Zurich, Switzerland, May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy, the global technology and market leader in power grids, announced today that it has won an order from Deutsche Bahn to provide a 120 megawatt (MW) converter station which enables DB Energie to secure power supply for the Greater Berlin rail network. The network serves a metropolitan population of around 3.5 million people and is the hub for multiple high–speed train services to cities throughout Germany and neighboring countries.

The Thyrow converter station, south of Berlin, will enable Deutsche Bahn to convert electricity from the public three–phase power distribution grid, which operates at a frequency of 50 hertz (Hz) to 16.7 Hz, and feed it into the rail power grid used to power trains and rail infrastructure.

The order follows one awarded last year by Deutsche Bahn to Hitachi Energy for the 160 MW Delitz converter station in the greater Halle/Leipzig area, which will be one of the most powerful converter stations for rail power worldwide.

"We are delighted that Deutsche Bahn has selected Hitachi Energy as partner of choice to secure the 16.7 Hz power supply for their rail network," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "This is an excellent example of how we collaborate together with customers and partners to accelerate the energy transition and advancing a sustainable energy future for all."

The Hitachi Energy solution for the Thyrow converter station comprises three compact 40 MW static frequency converter modules, which use Hitachi Energy's advanced power semiconductors to provide a steady and reliable power supply at maximum availability and with minimal electrical losses. The solution includes a 30–year service contract and a digitalization package to provide Deutsche Bahn with condition–based and reactive maintenance and data insights into the system status of the converter station over the life cycle.

Hitachi Energy is the world's leading supplier of grid integration and power quality solutions, including rail converter stations and the integration of renewable energy into power transmission systems.

Notes to the Editor

Static frequency converters

Rail frequency converter stations are based on static frequency converters (SFC). They connect three–phase power distribution or transmission grids, which typically operate at 50 or 60 Hz, with single–phase railway power grids, which operate at 16.7, 25, 50 or 60 Hz. Besides the transfer of active power, the SFC can also control reactive power in both grids independently. It responds immediately to grid faults and enables a smooth and interruption–free transition to island mode during an outage.

Power electronics

SFCs are based on Hitachi Energy's power electronics. These integrated gate–commutated thyristors (IGCTs) will be part of this solution. They maintain grid stability and power quality by responding rapidly to frequency fluctuations and grid disturbances. Power electronics are an integral part of many Hitachi Energy technologies, including high–voltage direct current (HVDC) and flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS).

About Hitachi Energy Ltd.

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. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Attachment

• Rendering of the Thyrow converter station, Germany

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8561437)

Zurich, Switzerland, May 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) today announced the launch of Lumada Inspection Insights, its 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 customers to automate asset inspection, support sustainability goals, improve physical security, and reduce risks and impacts related to storms or fires by using powerful artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze photographs and video, including LiDAR, thermal and satellite imagery.

The launch of the new portfolio is fully aligned with Hitachi's Mid–term Management Plan 2024 announced last month by Keiji Kojima, President & CEO, Hitachi, Ltd. In the Plan, Hitachi has set out its growth strategy and commitment to strengthening its digital and green portfolio, which is centered on the Lumada ecosystem. Central to Hitachi's commitment to social innovation, the Lumada ecosystem is accelerating the journey towards sustainable society through the data–driven cycle of value co–creation with customers. The company is also focused on growing its IT/OT/Products business through constant portfolio transformation.

The new Lumada Inspection Insights portfolio addresses various root causes of failures and forced shutdowns by deploying AI and machine learning (ML) to analyze a wide spectrum of image types, assets and risks. Predictive analytics assesses the risks to operations or environment, and organizations can streamline remediation before outages occur. Available as a comprehensive solution or standalone, the portfolio's four core applications are Hitachi Image Based Inspections, Hitachi Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring, Hitachi Vegetation Manager, and Hitachi Map. These represent the company's latest advancements in its growing Data Operations (DataOps) and Industrial IoT offerings. More information on each solution is below.

