Greetings from the Smarter E - Intersolar Exhibition, where we are sharing key updates to the Hitachi Energy Grid Automation portfolio that will help further shape the future of energy solutions for renewables developers, IPPs and utilities.
In this post, I’d like to focus on the latest improvements to our e-mesh™ portfolio, and positive momentum from the eks Energy acquisition—underscoring our commitment to advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
The journey towards a net-zero future hinges on innovations that help to manage a more complex global energy system. Power electronics have emerged as the key technology to successfully integrate low-carbon energy into the grid—there is no energy transition without it. However, the path to success isn’t uniform; it requires customized, full-stack solutions tailored to each unique customer use case. That’s why Hitachi Energy is committed to developing solutions that provide flexible, reliable, and resilient power for every consumer need.
e-mesh Energy Storage
Formerly known as e-mesh PowerStore, the new and improved e-mesh Energy Storage system is now available as a modular skidded solution.
Pre-engineered, pre-wired and meticulously tested before shipping to our customers, this solution accelerates battery energy storage systems’ (BESS) time-to energize by significantly reducing costly on-site installation and time-consuming civil works. Aside from guaranteeing quality, speeding up delivery, and streamlining commissioning, we can now also offer either eks Energy’s converter platform or Hitachi Energy’s PS1000 – depending on the specific needs of the project.
e-mesh Manager
e-mesh Manager now combines digital and automation applications and further facilitates the integration of maximized renewable energy capacity into the grid.
This offers customers the ability to optimize power supply for a complete electric vehicle depot or optimize the energy profile of a site with multiple distributed energy resources.
Our e-mesh power and energy management portfolio has been significantly enhanced with the inclusion of:
- Next generation automation platform: Flexible and lean architecture delivers higher scalability, hot redundancy, and faster cycle times, combined with an integrated solution engineering environment.
- Integrated Distributed Energy Resource (DER) systems, and BESS energy management systems, and e-mobility fast charging station energy management systems.
e-mesh Service
e-mesh Service, which leverages IoT technology to provide data driven actionable insights, has received improvements making it even more flexible to deliver key customer outcomes and revenue opportunities:
- EnCompass Agreements: Leveraging smart monitoring and applications that improve plant availability, combined with our remote Collaborative Operations Centers, EnCompass Agreements enhance operational efficiency and reduce downtime, thereby maximizing profit opportunities for our customers.
- Energy trading application: Our updated e-mesh Service platform now includes new energy trading capabilities, empowering customers to participate in electricity markets and maximize financial returns.
e-mesh in Action
Our expanding roster of customer references demonstrates the power of e-mesh and cements our position as a leading system integrator with differentiated solutions in the energy storage space – providing an end-to-end digital solutions concept.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the Faroe Islands where Hitachi has deployed two BESS systems that will provide stable energy to the island community ensuring higher reliability and access to renewable energy. The first BESS, deployed in 2022, is designed to match the total output capacity of a recently completed 6.3MW wind farm, Hitachi Energy ensures a reliable local network backup in case of a drop in wind production. The complete solution also provides the system with black start capabilities and is able to support the island for extended periods with 100% renewable energy, when local demand has been fully met by wind energy. In all, the project supports further incorporation of wind power for this remote community while helping local utility and distributor SEV reach its target of 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Developed with Portuguese utility provider Energias de Portugal (EDP), the Alqueva project uniquely combines power generation from hydro power with a floating PV plant on the surface of the hydro power plant’s reservoir. A BESS system completes this hybrid renewable power plant and adds operational flexibility. The Hitachi Energy solution not only enabled a shared infrastructure but also stabilized energy costs, reduced environmental impact, and helped EDP to earn the European Sustainable Energy Week 2023 Innovation Award for its pioneering approach in the project.
Switzerland’s AEW EG is another customer seeing its energy ambitions enabled by Hitachi Energy’s smart e-mesh Energy Storage solution. When seeking solutions to enhance their existing energy network, AEW chose a BESS with intelligent automation provided by the e-mesh Manager platform. The integrated solution equipped AEW with cutting-edge analytics, software, and digital capabilities that meets present requirements to offer network stabilizing services but also prepares AEW’s network for future demands.
New Opportunities with eks Energy
This is the first time Hitachi Energy and eks Energy are presenting together at the Smarter E - Intersolar Exhibition. Since Hitachi Energy announced the acquisition of eks Energy in October 2023, we’ve been working together to address the evolving needs of our customers in the global energy market.
To be clear, eks Energy is supplying power conversion systems (PCS) complementing Hitachi Energy’s BESS system integration capabilities or as a stand-alone option for other customer channels. Converters are a strong differentiator when combined with Hitachi Energy’s advanced control and automation solutions, including e-mesh manager and services. We complement and expand our offering to address a large range of applications for utilities, integrators, developers and EPCs, delivering the best solution for our customers’ needs.
From the grid edge across the energy system, Hitachi Energy is a trusted partner when it comes to advanced solutions to help manage costs, spearhead sustainability efforts, digitalize the network and address the most complex problems in the energy transition. We do this by delivering value stacking for battery energy storage systems and creating the differentiating solutions from our comprehensive, cutting-edge portfolio. We are the grid – from the edge to facilitating connections between large scale grid systems.
Discuss how our e-mesh portfolio could kick-start and accelerate your projects.