Hitachi Energy recognized with three additional National Green Factories in China

In 2026, Hitachi Energy’s sustainable manufacturing achievements in China were again recognized at the national level. Following the earlier listing of four local enterprises on the National Green Factory initiative of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, three more China-based facilities were added this year, continuing to advance sustainable operations and manufacturing in China.

The National Green Factory initiative forms a key part of China’s “green manufacturing system”. It guides manufacturing enterprises to consistently improve their overall performance in five core areas: low-carbon energy use, efficient resource utilization, clean production, environmentally sustainable products, and intensive land use. In recent years, Hitachi Energy has actively responded to “national green development strategies”, integrating sustainability concepts into its local operations and manufacturing systems.

“The designation of multiple manufacturing sites in China as National Green Factories is a strong endorsement of Hitachi Energy’s sustainable manufacturing practices and capabilities. As the electricity era continues to accelerate, we are building future‑ready energy systems through digitalization and technological innovation, while placing sustainability at the core of our corporate purpose and continuously creating environmental, social and economic value,” said James Zhao, Executive Vice President, Region Head of Greater China, Hitachi Energy. “Looking ahead, we will replicate and scale these best practices across more manufacturing sites in China and work closely with partners across the value chain to jointly drive the low‑carbon transformation of the power equipment manufacturing industry.”

The three facilities recognized this time all belong to Hitachi Energy’s Transformer Business Unit. Guided by the latest National Green Factory evaluation standards, they adopted distinct practical measures to advance the efficient use of electricity and resources, increase the use of renewable energy, and accelerate the development of sustainable offerings for carbon footprint reduction, recyclability, and circularity.

The Chongqing transformer manufacturing base stands as one of Hitachi Energy’s largest global R&D and production hubs for transformers. Since 2023, leveraging the opportunity of new facility construction and relocation, the factory optimized its layout during the planning phase and introduced advanced energy-saving equipment. This significantly reduced energy consumption across various metrics. Currently, the base  has reached the industry’s Grade 1 level — ranking within the top 5% ¹ — in comprehensive energy consumption and carbon emissions per unit of product. Its industrial water reuse rate exceeds 98 percent. Furthermore, the company established a smart energy management system. Using sensors and big data analytics, this system enables real-time energy monitoring and dynamic optimization, continuously deepening energy conservation and carbon reduction efforts. In 2025, natural gas consumption at the base dropped by 23 percent year-on-year, further highlighting the impact of its green operations.

At the Hefei factory, sustainability principles have been embedded across all stages of production, R&D, resource management, and health, safety and environmental practices, forming a comprehensive manufacturing system to advance sustainability. The factory specializes in the production of transformers, transformer bushings and tap changers. On the production side, dedicated investments have been made to accelerate equipment upgrades and implement green improvements in key processes. It has also made notable progress in resource utilization, improving industrial water and waste reuse through effective processes, reducing raw-material intensity, and advancing more efficient and circular resource use.

The facility in Zhongshan City primarily focuses on the production and sales of power transformers and specialty transformers. With a strong emphasis on renewable energy utilization, the base has built a 1.2‑megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power station combined with an energy storage system and continues to optimize its power mix, with renewable energy now accounting for more than 96 percent of total energy use across the site. In parallel, the plant leverages multiple management system certifications to advance the development of a more sustainable supply chain, tracking the carbon footprint across the entire product lifecycle - from raw materials and manufacturing processes to packaging and logistics. In addition, a vertically integrated workshop layout has significantly improved space efficiency, with output value per unit area reaching approximately three times the industry average.

In terms of sustainability of Hitachi Energy’s products, the three factories have continued to advance R&D and expand applications of energy‑efficient transformers, a key pillar supporting their designation as National Green Factories. In 2025, the Chongqing base successfully launched the world’s highest‑voltage‑level 765 kV natural ester‑filled transformer. The Zhongshan base delivered globally leading EconiQ® transformers and WindSTAR™ transformers for offshore wind, supporting the integration of renewable energy into the grid. All of these products use a bio-based and readily biodegradable natural ester oil, significantly enhancing product safety while reducing environmental impact in case of fluid leakages.

Meanwhile, the Hefei base has maintained a long‑term focus on eco-designed and high-efficiency transformers, introducing transformer products for green hydrogen production and continuously increasing the R&D and manufacturing of transformers meeting maximum operational energy performance standards in China, providing reliable and sustainable technical support for clean energy projects.

Note:

• Ministry of Industry and Information Technology: Assessment Requirements of Green Factory in Transformer Manufacturing industry