How flexibility management software can help utilities to increase grid capacity

Fergal Burke, Chief Revenue Officer at Siemens Grid Software, unpacks why digital twins, modular software suites like Grid Scale X, and AI-driven autonomy are becoming central to how utilities will expand and modernise their grids over the next decade.

He notes that because of the surging global customer demand from EVs, solar, industrial loads, and AI data centers, utilities must double grid capacity in the next decade, effectively rebuilding in 10 years what took the last 100.

In addition to these three challenges, what he sees as both a challenge and enabler is the grid model, which where the digital twin has its perfect fit.

"You need good data to be able to solve those three challenges. Without that data, you can't solve them. So, we believe that the grid model is a challenge, but it's also an enabler, and by using digital twin technology, you can solve the three main challenges."

Grid Scale X software suite

Siemens positions its Grid Scale X software suite as a key enabler for this transition, providing critical visibility into the grid and actionable insights for planning, maintenance, and operations. 

They are built to be open, interoperable, and modular, supporting utilities in moving away from monolithic legacy systems and tackling their most urgent challenges step by step. 

The role of AI and the digital twin 

Underpinning this is the concept of a high‑fidelity digital twin, which turns accurate grid data into a strategic asset, and the emergence of autonomous and AI‑driven grid technologies that help operators make faster decisions, boost productivity, and ultimately accelerate the energy transition.

Watch the full interview to learn more on this topic. 

More interesting insights: ‘The energy transition is and always will be a team sport’ says Siemens’ Puneet Singh

**This interview was filmed in November 2025 at Enlit Europe in Bilbao, Spain.