Hitachi Energy Enables the Efficient Transmission of 1,200 MW of Clean Hydropower into the New England Region in the United States
Features | 20.03.2026 | 3 min read
Hitachi Energy is proud to highlight its foundational contributions to Avangrid’s New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) project. The transmission system is now operating reliably, delivering 1,200 megawatts (MW) of renewable hydropower from Québec, Canada into New England. This critical cross‑border interconnection strengthens regional grid capacity and resilience, providing enough power to help secure a stable electricity supply for approximately 1.2 million homes. Enabling a project of this complexity and scale required strong partnership and continuous collaboration between Hitachi Energy and Avangrid, reflecting a shared commitment to building a stronger, more dependable energy infrastructure for the region.
Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light®, based on Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology, serves as the backbone of NECEC, enabling the efficient transmission and integration of these vast amounts of clean energy. Spanning 145 miles of transmission lines, the system delivers reliable hydropower from the Canadian border to a state‑of‑the‑art HVDC converter station in Lewiston, Maine. Among its many advanced capabilities, the NECEC connection incorporates a unique fast‑recovery function that allows the system to quickly rebound from issues on the transmission line, rapidly clearing faults and resume operation without delay. This combination of innovative design and resilient performance ensures NECEC remains a critical, dependable pathway for clean energy across the region.
NECEC provides approximately 20% of Massachusetts’ total electricity demand, increasing access to sustainable energy for homes and businesses while helping offer lower electricity prices. To deliver this large amount of power into the regional grid, significant upgrades to adjacent substations and transmission facilities were required. At one of the substations in Maine, two +/-300 MVAR SVC Light® STATCOM units were installed to enhance Alternate Current (AC) system stability. As part of Grid-enSure® portfolio, these advanced power electronics solutions play a critical role in maintaining voltage levels and ensuring grid balance during periods of peak demand, thereby improving overall power quality and supporting reliable system performance.
Precise coordination was critical to ensure the receiving substation was fully prepared to accept such a significant increase in power once the transmission system was energized. The simultaneous execution and commissioning of two distinct projects – the transmission system development and the grid stability enhancement – each with unique technologies and requirements, further underscores Hitachi Energy’s engineering expertise and commitment to exemplary project delivery. Together, these projects demonstrate the company’s ability to implement complex, mission-critical solutions in parallel for multiple stakeholders, while successfully navigating technical, logistical, and weather‑related challenges.
With the new infrastructure fully integrated and operational, long‑term reliability and protection now become the focus. The transmission system is currently safeguarded by Hitachi Energy's EnCompass™ Long Term Service Agreement (LTSA). The agreement includes comprehensive lifecycle support for five years and incorporates Cybersecurity Update Management to ensure ongoing protection against evolving digital threats.
NECEC is essential to strengthening energy security and meeting rising demand in the New England region of the U.S. With HVDC Light® at the core, we are enabling large amounts of clean hydropower to move reliably across borders and contributing to long-term economic and environmental progress. As the global leader in HVDC technologies, we are honored to partner with Avangrid on NECEC and celebrate this achievement together.
By connecting hydropower to the ISO-New England Grid, NECEC is estimated to reduce 3.0–3.6 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions annually, significantly contributing to a more sustainable and healthier environment. Beyond environmental gains, the project has generated thousands of jobs throughout permitting and construction and will continue to deliver economic benefits through new local tax revenue, increased gross domestic product (GDP), and improved air quality.
Building on the successful completion of NECEC, Hitachi Energy reaffirms its role as a pioneer in HVDC technologies that accelerate the global energy transition. This project sets a precedent for how effective cross‑border collaboration, excellence in project execution, and advanced power electronics solutions can leverage renewable resources and deliver tangible benefits to communities.