Members Area

28. Building Information Modeling

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Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a digital form of construction and asset operations. It brings
together technology, process improvements and digital information to radically improve client and project outcomes and asset operations. BIM is a strategic enabler for improving decision making for both buildings and public infrastructure assets across the whole lifecycle. It applies to new build projects; and crucially, BIM supports the renovation, refurbishment and maintenance of the built environment – the largest share of the sector. In the context of energy infrastructure, BIM offers substantial value to electricity transmission and distribution networks. By enabling better planning, visualization, and data integration throughout the asset lifecycle, BIM supports grid operators in managing complex infrastructures, improving reliability, and optimizing maintenance and investment decisions. For transmission and distribution system operators, BIM contributes to a more resilient, efficient, and digitally integrated grid — essential for meeting the evolving demands of the energy transition.

Highlights

The European Commission estimates that €584 billion will be needed by 2030 to upgrade EU electricity grids (EC, 2023). Digital solutions like BIM and digital twins are key to this transformation, enabling smarter planning and maintenance. According to the IEA, such tools can reduce maintenance costs by 10–15% and improve system reliability (IEA, 2022). The ENTSO-E & EU DSO Entity joint report (2024) highlights that deploying digital asset models will be critical for integrating distributed energy resources (DER) and ensuring grid stability as electrification and decentralization progress.

Challenges for DSOs

BIM offers great potential for improving planning, construction and asset management for electricity distribution. For DSOs, it offers clear benefits but also requires addressing key challenges.

  • Tool and data interoperability.
  • Integration with legacy systems.
  • Upfront investment and training needs.
  • Resistance to organisational change.
  • Cybersecurity and data governance.

Opportunities for DSOs

  • Better collaboration in project design and planning.
  • Early detection of technical constraints.
  • Improved asset data (3D models, digital records).
  • Enabler for digital twins and smarter maintenance.

E.DSO Considerations

  • Strategic Value for Grid Digitalisation: BIM supports the digital transformation of DSOs by improving asset planning, construction, and maintenance. It aligns with EU goals for smarter, more resilient grids.
  • Enhanced Collaboration with External Stakeholders: BIM facilitates data exchange with
  • municipalities, telecoms, and other infrastructure developers, improving coordination on projects impacting the grid.
  • Need for Common Standards: Promoting European-wide BIM standards and interoperability (aligned with CEN/CENELEC) is essential to ensure consistency across DSOs and member states.
  • Enabler for Digital Twins: BIM can serve as a foundation for digital twins, enabling real-time simulation, monitoring, and smarter asset management.
  • Implementation Challenges: Includes high initial investment, training needs, integration with legacy systems, and cybersecurity risks.

Potential Use Cases

  1. Asset Management: Centralize and update detailed information about all network components for better maintenance planning and asset lifecycle management.
  2. Network Planning and Design: Use 3D models to detect design clashes early, improve accuracy, and optimize resource allocation before construction.
  3. Real-time Monitoring and Simulation: Integrate BIM with sensor data to simulate network behavior, detect faults, and optimize load management dynamically.
  4. Outage Management: Visualize faults and network status to speed up diagnosis, crew deployment, and outage restoration.
  5. Safety and Risk Assessment: Simulate hazardous scenarios and plan safe work procedures to
    protect crews and infrastructure.
  6. Regulatory Compliance and Reporting: Automate generation of reports and documentation for
    regulatory authorities with up-to-date network data.
  7. Integration of Distributed Energy Resources: Model the impact of renewables, storage, and EVs on the network to support flexibility and stability.
  8. Stakeholder Collaboration: Share BIM models among DSOs, contractors, and regulators to improve communication and coordination.
  9. Training and Development: Use BIM-based virtual environments to train staff in realistic operational and emergency scenarios.

Last update: 30 September 2025