Innovative solutions for grid resilience and energy transition

Electrical Power & Protection

Energy sources/management suppliers

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March 2023 Electrical Power & Protection

Malvin Naicker.

Together with clients, partners, governments, and other key stakeholders, Hitachi Energy pioneers technologies to enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. The global technology leader provides the utility, industry, and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain, according to Malvin Naicker, MD for sub-Saharan Africa.

“South Africa is seeing the wholesale transformation of its energy system,” he says. “It encompasses generation, transmission, distribution, storage, monitoring and control. As renewables ultimately replace fossil fuels, power grids must remain resilient and become even more flexible to adapt to fast changing demands. This places the spotlight on innovative new technologies in the energy sector. The focus on renewable energy and microgrid solutions with battery energy storage systems (BESS) is ideal to ensure stable and sustainable power by harnessing solar energy for a clean energy future.”

Even though coal continues to play a dominant role in South Africa’s power mix, the country can still leverage the massive opportunity of harnessing renewables and distributed energy resources. Here, asset performance management (APM) is key to continuously monitoring the health of assets, predicting potential failures, and reprioritising maintenance.

Hitachi Energy’s Lumada APM not only enables a more effective maintenance management environment, but also improves the productivity of the technical teams carrying out the work. Hitachi Energy’s e-mesh digital ecosystem provides software management for distributed generation at both a local and fleet level, with built-in maintenance management for performance prediction.

The e-mesh portfolio offers end-to-end distributed energy solutions, combining advanced analytics, software technology and hardware systems. PowerStore BESS ensures the highest penetration of renewables share, increases grid stability, and provides reliable power while minimising CO² emissions.

Hitachi Energy’s BESS solutions focus on grid support functions and are designed to work with third-party batteries. Currently the technologies deployed in high-energy projects include lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and Li-ion chemistries. This could extend to other battery chemistries in the future.

Network Manager is an integrated network operations platform that includes advanced distribution management system (ADMS) capabilities to extend grid control and optimisation. It provides functionality for the safe and efficient operation of sub-transmission, medium- and low-voltage distribution networks.

“It is important to note that Hitachi Energy is a technology and solutions provider,” stresses Naicker. Its Energy Trading & Risk Management (ETRM) solutions consistently win awards and recognition from users and renowned industry think tanks, thereby confirming its proven track record as a global ETRM leader.

Hitachi Energy assists organisations to meet sustainability targets, and minimise market risk while maximising profitability and complying with ever-changing industry regulations and standards. Its ETRM solutions are uniquely positioned to support the ‘three Ds of energy’: decarbonisation, digitalisation and decentralisation.

These drive the energy transition as well as commodities that enable renewable energy technologies. Serving producers, utilities and trading companies across the globe, Hitachi Energy’s award-winning ETRM solutions are purpose-built software systems designed to automate complex tasks that support the entire trade cycle from the front to the back office.

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Electrical Power & Protection

Innovative solutions for grid resilience and energy transition

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