Massimo Danieli, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Automation business, said, "The energy transition is one of the most urgent issues of our times and together with customers, we are co–creating pioneering digital solutions to enable the carbon–neutral future." He added, "In collaboration with Hitachi Vantara, we are delighted to launch the Lumada Inspection Insights portfolio, which gives industrial organizations the tools they need to get the right information to the right teams when they need it most. The result is improved reliability, safety, and sustainability."

Frank Antonysamy, Chief Digital Solutions Officer, Hitachi Vantara, said, "Becoming data driven is essential to accelerating digitalization and sustainability. This collaboration across Hitachi creates better outcomes for businesses, broader society and our environment by harnessing data and AI to solve multiple operational and business challenges. Together, we can improve industrial asset reliability, prevent wildfires and accelerate global sustainability efforts."

Lumada Inspection Insights features comprehensive, microservices–based capabilities that allow visibility of assets and factors such as current state, asset health, and encroachment, in a "single pane of glass" actionable view, from a variety of sources. With these unified insights, organizations can improve safety, reliability, and agility. The use of high–resolution, autonomous, and accurate wide–area surveillance ensures that truck rolls and workforce deployments are optimized, reducing waste and furthering a sustainable approach to operations and maintenance.

Utilities around the world are dealing with unprecedented climate–related challenges. In 2021, global wildfires generated an estimated total of 6,450 megatons of CO₂ equivalent "" approximately 148 percent more than the EU's total fossil fuel emissions in 2020.^*(1) These wildfires and other extreme weather events also take a significant toll on transmission lines and other utility assets, threatening worker safety and grid reliability.

*(1) Source: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/wildfires–wreaked–havoc–2021–cams–tracked–their–impact

"Inspection, planning and monitoring are among the most critical tasks utilities undertake to maintain grid reliability and resiliency," said John Villali, Research Director, IDC Energy Insights. He added, "Lumada Inspection Insights combines a variety of visual asset data types with advanced analytics and AI. This empowers utilities to improve decision making, optimize operations and as a result, achieve their reliability, safety, and sustainability goals."

Hitachi is exhibiting Lumada Inspection Insights at DISTRIBUTECH INTERNATIONAL 2022, which is held from May 23 at Dallas, Texas, United States.

Editor's Notes

About the four main solutions comprising Lumada Inspection Insights

1. Hitachi Image Based Inspections (HIBI):

Conventional asset inspection methods, such as climbing tall towers or hanging from helicopters, put technicians at risk. Hitachi Image Based Inspections replaces these dangerous, expensive, and time–consuming approaches by leveraging the industry's most sophisticated AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities in one fully automated and integrated platform. This solution provides scalable image inferencing and processing to help asset managers classify assets, detect defects and categorize defect severity. It automates defect assessment, instantly preprocessing and analyzing thousands of images. The solution's highly optimized human–in–the–loop capabilities enable continuous retraining of model–based subject matter expert input for a wide range of asset classes and image quality.

2. Hitachi Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring:

Utilities and other asset intensive organizations are challenged with the need to ensure that their service territories are safe and the service they provide is reliable. To meet this goal, utilities need to have insights to prevent safety incidents, or respond effectively when they happen. Hitachi Intelligent Infrastructure Monitoring leverages video, a powerful data type that is generally utilized to a fraction of its potential. With it, organizations can gather new data though smart cameras, 3D LiDAR sensors and edge gateways, and integrate with CRM, ERP, and other sources of data as required. Operators can gain granular, continuous 3D intelligence for sensitive areas (such as substations), find correlations, causations and real–time incidents.

3. Hitachi Vegetation Manager:

Hitachi Vegetation Manager is the first of its kind, closed–loop vegetation resource planning solution that leverages artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of an organization's vegetation job activities and planning efforts.

