CIGRE event brings together people, technology, and pioneering spirit in the drive towards a carbon-neutral future

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) and Hitachi Energy are proud to share a preview of the advanced technologies and experiences at CIGRE Session 2022, a major global event for power systems, taking place in Paris from August 28 to September 2, 2022. A major theme is the shared commitment to powering good with social innovation and advancing a sustainable energy future for all.

In a global effort to transition towards a sustainable energy system, Hitachi is working very closely with its customers and partners to develop the necessary solutions to accelerate this transition. In an important landmark, both Hitachi, Ltd. and Hitachi Energy will exhibit together at this live event for the first time (Booth S232). During the conference, the combined experts will share more than 50 papers across the energy sector’s most critical topics.

The company will be launching and showcasing new innovations for sustainability and enhanced digital capabilities:

• EconiQ™, eco-efficient portfolio which is proven to deliver an exceptional environmental performance compared to conventional solutions. It will be expanding its extensive EconiQ high-voltage portfolio that eliminates sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). The EconiQ range also includes transformers that are eco-efficient by design, optimized to address sustainability contributing to decarbonization, enhancing safety, protecting surrounding ecosystems and responsible use of resources.  Through EconiQ services, environmental impact and carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle are significantly reduced.
• Grid-eXpandTM is a new comprehensive range of modular prefabricated air-insulated and gas-insulated grid connection solutions. They are engineered, assembled, and factory-tested before delivery, ready for fast and easy energization on-site, hence reducing greatly the installation time and accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy system.
• IdentiQ™ digital twin solutions for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) and power quality portfolio enable cross-team digital collaboration to accelerate project execution and minimize project risks. IdentiQ™ also provides relevant asset information, analytics, and operational data in an intuitive and easy-to-navigate dashboard, which users can customize to match their needs.
• Lumada Inspection Insights, the end-to-end portfolio of digital solutions for the inspection, monitoring and optimization of critical assets. Pioneered by Hitachi Energy and Hitachi Vantara, Lumada Inspection Insights enables the automation of asset inspection, supports sustainability goals, improves physical security, and reduces risks.
• OceaniQ™, company’s innovative portfolio that addresses the unique challenges of the offshore environment for reducing costs, increasing safety and improving efficiency.

“Today we are seeing an increased urgency to strengthen, expand and evolve the power grid, and we are delivering on our future grid promises and supporting the acceleration of the energy transition,” said Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy. “We are pushing the boundaries with innovative technology and new business models, collaborating with customers and partners to advance a sustainable energy future for all,” he added.

Together, these technologies validate the momentum behind Hitachi Energy’s commitment to deliver real customer outcomes and enable a more sustainable, flexible, and secure energy system. In our latest thought leadership journal “Perspectives”, we are commonly sharing our views together with customers like SSE and with industry associations like WindEurope, and these perspectives are living proof of our pioneering spirit, enabling us to bring visions and plans, such as an offshore European grid, to reality. Both Hitachi and Hitachi Energy are recognized as pioneering technology leaders with some of the industry’s most advanced clean energy and digital solutions that can be offered through the combination of IT and operational technology.

In accordance with the agreement signed on December 17, 2018, Hitachi Ltd. and ABB Ltd. have announced the completion of all required procedures as planned, and the formation of Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd. Hitachi has an 80.1 percent stake in this new joint venture entity (which has business volumes of approximately 10 billion USD) and ABB holds the balance.

Toshikazu Nishino, Executive Vice President of Hitachi, is the Chairman of the new entity and Claudio Facchin the CEO. The new entity is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland and the current management team will ensure business continuity.

“Hitachi’s leading digital technologies merged with world-class power grid solutions will help us to play an active role in the global transformation and decarbonization of energy systems for a sustainable energy future. Intelligent solutions for a more dynamic grid will also contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 of ‘affordable, reliable and clean energy’, said Toshikazu Nishino.

The joint venture brings together two highly respected companies to create a new global power leader. The alliance with Hitachi will facilitate expansion opportunities for the new entity in areas such as mobility, smart cities, industry, energy storage and data centers, besides providing financial muscle to support ambitious projects and enabling access to Japan, the third largest economy in the world.

“Synergies and access to new and growing markets provided by Hitachi, will help take Power Grids to the next stage of its development, further strengthening its leading position”, said Timo Ihamuotila, CFO of ABB and Director of the Board of Hitachi ABB Power Grids. “Hitachi brings long-term commitment to the new entity and strengthens the existing business partnership between our companies”, he added.

“Combining our respective technology strengths will bring us new market opportunities and enable us to deliver greater customer value”, said Claudio Facchin, CEO, Hitachi ABB Power Grids. “We remain committed to powering good for a sustainable energy future, with pioneering and digital technologies, as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”