Meet Our People: Koichi Kamiyama

I’ve always been drawn to the world of power infrastructure, and that interest naturally led me into the energy industry. After building experience at another company, I joined Hitachi, Ltd. in 2017. Since then, I’ve focused on HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) control and protection systems, growing my career as an engineer in this field. Today, I’m with Hitachi Energy, working on projects for electric power utilities in Japan.

While HVDC is often associated with long‑distance transmission, in Japan it also plays a key role in linking grids that run on different frequencies. My first HVDC project was the construction of the Hida Converter Station in Takayama, Gifu—Chubu Electric Power Grid Co.,Inc.’s facility for frequency conversion between eastern and western Japan. As the first domestic site to adopt harmonic filters originally developed by ABB (now Hitachi Energy), it was a significant milestone. I worked as the engineer for the filter protection system, handling specifications, system coordination, and post‑delivery maintenance.

^{*ABB: Hitachi Ltd. acquired ABB’s power grid business in 2020 to form Hitachi ABB Power Grids, which was renamed Hitachi Energy in October 2021.}

Being “the first in Japan” may sound impressive, but in reality, delivering equipment manufactured in Europe to Japanese customers comes with major differences in standards and specifications—and nothing moves forward overnight. I often found myself between our Hitachi Energy engineers in Europe and our customers in Japan, working through the details to create a product they could truly trust.

We faced countless challenges along the way, but one moment stands out more vividly than any other. During a visit to a factory in Sweden for a witness test, a technical issue emerged that had to be resolved right there on-site. I spent hours side by side with the local engineers, digging into the problem until we found a solution we were confident presenting to the customer. It was a moment I’ll never forget—one that left me with a deep sense of accomplishment and an even stronger trust in the people I worked alongside.

In 2019, as the Hida project entered its final phase, I took on a new challenge: expanding the frequency converters at Higashi‑Shimizu Converter Station for Chubu Electric Power Grid. It’s a long‑running project scheduled through 2028, and I continue to work as the engineer responsible for the control and protection system.

Hitachi Energy is delivering the entire converter system for this project, and—as with Hida—adapting internationally‑standardized equipment for Japan requires careful technical and operational coordination. What I focus on most is engaging sincerely with our customers, explaining the background and thought process clearly so we can move forward together.

When a portion of the process needed to be reworked, we invited the customer to our factory in Sweden and spent several days with the local team, working directly with the equipment to walk through every detail. Those in‑person discussions helped us reach a shared understanding.

All of this has been made possible by the trust I’ve built with colleagues in Japan and abroad through Hida project. Their support—and the customer’s willingness to tackle each challenge with us—enabled us to find solutions we could all stand behind.

At Hitachi Energy, colleagues from diverse backgrounds exchange ideas openly and respectfully, creating an environment where I’ve been able to grow as an engineer. Working across borders with talented teammates has strengthened my skills, and knowing I have trusted colleagues both in Japan and overseas has been a tremendous source of support. I would like to express my deepest respect and heartfelt gratitude to all my colleagues, who have worked alongside me on our HVDC projects.

With the experience and trust we’ve built together, I am determined to carry this collaborative spirit forward with integrity and continue contributing to the advancement of our power infrastructure.

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