Powering the Future: Hitachi Energy’s Sustainable Grid Vision
December 18, 2024
In an effort to meet growing energy demands while reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Hitachi Energy, a global technology company, is driving several transformative projects across the U.S. and beyond. These initiatives have a primary focus on supporting the shift away from fossil fuels toward clean, sustainably generated electricity.
At the upcoming UNC 2025 Cleantech Summit, Anthony Allard, Executive Vice President and Head of North America at Hitachi Energy, will provide insights into the advancing opportunities in renewable energy development.
I had the privilege of speaking with Kurt Steinert, Head of External Communications at Hitachi Energy, about a few of their current projects.
Advancing Grid Technology
Hitachi Energy specializes in creating the infrastructure required to transport large-scale electrical power from generation sources to consumption centers, including transformers, substations, and digital systems. One of their flagship projects is Champlain Hudson Power Express, a high-voltage direct current transmission system designed to deliver hydropower from Quebec, Canada to New York City.
By using the HVDC technology, Champlain Hudson Power Express will transfer up to 1,250 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1 million homes. The project will span over 370 miles underground and underwater, which makes this a compact and sustainable solution to energy transmission. This initiative is also a cornerstone of New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 3.9 million metric tons annually which is equivalent to removing 44 percent of passenger vehicles from NYC.
The SunZia Transmission Project, an initiative developed by Pattern Energy, plans to connect the 3,500-megawatt SunZia Wind farm in New Mexico to the power grid in Arizona and Southern California. Hitachi Energy, the primary technology supplier for the project, is expected to help transmit up to 3,000 MW of clean energy over 550 miles, enough to power 3 million homes.
Electric Vehicle Advancements
Additionally, Hitachi Energy is launching efforts to electrify transportation by developing a centralized truck charging system. In March, the company announced a partnership with Penske Truck Leasing to provide its Grid-eMotion Fleet EV charging system at Penske’s depot in California. Grid-eMotion Fleet is Hitachi Energy’s product, designed to deliver scalable fast-charging solutions while reducing space and cabling requirements to address the growing demand of vehicle fleets, including trucks, vans, and buses.
Leadership and Vision
Prior to joining Hitachi Energy, Anthony Allard served as Chief Operating Officer of Berkeley Energy Commercial Industrial Solutions, a leading electric provider distributing sustainable energy in Singapore, and held executive roles at GE and Alstrom in the U.S.
Allard holds an MBA from Yale University and a Masters in Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications from the Institut Polytechnique de Grenoble, France.
Hitachi Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, is rapidly expanding with a goal to double its workforce in the coming years.
The UNC Cleantech Summit provides a platform for stakeholders across sectors to discuss the future of the clean energy economy that includes renewable energy, biotech, AI and data science, power grid technology, EV development, and more. Hitachi Energy’s participation at the conference will highlight the importance of scalable energy solutions, upcoming projects, and the anticipated growth in the renewable energy industry.
I look forward to hearing Allard’s perspective on these initiatives and learning more about Hitachi Energy’s innovative projects at the upcoming UNC Cleantech Summit on March 24-25, 2025.
This article was written by Makenzie Mills, an IE Cleantech Corner intern.