact for the communities and regions active in energy transition initiatives.

Future Power Technology: Research and development are at the heart of ETAP's operations, with 40% of your workforce dedicated to R&D. How does this focus on R&D influence your product development and market positioning?
Tanuj Khandelwal: It’s no question that ETAP’s commitment to fostering innovation and driving product development over 38 years has positioned the company as a leader in the electrical digital twin space. But that’s only part of the story. The focus on continuous improvement, hand-in-hand with its customers, fuels the ongoing product refinement and expansion to meet new demands and develop new technologies.
Future Power Technology: ETAP's role in supporting France's Renewable Energy Acceleration law is commendable. How do you plan to leverage this experience as you expand into other European markets like Spain and Germany?
Tanuj Khandelwal: We make strategic decisions to move into markets where there is a critical need for design optimization and compliance with relevant safety standards and regulations. Each region has a unique set of compliance requirements, and by working with key clients in new regions while leveraging our established expertise in France, we can ensure that our solutions are timely and responsive to each unique application requirement.
Future Power Technology: The Early Adopter program seems to be a key component of your innovation strategy. How has this collaborative approach with customers shaped the development of your software solutions?
Tanuj Khandelwal: We’re 100% engaged with the collaborative approach with customers through the Early Adopters Program, because we recognize its value in contributing to innovation. Our customers provide invaluable insights and feedback that significantly enhances the quality, and usability of our software solutions, leading to greater customer satisfaction and long-term success.

Future Power Technology: With the upcoming features like Selectivity and Coordination and Battery Storage, how does ETAP ensure that its solutions remain ahead of industry trends and challenges?
Tanuj Khandelwal: ETAP solutions remain ahead of industry trends through our continual investment in new technologies, through remaining engaged with the success of our customers beyond the Early Adopter Program, staying active with research organizations, to identify emerging trends and anticipate future needs.

The increasing complexity of modern power systems, with the need for robust protection schemes to ensure system reliability and safety, drive our software development. As well, we’re focused on solutions that support the integration of battery storage systems, a crucial factor for grid stability, renewable energy integration, and demand response.
Future Power Technology: ETAP's digital twin platform is a cornerstone of your offerings. How does this technology enhance the efficiency and reliability of electrical systems across different stages of their lifecycle?
Tanuj Khandelwal: By leveraging the power of digital twin technology, ETAP enables organizations to optimize their electrical systems throughout their lifecycle, improve efficiency, enhance reliability, and achieve significant cost savings. ETAP digital twin enables the simulation and optimization of their electrical systems, ensuring safety, reducing waste, and minimizing the environmental impact of operations. The ETAP Digital Twin also enable predictive simulation, identifying potential issues before they cause significant energy losses or equipment failures, thus extending the life of infrastructure.
Future Power Technology: As a leader in electrical design innovation, what are the biggest challenges ETAP faces in maintaining its competitive edge, and how do you plan to address them?
Tanuj Khandelwal: The energy sector is undergoing rapid technological advancements, such as the rise of renewables, electrification of transportation, and the increasing complexity of power systems. ETAP stays ahead by adapting its software solution to incorporate advancements and provide solutions for the evolving needs of its customers. For example, we’ve incorporated Artificial Intelligence into ETAP, to assist engineers by speeding up their analysis process and automating calculations, enabling faster design iterations and shorter project timelines.
Future Power Technology: Customer feedback plays a crucial role in your R&D process. Can you share some insights into how this feedback has led to tangible improvements in your software solutions?
Tanuj Khandelwal: We find that customer feedback is essential for creating highly usable software that is not only functional but also user-friendly, effective, and successful in the market. It helps to identify unique needs that could otherwise have been overlooked. Additionally, customers help us to prioritize development efforts by identifying the features that are most valuable to users. This feedback enables us to adapt rapidly to new demands and improve the software's versatility and quality.
Future Power Technology: Looking ahead, what are ETAP's strategic priorities for the next five years, particularly in terms of sustainability and digital transformation in the power industry?
Tanuj Khandelwal: To support the ever-expanding demand for energy, ETAP’s commitment to sustainability remains our highest priority, driving digital transformations, promoting grid modernization, and meeting customers where there is a need for innovation and efficiency. By focusing on these priorities, ETAP will continue to lead in the evolving energy landscape and provide valuable solutions for the electrical industry.
Future Power Technology: Finally, how does ETAP plan to continue fostering a culture of excellence and innovation among its employees to sustain its leadership in the power industry?
Tanuj Khandelwal: Our people are deeply committed to individual growth and improvement, and we see the value in this effort and in how it benefits our customers. We build long-term relationships with customers based on trust, collaboration, and mutual benefit. We are a community of continuous learners and innovators, embracing new digital technologies such as AI, machine learning, and data analytics to improve our efficiency, enhance decision-making to produce top software solutions and offer specialized services. By implementing these strategies, we have cultivated a culture that drives growth, enhances competitiveness, and ensures our long-term success in the electrical power industry.