James Zhao calls for accelerated deployment of sustainable technologies at 2025 International Forum on Energy Transition

James Zhao, Executive Vice President and Region Head Greater China at Hitachi Energy, delivered an insightful keynote address on how sustainable innovation and deployment can support the development of a clean, secure, and efficient new-type power system at the "New-Type Power System" sub-forum. The sub-forum was held as part of the larger 2025 International Forum on Energy Transition on Oct. 23, hosted by the National Energy Administration in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. The forum aims to explore new pathways for the global energy transition and strengthen international cooperation in clean energy.

Over 100 experts and scholars from government agencies, international organizations, energy enterprises, and research institutions worldwide gathered for the sub-forum, organized by State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). Participants explored key themes centered on the theme “Accelerating Energy Transition through a New-Type Power System.”

During his address, James emphasized that by 2050, the global power system will reach a historic inflection point, with renewable energy accounting for more than half of total generation.

“For every additional gigawatt of clean energy, grid capacity and flexibility must be enhanced accordingly to ensure system security, reliability, and resilience,” he said. “At Hitachi Energy, we are leveraging our core strengths in sustainable products and solutions, power electronics, and digital technologies to partner with stakeholders in accelerating a sustainable energy future.”

In response to the global trend toward low-carbon grid transformation, Hitachi Energy has expanded the development of eco-efficient and high-performance solutions. In 2021, the company launched its EconiQ® portfolio globally, offering sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) free high-voltage products and gas-insulated transmission line (GIL) solutions, and has since rapidly scaled up its deployment worldwide.

James highlighted that phasing out SF₆ is not merely a technological choice, but a climate responsibility. While SF₆ is widely used in high-voltage switchgear due to its excellent insulating properties, it is an extremely potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential (GWP) nearly 25,000 times greater than CO₂. Annual global SF₆ emissions are estimated at around 9,000 tons, equivalent to the average carbon footprint of 8 million commercial flights.

Within Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ high-voltage product series, replacing SF₆ with alternative gases enables a reduction of approximately 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions from installing 10 bays of 420 kV EconiQ circuit breakers. To date, Hitachi Energy has deployed more than 2,000 units of EconiQ high-voltage products and over 15 kilometers of SF₆-free gas-insulated transmission lines (GIL) across more than 30 countries and regions.

In China, Hitachi Energy actively participates in pilot projects led by grid operators. Midway through 2025, the company delivered China’s first 420 kV SF₆-free dead tank breaker, which has been successfully commissioned in Gansu Province. Additionally, Hitachi Energy will supply the world’s first 550 kV SF₆-free gas-insulated switchgear to SGCC, supporting the decarbonization of transmission networks.

While continuing to advance the sustainable upgrade of high-voltage equipment, Hitachi Energy has also achieved significant breakthroughs in the transformer sector. It has supplied over 1,000 natural ester power transformers and more than 130,000 natural ester transformer portfolio distribution transformers globally. These transformers use 100% biodegradable natural ester oil as insulation fluid, significantly enhancing environmental and personnel safety. In China, the 110 kV natural ester transformer has been successfully deployed in the country’s first “zero-carbon” substation, contributing to a low-carbon grid demonstration project. In 2025, Hitachi Energy launched the world's first 765 kV natural ester oil transformer in China.