Elia Selects SBS Substation Design Suite to Advance High Voltage Infrastructure

Open, integrated design platform enables new collaboration between substation and transmission engineering teams 

SBS, a leader in intelligent infrastructure design software, today announced that Elia, the transmission system operator serving Belgium, has selected SBS Substation Design Suite (SDS) – Physical to support the creation and maintenance of high voltage substations and enable coordinated design workflows with its transmission engineering teams. 

Following a competitive evaluation process, Elia selected SBS based on the openness of the platform and its ability to support collaborative workflows across engineering disciplines that have traditionally operated in separate systems. 

A key factor in the decision was SBS’s ability to provide a unified physical design environment for detailed substation modeling while enabling alignment with high voltage linear asset teams.

“In evaluating our future design environment, we were looking beyond discipline-specific tools,” said Tom Pietercil, Head of Grid Expertise & Standards, Elia. “SDS gives us a robust 3D modeling foundation for our substations while enabling closer collaboration with our transmission teams. The openness of the platform allows us to integrate within our broader engineering ecosystem and work more efficiently across project types.” 

In addition to detailed substation modeling, Elia will leverage the platform to support coordinated workflows with its transmission teams, including modeling structural framing elements at the tops of transmission towers. This approach enables both groups to work within a consistent physical design framework rather than separate environments.

“This selection reflects how leading transmission operators are modernizing their engineering environments,” said Al Eliasen, CEO, SBS. “Elia recognized that physical substation design does not exist in isolation. An open, collaborative platform creates opportunities for cross-team alignment that were previously difficult to achieve.” 

The deployment will support both new construction and asset maintenance programs across Elia’s high voltage network in Belgium.