Meet our people: Shoki Matsumura

Please tell us about your experiences as a student and also your current responsibilities at Hitachi Energy.

I have been interested in the electric power field since I was a child and was attracted to photovoltaic and wind power generation systems because I liked large visual things. Therefore, I majored in electrical engineering as a student and researched grid-integrated inverter* control of renewable energy power generation systems. I found Hitachi Energy during my job search and joined the company because I felt that they do not hesitate to take on new challenges while having an extensive global track record in the field of power transmission and distribution.
* Equipment for integrating power generated by generators to power grids

Currently, as a member of the engineering team of the Grid Integration Business Unit, I am in charge of designing and testing substation equipment in cooperation with Hitachi Energy's global team. During the proposal stage, I support proposals from a technical perspective and study the overall substation configuration. After receiving an order for a project, I determine the detailed specifications of the equipment, coordinate the testing details, and carry out various other adjustments for the delivery of the equipment.

It has been almost a year since you joined Hitachi Energy. Please tell us about what you have found challenging and what has been memorable so far in your career with Hitachi Energy.

In the process of conducting product testing at a factory overseas, I was impressed by how senior employees carefully coordinated between the customer and the factory after having thoroughly organized the test items and product specifications in advance. I learned the importance of understanding equipment specifications and the purpose and procedures of testing, as we receive various questions from customers during the test. Through these experiences, my knowledge of products and design has increased, and I am now entrusted with some of the specifications and drawings for projects before receiving orders.

What three keywords would you use to describe Hitachi Energy?

The first is “challenge”. Hitachi Energy is actively developing cutting-edge technologies in the field of power transmission and distribution, such as HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current), digital substations, and SF6 (sulfur hexafluoride) gas-free equipment. When I joined the company, I greeted a senior employee who said, “I feel like I’m still a new graduate in that I am always challenging myself with new things.” I was impressed by what he said.

The second is “global”. Hitachi Energy has bases all over the world and has a wealth of experience in global projects. It is attractive that we can use this track record to propose solutions that can contribute to the realization of carbon neutrality in Japan.

Last but not the least, “flexible”. When I expressed my interests to participate in a conference presentation soon after I joined the company, my managers gave me the opportunity to attend it to learn. Also, I am actively assigned to overseas business trips, which gives me a variety of experiences. In terms of working styles, remote work and flextime systems help me work quite flexibly. I think this is a company with a flexible corporate culture, where much is left to the discretion of an individual.

What makes you proud to be a Hitachi Energy employee?

Modern life would not be possible without electric power. The power transmission and distribution networks are essential for supplying those power, playing a critical role as an important social infrastructure. Hitachi Energy is actively working to introduce cutting-edge technologies in the field of power transmission and distribution, and I am proud to be able to contribute to the maintenance and improvement of this important social infrastructure leveraging my capabilities at Hitachi Energy. In addition, an increasing number of substation facilities in Japan are aging and reaching their life cycle end at the same time, and it somehow means we have opportunities to replace them with our products and contribute to the realization of a sustainable social infrastructure. I would like to work to support Japan's power transmission and distribution network by learning and growing every single day.