Hitachi Energy and TransnetBW make German grid fit for future
- SVC Light Enhanced solution combines grid stabilizing technologies for a decarbonized future. - The breakthrough solution will improve the power quality in the transmission grid that supplies power to 11 million people and numerous industries.
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND, Feb 15, 2024 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Energy has signed a major order with German state-owned transmission system operator, TransnetBW to enable the expansion of renewable energy and stabilization of the grid.
Hitachi Energy will supply two Enhanced STATCOM(1) stations with the next-generation grid stabilization technology, SVC Light® Enhanced, to enable TransnetBW to improve power quality in the transmission grid, which supplies power to 11 million people and numerous industries.
Seated from left to right: Dr. Rainer Pflaum, CFO TransnetBW, Dr. Werner Götz, CEO TransnetBW, Pascal Daleiden, Country Managing Director Hitachi Energy Austria, Germany and Switzerland, and Stefan Habild, Business Unit Manager Grid Integration, Hitachi Energy Germany AG [Source: TransnetBW]
The agreement comes at a time when transmission system operators are relying on new technologies to provide stability to the network due to the acceleration of the energy transition and the move away from conventional power plants.
"The implementation of this solution is another milestone for us in ensuring safe and reliable grid operation in the future," said Dr. Werner Götz, CEO of TransnetBW.
"As the pioneering technology leader, we are proud to support TransnetBW to safeguard the success of their energy transition," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "With power networks evolving rapidly, we are committed to helping our customers and countries transition toward a carbon-neutral energy future and providing future-proof solutions that will offer the flexibility needed to adapt to changing grid conditions."
Hitachi Energy's power quality solutions enable grid operators to dampen the destabilizing effects of renewable energy and expand transmission capacity without building new lines. This pioneering technology supports the energy transition by strengthening and stabilizing power grids handling larger amounts of renewable energy. It helps maintain grid voltage and frequency to ensure operational security and a smooth transition to clean, quality power.
Hitachi Energy's breakthrough solution combines two power quality and grid stabilization technologies in a single compact device. Using innovative power electronics, it integrates the efficient reactive power compensation of SVC Light with supercapacitors, which are electronic devices that absorb and inject active power into the grid in milliseconds. The SVC Light Enhanced technology safely protects grid stability, reliability and power quality as the transition to renewable energy accelerates. Advanced control features like Grid Forming Control provide significant improvements over previous solutions and make this technology less sensitive to future changes in the network.
(1) Static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) continuously provides variable reactive power in response to voltage variations, supporting the stability of the grid.
About Hitachi Energy
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. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world's energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. We integrate more than 150 GW of HVDC links into the power system, helping our customers enable more wind and solar. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ more than 40,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of over US$10 billion. https://www.hitachienergy.com
About Hitachi, Ltd.
Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the business structure of "Digital Systems & Services" - supporting our customers' digital transformation; "Green Energy & Mobility" - contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and "Connective Industries" - connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2022 (ended March 31, 2023) totaled 10,881.1 billion yen, with 696 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.
