Hitachi Energy unveils innovations for a sustainable energy future at the 8th China International Import Expo

Shanghai will host the 8th China International Import Expo (CIIE) from Nov. 5-10. Participating for the eighth consecutive year, Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader in electrification, will showcasing nearly 30 world-leading technologies under the theme “Inspire the next era of sustainable energy.” around three core areas—power electronics, sustainable products and solutions, and digitalization & services. It aims to demonstrate how Hitachi Energy collaborates with customers and partners to power the energy system to be more sustainable, secure, resilient, and affordable through the power of innovation.

“Since the inaugural CIIE, we have participated every year. With over a century of technological expertise, we advance alongside the transformation of global energy systems, delivering solutions tailored to future grid needs. The CIIE has not only reflected our deep engagement in China’s energy transition but also provided a vital platform for accelerating technology deployment and ecosystem collaboration,” said James Zhao, Executive Vice President and Region Head Greater China, Hitachi Energy. “Looking ahead, we aim further to strengthen strategic partnerships with Chinese customers and stakeholders, contributing trusted technology and solutions to help achieve China’s carbon-neutral goals.”

Power electronics - driving energy system transformation

In the Power Electronics zone, Hitachi Energy will highlight key technologies that enable large-scale renewable integration and grid stability, including ultra-high-voltage (UHV) AC/DC systems, power-quality solutions, and the latest generation of semiconductors.

High-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is critical to building carbon-neutral energy systems and is pivotal for China’s long-distance renewable power delivery and optimized energy allocation. As an early participant in China’s HVDC development, Hitachi Energy has contributed to landmark projects such as Changji-Guquan, the world’s first ±1,100 kilovolts (kV) UHVDC transmission link with new records on voltage level; the world’s first VSC-HVDC grid in Zhangbei; and the world’s first flexible UHVDC project – the Gansu–Zhejiang ±800 kV UHVDC line.

Hitachi Energy’s advanced semiconductor technology is a key enabler of grid integration solutions, supporting the reliable transmission of large-scale renewable energy across power grids and between countries. In addition, semiconductors serve as a core technology in traction converter systems that power high-speed electric trains and metros, as well as in electric vehicles that make road transportation cleaner and more sustainable. At the event, Hitachi Energy will showcase its next-generation IGCT for use in flexible HVDC converters, along with the world’s highest-power StakPak semiconductor device.

The company’s innovative power-quality solutions improve grid reliability for industrial and utility customers. Its SVC Light® static synchronous compensator highlights collaborative efforts with leading steel enterprises, including Yongfeng Iron & Steel, Xinyu Steel, and Shougang Qian’an Steel, to enhance grid stability and support green hydrogen production in Saudi Arabia and PV plants in Japan through distribution-level STATCOMs.

Green technology matrix: accelerating power grids decarbonization

In the Sustainability zone, Hitachi Energy will showcase in China for the first time its milestone achievement in grid decarbonization – the world’s first 550 kV SF₆-free, eco-efficient gas-insulated switchgear (GIS).

SF₆, widely used as an insulating medium in high-voltage equipment, has a global warming potential nearly 25,000 times that of CO₂. Grid operators are urgently seeking alternatives that ensure safety while reducing emissions. Since launching its EconiQ® high-voltage portfolio in 2021, Hitachi Energy has deployed over 2,000 eco-efficient high-voltage products and 15 km of eco-efficient gas-insulated lines (GIL) across more than 30 countries. The 550 kV EconiQ GIS on display is set for delivery to the Central China Branch of the State Grid Corporation of China .

Hitachi Energy will present its EconiQ series, which uses a 100 percent biodegradable natural ester fluid, offering superior environmental performance and fire safety. Designed for enhanced efficiency, these transformers significantly reduce CO₂ emissions throughout their lifecycles. Notably, the 110 kV EconiQ natural ester transformer has been deployed in China’s first “zero-carbon” substation.

Furthermore, Hitachi Energy continues to invest in R&D for sustainable energy and to deploy core technologies. In offshore wind, its OceaniQ™ portfolio covers fixed, floating, and subsea applications, supporting renewable integration. In 2025, the 66 kV HiDry dry-type transformer was successfully commissioned at the Huaneng Shandong Offshore Wind Farm. The company will also unveil the PASS M00-Wind dual-breaker switchgear, designed for high-capacity wind turbines, supporting the expansion of next-generation offshore wind farms.

In green hydrogen, Hitachi Energy offers grid-to-stack lifecycle solutions. In 2025, it delivered rectifier transformers for the CEEC Songyuan Hydrogen Park project in Jilin Province, ensuring reliable power for green hydrogen production.

Digitalization & services: powering the smart lifecycle

Amid rapid renewable integration and growing demand from AI and data centers, Hitachi Energy provides comprehensive digital solutions – from smart components and devices to condition monitoring and digital platforms – enabling smarter planning, efficient operations, and greater value creation.

The new  Asset Performance Management (APM-RM) Reliability Module will be showcased. It has been successfully implemented in Inner Mongolia Power’s “Reliability-Centered Transformer Maintenance” project, earning recognition from the China Electricity Council as a “Top Case Study in Power Industry Reliability Management – 40th Anniversary.” The project was also recognized as the runner-up among Gartner’s “2025 Eye on Innovation Awards” for Power and Utility. 

Hitachi Energy has also delivered virtual power plant (VPP) digital solutions to major Chinese power companies, including Huaneng Zhejiang and Zheneng Group, and provided grid integration consulting services for large-scale international renewables projects.

In 2025, Hitachi Energy established a global Services business unit. As a trusted lifecycle partner, the company helps unlock capacity, maximize efficiency, extend asset lifespans, and support future-proof upgrades. At the expo, it will introduce offerings enabled by digital technologies, including a disconnector/earthing switch AI Monitory System.