APC Media, the publishing company behind Transformer Technology, Power Systems Technology, and Women in Power Systems, proudly presents interviews with thought leaders from the industry we had the honor to meet at the CWIEME event in Berlin. Here we have Helmut Bockshammer, the Senior Vice President of Hitachi Energy Service and Head of Global Transformer Components and Services, sharing with us his expert insights on the current challenges in the industry and the CWIEME event.

1. Please tell us a bit about your company's history and experience in the industry and the products or services you offer.

Helmut Bockshammer: Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry, and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain.

We offer a comprehensive portfolio of products and solutions that includes transformers, high voltage switchgear, HVDC and power quality solutions, grid automation technologies, and software. Hitachi Energy’s Service business is a trusted lifecycle partner, providing a complete offering to support our customers’ operations throughout the whole asset lifecycle.

We have a strong heritage of developing and applying leading-edge grid technologies since the late 1800s. Today, Hitachi Energy, together with its customers and partners, pioneers technologies to accelerate the energy transition and enable the digital transformation required for a carbon-neutral future. With headquarters in Switzerland, we employ around 40,000 people in 90 countries and have an unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries.

During the recent holding of the CWIEME, we displayed our portfolio of transformer components, including our high voltage bushings, tap changers, insulation material, and accessories such as Buchholz relays. We also showcased our TXpert ecosystem that digitalizes every transformer, which also includes the newest addition to our portfolio, the TXpert™ HUB monitoring system, that enables digital services for our customers through our global service organization.

2. Are there any upcoming projects or partnerships that your company is working on that you are particularly excited about?

HB: We have many interesting projects and initiatives that are currently in the pipeline. Some worth mentioning include the various HVDC projects that we supported with our pioneering transformer technology, such as the SunZia Transmission Project, which will link New Mexico’s wind farms to Arizona’s grid. Hitachi Energy has already started work on the design and engineering of the two HVDC Light® converter stations, one at either end of the link. Hitachi Energy is also supplying its leading MACH (Modular Advanced Control for HVDC) digital control and protection platform. Overall, the system will enable the efficient transfer of renewable wind power over more than 885 km (550 miles) for integration into the regional grid."

Another is our landmark collaboration agreement with Petrofac, supplying multiple offshore and onshore HVDC converter stations to TenneT thereby integrating offshore wind farms into the European grid. Hitachi Energy's scope includes the engineering, installation, and commissioning of the HVDC technology in the onshore and offshore converter stations.

For these projects, in addition to a range of products and solutions, we are providing associated services in delivering the system and assisting our customers by adequately training them on how to operate and maintain the equipment properly.

3. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the industry currently, and how is your company addressing these challenges?

HB: We must accelerate the energy transition to achieve the carbon-neutrality goals by 2030. By 2050, we foresee the global power system having an installed power generation capacity of around four times that of today and transferring around three times the amount of electrical energy as electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system.

Decarbonization will transform our energy system in the future, leading to a ‘system of systems’ that must be integrated and managed. The only way to manage this is through digitalization while managing and optimizing today’s operations.

It is crucial that we take on the challenge of accelerating the pace of change needed for a global solution. Collaboration and partnerships play a pivotal role, with our people bringing their industry-leading experience and deep domain knowledge in co-creating innovative solutions and pioneering technologies.

The industry needs to also address the rapid growth pace of the market including the macro environment that we operate in. It is crucial to have the ability to execute at scale, with quality, and in a reliable manner with a robust supply and value chain, further leveraged by our global footprint. This requires increasing capacity, such as factory expansions and capabilities that also include our people, who are at the core of the strategy by building our heritage of innovation. Beyond technical innovation, our people also look at our impact on societies and how we can improve lives and inspire others. We balance social value, with environmental value, and economic value.

4. What are your thoughts on the CWIEME so far? Have you seen any interesting developments or trends being showcased at the event?

HB: We are very proud to have participated once again at CWIEME, where we had the great opportunity to connect with customers and showcase our products and solutions in transformers, components, and accessories. This year, we have launched EasyDry®, the new paperless, dry-type, HV transformer bushing up to 550 kV, a truly innovative solution that sets up a new concept of reliability, sustainability, and cost efficiency to the world of transformer bushings.

We also showcased our new TXpert™ HUB, powered by our new CoreTec 5, the next evolution of our TXpert™ open Digital ecosystem, which has been qualified in line with the latest cybersecurity standards.

Above all this, it has been a great opportunity to meet and engage personally with our valued customers and partners.

5. What is your company's vision for the future of this industry, and how do you plan to contribute to that future?

HB: As mentioned before, the energy transition requires us to collaborate across stakeholders and sectors with a sense of urgency. The increasing complexity of the system will drive the need for digitalization and automation of the grid. We are building something which will change from what we have today and requires to be managed differently. There will be a need to ramp up both the central and distributed systems (largely to integrate more renewable power generation). There will also be a greater need for electrification across industries, transportation, and buildings as these sectors are transforming and becoming active prosumers. Obviously, the transmission and distribution grids will evolve with the increasing complexity of the system driving the need for digitalization and automation of the grid.

At the same time, the future energy system will be built on top of what we have today. This is where our Hitachi Energy Service organization comes into the picture to help in taking care of the installed base. Our dedicated Service team, with its global presence and expertise, delivers exceptional service solutions covering the entire lifecycle of the assets, ensuring resilient operations and helping our customers and partners to make the existing infrastructure ready for tomorrow’s needs.

Lastly, we expect a growing need for sustainable technologies to help reduce our carbon footprint. Hitachi Energy is addressing this need through innovative solutions like our EconiQ™ high voltage portfolio, which replaces SF₆ gas with eco-efficient gas mixtures and is also available as a retrofill service solution. Our EconiQ portfolio offers transparency on the environmental impact by using Life Cycle Analysis, a scientific methodology applied to improve overall sustainability performance on several fronts: decarbonization, safety, ecosystems, environmental protection, and responsible use of resources.

From what we can see, the energy transition is a truly momentous undertaking that will require innovation, investments, collaboration, and partnerships with education, new business models, and a political and regulatory framework to support the ramping up of the power system. The technology to accelerate the energy transition and to build a carbon-neutral energy system is available now, and we will make sure to keep on working with our customers and partners to face this tremendous challenge, together.