1. Grid United partners with Hitachi Energy to utilize HVDC technology for transmission projects in the US.
2. The projects aim to connect the country’s eastern and western regional power grids to address increasing electricity demand and facilitate power sharing.
3. The collaboration will mitigate the effects of extreme weather events, decrease network congestion, and enhance grid resilience and flexibility.
Grid United, a US utility company, has partnered with Hitachi Energy to utilize high-voltage direct current (HVDC) technology for transmission projects that aim to connect the country’s eastern and western regional power grids. This collaboration is expected to address increasing electricity demand and facilitate power sharing between energy markets, mitigating the effects of extreme weather events.
Hitachi Energy will deliver HVDC technology to establish several Grid United HVDC interconnections under a capacity reservation agreement. This partnership introduces an innovative business model for the US electric grid, with plans for future growth in manufacturing capacity, personnel hiring, and standardization to enhance productivity.
By connecting the grids, network congestion is reduced, grid resilience and flexibility are increased, and the effects of extreme weather events are lessened. Grid United’s CEO, Michael Skelly, emphasized the need for collaboration with Hitachi Energy to strengthen the electric power grid in response to the growing demand for electricity in the US. Hitachi Energy has already secured a contract to build a subsea electricity interconnector between France and Spain, demonstrating its expertise in the field.