envelio is expanding its Intelligent Grid Platform with the Strategic Grid Planner, a software application designed to support long-term, load-flow-based distribution system planning.
The tool is intended to help utilities plan for future electric vehicle (EV) charging demand, including increased peak loads, clustering effects, and long-term infrastructure investment driven by EV adoption. It aims to support utilities in evaluating grid development options for future target years such as 2030, 2035, and 2045.
Strategic Grid Planner enables utilities to generate and compare system plans by evaluating large numbers of technically feasible and economically optimized alternatives across defined planning horizons. The software uses automated optimization, simulation and network modeling to coordinate planning decisions across multiple years and assess cost and performance tradeoffs.
EV charging infrastructure, distributed energy resources, and changing load profiles are increasing pressure on traditional distribution planning methods. Utilities face complex investment decisions related to grid reinforcement, flexibility and expansion, including EV-driven peak demand growth. Strategic Grid Planner is intended to help utilities analyze these factors in a coordinated way and validate multi-year grid development strategies before committing capital.
The application complements envelio’s Intelligent Grid Platform by automatically generating grid expansion scenarios, comparing alternatives and estimating costs for different future conditions. It evaluates measures in sequence, prioritizing grid optimization and flexibility before reinforcement or expansion. The tool can also support cluster study analyses by enabling scenario-based evaluation of multiple interconnection requests, a process commonly used by US utilities.
At the core of Strategic Grid Planner is a self-learning algorithm that adapts based on results from prior planning scenarios. The system identifies patterns across successful grid measures and uses that information to refine future planning outcomes. Utilities can apply the algorithm across the full planning workflow or to specific steps and manually adjust proposed designs as needed.
While developed in Europe, the platform is positioned to support utilities in North America as they address growing demands from EVs, distributed generation, and energy storage.
Filed Under: Software, Technology News