With COP28 approaching, Hitachi claims to take more prominent strides towards shaping a sustainable energy future for all.
To pave the way for a seamless shift towards electrification across different domains like transportation and urban centres, Hitachi Energy has provided support to the Shams 400 kilovolt substation in the UAE. This integrates solar power for upcoming phases of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park, one of the world’s largest renewable projects based on an independent power producer mode into Dubai’s electrical grid.
Dr Mostafa AlGuezeri, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy for the UAE, Gulf, Near East and Pakistan says “A project like this supports the goals for increased use of renewables in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.” “And when completed in 2030, the park will occupy 214 square kilometres, generate 5,000 megawatts of electricity, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 6.5 million tonnes.”
Additionally, Hitachi Energy plays a crucial role in the Noor Abu Dhabi project, which is the largest single-site photovoltaic solar power plant globally. By providing powerful step-up transformers and power quality solutions, Hitachi Energy ensures an efficient and reliable connection to the Abu Dhabi grid. With a capacity of 1,177 megawatts, Noor Abu Dhabi generates emissions-free electricity, meeting the energy needs of approximately 90,000 people in Abu Dhabi. This represents over 6 percent of the city’s population, making it a significant contribution to clean energy.
In the UAE, Hitachi Energy also contributes to the realisation of the country’s 2050 Net Zero Initiative through its involvement in the construction of the Hatta Hydro project. This pioneering hydroelectric power plant, led by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and located in the Hajar Mountains, is the UAE’s first unique pumped storage facility. Hitachi Energy provides technology for grid connection and stabilisation solutions for this project. Once operational in 2024, the Hatta Hydro plant will generate up to 250 megawatts of environmentally friendly, sustainable, and versatile energy.
Furthermore, Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light technology and MACH digital control platform facilitate the transfer of cleaner and more efficient power from the mainland to power ADNOC’s offshore production operations. This results in a reduction of the offshore operations’ carbon footprint by more than 30 percent.
As part of its Sustainability 2030 plan, Hitachi Energy has achieved the first step by transitioning to 100 percent fossil-free electricity for its own operations. The company continues to strive towards carbon neutrality by 2030, demonstrating its commitment to sustainability.
“We have already made significant progress in our journey towards carbon neutrality, including the electrification of our own operations,” adds Dr AlGuezeri. “In Sweden, for example, Hitachi Energy now uses 100 per cent renewable electricity from hydropower and solar panels to support its operations.
“Hitachi Energy’s sustainability commitment in the UAE matches the same enthusiasm with which we are advancing the world’s energy system to be more sustainable, flexible and secure,” says Dr AlGuezeri. “And as the pioneering technology leader, we collaborate with customers and partners to enable a sustainable energy future for today’s generations, and those to come.”