The solution utilizes images from a variety of visual sources, including photo, video, and imagery from industry–leading Maxar satellites. The incorporation of satellite technology allows utilities to cover and survey their entire territory to automatically confirm line clearances and maintain compliance with regulations. Satellite technology also provides organizations with more comprehensive insights at scale, allowing them to reduce cost and emissions by minimizing truck and helicopter trips. By combining the images with climate, ecosystem and cut plan data and machine learning algorithms, Hitachi Vegetation Manager enables instant grid–wide visibility and better insights so that organizations can optimize decision–making.

4. Hitachi Map:

Hitachi Map is designed to be the primary interaction point for users, from field technicians looking for work orders in a specific area to a control center team managing a city–wide outage. It's a "single pane of glass" from which users can access essential information, make informed decisions, and take immediate action." Hitachi Map combines information from numerous applications such as EAM, APM, FSM, ADMS, GIS, and more into a single, interactive and easy–to–use geospatial view. Users have intuitive access to key information at their fingertips without having to navigate multiple systems, interpret contextual variations. This approach eliminates extra and duplicative work and reduces carbon emissions from unnecessary travel to and from a site.

Attachment

• Combining the power of the camera with data and AI

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8547070)

Zurich, Switzerland, May 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy, the global technology and market leader in power grids, today announced it will launch globally RoadPak, its pioneering power semiconductor module for electric vehicles at PCIM Europe, the world's leading power electronics trade fair in Nuremberg, Germany, May 10–12.

RoadPak sets a new benchmark in electric vehicle performance. This compact module uses state–of–the–art silicon carbide (SiC) technology to achieve exceptional levels of power density for faster charging, reliability over the vehicle's lifetime, and the lowest possible power losses for the longest possible driving range.

"RoadPak is the result of more than 100 years of Hitachi Energy innovation and market leadership in power electronics," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "Along with our Grid–eMotion Flash and Fleet EV charging systems, it builds on our commitment to take e–mobility to the next level and advance a more sustainable energy future for all."

Tested by many EV manufacturers and with two seasons of flawless performance with the Mahindra Racing Formula E team, RoadPak is available in both the 750 volt and 1,200 volt ranges. This makes it ideal for all types of electric vehicle "" regular and luxury cars, commercial vehicles, buses, agricultural EVs, heavy–duty trucks and high–performance racing cars.

"We have had the privilege of piloting this advanced power module on our Mahindra M7Electro and M8Electro racing cars over the last two years, which has proven to significantly increase performance and reliability," said Dilbagh Gill, CEO and Team Principal of Mahindra Racing. "This high technology improvement allows us to develop next–generation state–of–the–art green automotive solutions and improve driving experience."

Power semiconductors are a critical component in electric vehicles. They are the heart of the inverter, which converts DC power from the vehicle's battery into the AC power that drives the motor. Reliability is key. RoadPak semiconductors are designed to operate faultlessly for more than four million start–stop cycles over the vehicle's lifetime.

The EV market is growing exponentially. Global sales of electric cars grew 40 percent in 2020 and almost doubled in 2021.¹ In addition, all major car manufacturers have committed to phase out their petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030 or earlier.

Hitachi Energy has two separate manufacturing sources supporting security of supply worldwide for its SiC–based power semiconductor products, including RoadPak. The company makes its own SiC chips at its semiconductor factory in Switzerland and is supported by an independent SiC chip manufacturer in the United States, thereby securing supply in terms of both volumes and geographic availability.

Hitachi Energy's advanced semiconductor technology is a key component in its grid integration solutions that enable vast amounts of renewable energy to flow reliably through power grids and between nations. They are also key to the traction converter systems that drive high–speed electric trains and metros, and the electric vehicles that are making road transportation clean and sustainable.

Notes to the Editor:

1. According to the International Energy Agency and World Economic Forum respectively: https://www.iea.org/news/global–electric–car–sales–set–for–further–strong–growth–after–40–rise–in–2020 and https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/electric–cars–sales–evs/.

– End ""

About Hitachi Energy Ltd.

