In the context of climate change and the energy transition, the rise of new technologies for electric power transmission and the digitalization of the energy matrix has become imperative. This was clearly demonstrated at the seminar “Technical Sessions on Transformers: Technological Co-Creation and Strategic Planning of Critical Assets for a Resilient Grid.”
Through presentations and panel discussions, partners, customers, and key players in the power industry gained first-hand insight into the latest innovations in the transformer market, as well as the strategies being implemented for the development and management of critical assets to sustainably meet growing demand.
“Hitachi Energy has developed an entire concept around the energy transmission segment, understanding that it is a critical element. For this reason, our equipment is customized, conceived, and designed to meet requirements and needs that go beyond traditional standards, increasing both reliability and efficiency,” said Jorge Piñeros, Transformer Application Engineering Manager at Hitachi Energy for Latin America.
Throughout the seminar, it became clear that these technologies must— and indeed do—possess the robustness and resilience required to operate over extended life cycles.
According to Inocencio Solteiro, Service Sales Manager at Hitachi Energy Chile, the lifespan of a transformer begins at the project’s conception: “It starts with incorporating materials that can better withstand operating conditions, and from there ensuring continuity through preventive and predictive maintenance, with monitoring systems focused on reliability. This allows us to assess the condition of the equipment and take the necessary actions.”
Experts agreed that carrying out a planned maintenance strategy is essential. “I always say it should be like our own health: just as we care about staying healthy, we must ensure that equipment exposed to critical conditions remains in optimal condition,” explained Yoshio Nomi, Product and Application Engineer for Transformer Components at Hitachi Energy.
Strategic Partnerships
At the close of the seminar, Cristoffer Fuentealba, Market Manager Transformer at Hitachi Energy Chile, confirmed that the event achieved its goals. “One of our objectives was to demonstrate how digitalization contributes to a more efficient and secure grid. Based on the feedback from our partners and customers, we are confident we successfully conveyed that message,” he said.
That conclusion was supported by Eduardo Montilla, Electrical Engineer at Generadora Metropolitana, who emphasized that these types of meetings “provide the opportunity to learn about new technologies, the latest products from Hitachi Energy, and to engage with other companies in the power sector.”
For his part, Claudio Gajardo, Head of Transmission at CMPC Biopackaging, highlighted the value of attending seminars of this nature: “They allow me to exchange experiences with different industry stakeholders and, based on that, continuously improve the management of maintenance for our transmission assets.” He also stressed the support provided by Hitachi Energy’s teams and equipment, noting that “as a partner company, they deliver continuous online monitoring services of dissolved gases in the units, which has allowed us to detect potential failures at an early stage, anticipate catastrophic events, and safeguard our assets.”