The independent panel of judges singled out Hitachi Energy for the IJGlobal ESG Technology Award in the Energy sector based on 2 particularly interesting developments over the judging period – one in pumped storage and the other in offshore wind.

The judges were impressed by Hitachi Energy’s contribution to the upgrade of the electrical drive train for a pumped storage hydropower plant in the Alps that initially entered operation in 1977.

Hitachi Energy delivered 2 static frequency converters (SFCs) with a nominal rating of 80MW each based on modular multilevel converter (MMC) technology that allow variable speed operation of the machines.

It was the first deployment of this technology in pumped storage hydropower, setting the scene for Hitachi Energy to equip even larger variable speed pumped storage hydropower plants with the full converter solution.

Thanks to the variable speed operation made possible by Hitachi’s work, the hydraulic efficiency of the plant could be massively increased, and the flexibility towards the electricity grid could be improved, which enables the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. This is an important puzzle piece that helps to implement the shift towards a larger share of variable renewable energy sources.

As for Hitachi Energy’s innovation in the offshore wind sector, this involves the release to market last year (2021) of its latest 4.5 kilovolt IGCT power semiconductor products (Generation 3).

The IGCT (integrated gate commutated thyristor) power semiconductor is the heart of a power converter, which enables connecting the most powerful offshore wind turbines to the grid; or supplying 16.7 hertz traction current networks from public distribution network, highly efficient and losses optimized.

The new IGCT product platform consists of an asymmetric (AS) and a reverse conducting (RC) device.

The AS device enables converters of highest power ratings, used in offshore wind turbines supplying green power of up to 20MW per turbine.

The RC device, used in traction network supply, has been optimised in respect to efficiency. Losses reduction of 40% on device level and some 10% on converter level was possible, and builds on loss savings achieved by the previous generation.

Picture added after IJGlobal ESG Awards 2022: The Hitachi Energy team with IJGlobal editor Ila Patel and editorial director Angus Leslie Melville.