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. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billions of yen (84,136 millions of U.S. dollars), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Attachments

• Hitachi Energy's RoadPak sets a new benchmark in e–vehicle performance
• Hitachi Energy's RoadPak SiC e–mobility module

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8538367)

Zurich, Switzerland, April 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy today launched its OceaniQ portfolio(*1) for the offshore energy environment, which will be showcased this week at the annual WindEurope event in Bilbao, Spain. The global technology and market leader in power grids, which has a proven track record(*2) in pioneering solutions for offshore, has created OceaniQ to help accelerate the clean energy transition. OceaniQ will result in greater volumes of wind power being efficiently harvested and integrated into the world's energy system.

Combining cross–industry competence from the power and marine sectors, OceaniQ addresses applications for fixed platforms, floating structures and sub–sea power systems for wind, marine and other offshore operators. Hitachi Energy rigorously designs its OceaniQ products, services and solutions in collaboration with customers and partners, which are designed to solve the specific needs of offshore energy operators.

Key characteristics of OceaniQ solutions feature a modular design to enable timely installation and the ability to quickly connect energy assets to onshore. OceaniQ solutions take advantage of digitalization, enabling safe and secure remote monitoring and other services such as predictive maintenance. Designs are also ruggedized to withstand harsh marine conditions, minimizing the need for physical service over their lifetime. OceaniQ solutions also embody the rigorous application of lifecycle thinking.

OceaniQ transformers for offshore floating applications

The first products to be announced as part of the OceaniQ portfolio are Hitachi Energy's recently announced transformers for offshore floating applications. Since the first commercial projects in the early 1990s, offshore wind electricity generation has grown enormously, with more than 35 gigawatts(*3) capacity currently worldwide. Yet building offshore brings great challenges beyond the harsh salt–water environment and only a small fraction of the full potential has been exploited. This is because many offshore areas do not have a suitable seabed and beyond 60–meter depths are not optimal for fixed structures.

OceaniQ transformers and shunt reactors are key equipment in the grid infrastructure that enables the transmission of electricity generated in offshore wind farms. This full and qualified range of equipment has been developed in partnership with the forefront floating offshore developers. It brings in world–leading experience to meet requirements, featuring a lightweight, compact and modular design that comprises of specially–designed transformer active part, tank and components.

"In OceaniQ, our world–class engineers take pride in pioneering solutions that overcome harsh offshore conditions and ultimately, help society move towards a carbon–neutral future," said Bruno Melles, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Transformers business. Bruno added, "Floating electrical systems are an important development in the evolution of the offshore renewable industry that will open up tremendous opportunities and unlock new business models that are built on clean power. OceaniQ is fully in the spirit of Hitachi Energy's Purpose, which is focused on advancing a sustainable energy future for all."

Alfredo Parres(*4), Head of Renewables at Hitachi Energy commented, "Wind power is one of Earth's bountiful and free–giving natural resources and through the OceaniQ offshore portfolio, customers will be able to harness and integrate it more efficiently. Alfredo continued, "Through OceaniQ, we are building a more sustainable, flexible and secure energy system by bringing together our experts in offshore applications and wind farm connections to develop and build the solutions needed for a more integrated, interconnected and high–quality power grid. I am excited to be discussing OceaniQ with customers at WindEurope this week and how together, we can continue to pioneer technologies that maximize the full potential of offshore wind."

This latest portfolio development from Hitachi Energy continues to demonstrate the company's commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation for sustainable offshore energy environment solutions, adding to an already extensive offering. The company expects to announce new additions to the OceaniQ portfolio in the coming months. The launch of OceaniQ follows the company's recent launches of IdentiQ "" its digital twin solutions for HVDC and power quality "" and EconiQ "" its portfolio of solutions which are proven to deliver an exceptional environmental performance resulting in significant reductions in carbon footprint.

