Meet Our People: Dr. ShuRan Liu

Hi, I’m ShuRan Liu, and I‘m a Senior Consultant on the Hitachi Energy Power Consulting team based in Beijing, China.

Beijing is not only the capital of China, but one of the world's leading centers for science and technology as well as culture and much more. I especially appreciate the rich historical heritage combined with modern urban development. The city seamlessly blends ancient architecture like the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven with cutting-edge skyscrapers and technological hubs. This unique fusion allows me to experience both the profound traditions of China and the vibrant energy of a global metropolis, a fascinating journey through time and innovation. Whereas Beijing means “North Capital”, I grew up hundreds of miles away in Nanjing, which means “South Capitol”.

An early start in engineering

My father, a professor, is also an engineer and that certainly had a profound influence on my career path. He worked primarily on the power generation side of power systems. I remember when I was a child, he would open the models of wind turbines and hydro generators to show me the moving mechanical parts inside. I thought his work with energy was fascinating! 

I studied for a couple of years in Nanjing before moving abroad to finish my undergraduate degree at Strathclyde University in Glasgow, Scotland. After that, it was on to England to get my PhD in Electrical Engineering at Manchester University, where I majored in Power and Energy Systems.

Working with customers

I started my career with Hitachi Energy in 2019. Our Power Consulting team specializes in innovative consulting services across a range of areas, including renewable energy and its integration, as well as power system planning and operation. When implementing innovative solutions within the power grid, we use that holistic solution to not only solve specific problems but to also make the entire grid operate better in general.

In addition to our work with power grids, we also consult with industrial customers: businesses and manufacturers who are keen on reducing their energy costs and carbon emissions, providing them with strategic advice and technical suggestions to achieve these goals.

Using technology to build a more sustainable future

One of the projects I have worked on involved developing a digital solution supporting a virtual power plant platform for a customer. The platform connected all of the customer’s distributed energy resources, which are the smaller generation and storage units located on the user side, e.g., rooftop solar panels, distributed battery storage systems, EV charging piles and battery swap stations.

We not only helped them designing and building the platform, but also, thanks to the algorithms we created, to optimize their operations. The customer was an electricity aggregator performing trades on the electricity market, and our solution helped them do that more efficiently and profitably. This digital solution highlights Hitachi Energy’s commitment to using its technology and expertise to drive a more sustainable energy future. 

Another area of focus for me has been power electronics, particularly in the realm of HVDC (high voltage direct current) and hydro SFCs (static frequency converters). These cutting-edge technologies play a crucial role in enhancing the efficiency, flexibility and reliability of power grids, as well as supporting the integration of renewable energy sources.

I really love that this job combines real face to face customer meetings with the profound problem solving and innovative approach when creating the solutions to the customers! The business development part of my job has certainly been a significant catalyst for my professional growth. Moreover, and the breadth of Hitachi Energy’s products and solutions provides a solid foundation for leveraging our consulting services. I find my work so fulfilling and am excited to be part of a team that contributes for real to the transformation of the energy sector in China and beyond.

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