Hitachi energy integrates 150 GW of HVDC, drives clean energy transition

Hitachi Energy’s significant achievements in HVDC integration and global expansion support a sustainable, electrified energy future.

Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader committed to advancing a sustainable energy future, announced that it has successfully facilitated the integration of over 150 gigawatts (GW) of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) links into power systems worldwide. This capacity is sufficient to meet Japan’s peak power demand. This announcement comes on the heels of the historic delivery of the first power from Dogger Bank, the world’s largest offshore wind development, utilizing HVDC technology on a wind farm for the first time in the UK.

To keep pace with the increasing demand spurred by the clean energy transition, the company has consistently expanded its capacity. Since embarking on its strategic investment journey in 2020, Hitachi Energy has grown its workforce by over 8,000. Over the same period, the company has allocated $3 billion towards expanding its manufacturing and engineering footprint, as well as investing in Research & Development (R&D). This expansion has strengthened collaboration and positioned the company as a strategic partner throughout its customers’ entire life cycle.

“Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system and will help to drive the clean energy transition. Today’s announcement shows how we are enabling our customers to accelerate the development of the power grids that energy system requires,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy.

The ongoing investments align with both the Hitachi Energy 2030 Plan and Hitachi’s Mid-term Management Plan 2024.

Investments are being made in the three primary focus areas outlined in the Hitachi Energy 2030 Plan:

Continuously Strengthening the Power Grid Core Business:

The company has made substantial investments in expanding capacity and increasing its workforce globally in regions such as Europe, the Middle East and Africa, North and South America, and the Asia Pacific. Examples from this year alone include the establishment of a power quality factory and a global technology and innovation center in India, as well as a transformer factory in China. Additionally, investments have been recently made in Sweden, Switzerland, and the US.

Investments in Research & Development (R&D):

Under this category, the company is focusing on sustainable solutions. EconiQ™, which contains no sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), has been developed to significantly reduce the carbon footprint throughout its entire life cycle. Next-generation power semiconductors like RoadPak for e-Mobility, as well as digital technologies like Lumada Asset Performance Management and IdentiQ™ for HVDC and power quality, are part of these R&D efforts.

Doubling Efforts on Digital and Services and Expansion at the Edge of the Energy System:

In this aspect, the company is emphasizing digitalisation and services. The new generation of Lumada Asset Performance Management software solution incorporates the advantages of Artificial Intelligence. Furthermore, the company has acquired a majority stake in eks Energy, a power conversion technology provider, to enhance storage and flexibility at the edge of the energy system.

Innovation, Synergies, Partnerships, and M&A to Accelerate Growth:

Increased collaborations have led to the development of new business models, framework agreements for capacity reservation, and global standards that enable better planning to meet growing demands. Some notable projects facilitated by the company’s technologies include the Champlain Hudson Power Express, TenneT’s 2GW Program, and Project Lightning, a groundbreaking subsea power transmission project.

According to the IEA report titled “Electricity Grids and Secure Energy Transitions,” grid investment needs to nearly double by 2030 to over $600 billion per year after a period of stagnation at the global level. Building out grids requires a secure supply chain and a skilled workforce.

The rapid electrification of transport, buildings, and industries is driving the demand for secure, sustainable, and flexible electricity worldwide. The company is committed to continually strengthening its business in line with the forecast for the 2050 energy system, where it envisions a fourfold increase in installed global power generation capacity compared to today and a threefold increase in the transfer of electrical energy.

Marco Facchin, in reference to the journey with Hitachi since July 2020, expressed, “We have been able to accelerate our growth and expansion, leveraging synergies across the Hitachi Group. With more than a century of energy expertise, combined with digitalization as an enabler, we can scale at pace and provide innovative services and solutions to our customers. As Hitachi, we have a unique position across IT, OT, and product capabilities to support our customers throughout the entire lifecycle.”