Notes

(*1) Read more about OceaniQ: https://www.hitachienergy.com/oceaniq

(*2) Three examples of Hitachi Energy's proven track record in offshore wind:–

• Dogger Bank "" connecting the world's largest offshore wind farm (located off the North East coast of England, UK)
• WindSTAR transformers for offshore wind turbines for major renewable projects in Taiwan
• First–of–its–kind High–voltage hybrid switchgear for offshore wind enabling the reduction of carbon emissions

(*3) Global Wind Energy Council's Global Offshore Wind Report 2021

(*4) Read one of Alfredo Parres' Perspectives on offshore wind: Offshore synergy "" combining oil & gas experience with grid technology leadership for sustainable energy | Hitachi Energy

Attachment

• Proven portfolio for harsh offshore conditions

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8515235)

Zurich, Switzerland, March 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy has won an order from Berliner Verkehrsbe–triebe (BVG), Germany's biggest municipal public transportation company, to supply its Grid–eMotion Fleet smart charging infrastructure to help BVG transition to sustainable mobility in Berlin, the country's capital.

Hitachi Energy will provide a complete Grid–eMotion Fleet grid–to–plug charging infrastructure solution for the next two bus depots to be converted in the bus electrification program. Hitachi Energy's solution offers the smallest footprint for both the connection, as well as low noise emissions and high reliability "" three key requirements for bus depots in a densely populated urban environment, where space is limited and flawless charging is vital to ensure buses run on time.

The solution comprises a connection to the distribution grid, power distribution and DC charging infrastructure with charging points and smart charging systems. Hitachi Energy will perform the engineering and integrate, install and service the entire solution. The solution has a compact and robust design that requires less equipment than competing infrastructure, which results in a small footprint, lower operating and maintenance costs, and higher reliability. Typically, Grid–eMotion Fleet requires 60 percent less space and 40 percent less cabling than alternative charging systems; it also provides superior overall system reliability.

"We are delighted to help the City of Berlin in its transition to quiet and emission–free transportation and a sustainable energy future for the people of this iconic capital," said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy's Grid Integration business. "We feel the urgency and have the pioneering technology and commitment to advance sustainable mobility, thus improving the quality of life of millions of people."

BVG operates Germany's biggest city bus fleet of around 1,500 vehicles, which it aims to make completely electric and emission–free by 2030. This requires the installation of charging infra–structure in its large network of bus depots.

About Grid–eMotion

Grid–eMotion comprises two unique, innovative solutions – Fleet and Flash. Grid–eMotion Fleet is a grid–code compliant and space–saving grid–to–plug charging solution that can be in–stalled in new and existing bus depots. The charging solution can be scaled flexibly as the fleet gets bigger and greener. It includes a robust and compact grid connection and charging points, and is also available for commercial vehicle fleets, including last–mile delivery and heavy–duty trucks that require high power charging of several megawatts. Grid–eMotion Flash enables operators to flash–charge buses within seconds at passenger stops and fully recharge within minutes at the route terminus, without interrupting the bus schedule.

Both solutions are equipped with configurable smart charging digital platforms that can be em–bedded with larger fleet and energy management systems. Additional offerings from Hitachi Energy for EV charging systems consist of e–mesh energy management and optimization solutions and Lumada APM, EAM and FSM solutions, to help transportation operators make informed decisions that maximize their uptime and improve efficiency.

In the past few months alone, Hitachi Energy has won orders from customers and partners all over the world for its smart charging portfolio "" a sign that Grid–eMotion is changing the e–mobility landscape for electric buses and commercial vehicles. Grid–eMotion solutions are al–ready operating or under development in Australia, Canada, China, India, the Middle East, the United States and several countries in Europe.

– End –

About Hitachi Energy Ltd.

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. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, contributes to a sustainable society with a higher quality of life by driving innovation through data and technology as the Social Innovation Business. Hitachi is focused on strengthening its contribution to the Environment, the Resilience of business and social infrastructure as well as comprehensive programs to enhance Security & Safety. Hitachi resolves the issues faced by customers and society across six domains: IT, Energy, Mobility, Industry, Smart Life and Automotive Systems through its proprietary Lumada solutions. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2020 (ended March 31, 2021) totaled 8,729.1 billion yen ($78.6 billion), with 871 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 350,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Attachment

• The City of Belin taken at night

GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 8503383)