Hitachi Energy Achieves 100% Fossil Fuel-Free Electricity in Its Own Operations

The company has achieved the first goal of its Sustainability 2030 plan and accelerates the path to carbon neutrality.

Hitachi Energy, a global leader in power grid technology and market, announced that it achieved the first goal of its Sustainability 2030 plan: the use of 100% fossil fuel-free electricity in its own operations. The company is moving towards carbon neutrality in its own operations by 20302, in line with its purpose, "to promote a sustainable energy future for all".

"By achieving 100% fossil fuel-free electricity in our own operations, we have reduced our CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 50% compared to 2019," said Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy, who added: "The Net Zero challenge is global and it is about acting now, innovating and collaborating across countries, industries and societies. Together with customers, partners and all stakeholders, we are driving a global energy system to make it more sustainable, flexible and secure."

The 50% reduction target achieved ahead of schedule will amount to approximately 175 kilotons of CO2 per year, which would be equivalent to removing more than 35,000 cars from the roads.

In order to achieve 100% fossil fuel-free electricity in its own operations by 2030, and maintaining its goal of carbon neutrality, the Hitachi Group has explored a number of avenues, including supporting projects to generate its own fossil-fuel-free electricity, such as installing solar panels combined with digital e-mesh electronic mesh solutions, for distributed energy resources that maximize energy efficiency and minimize CO2 emissions.

At its Zhongshan factory in China, the company generates nearly 20% of its total energy consumption from solar panels. In its first year of operation, the power generated at the factory is expected to reach one thousand 510 megawatt hours (MWh), contributing to the reduction of annual carbon emissions by more than a thousand tons.

To achieve 100% fossil fuel-free electricity, Hitachi Energy also migrated to green tariffs, purchased Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) and signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) across all of its operations and facilities in 90 countries.

Looking to the future, Hitachi Energy continues to invest in its journey towards carbon neutrality, further increasing energy efficiency, as well as electrifying its own operations.

In Ludvika, Sweden, the company now uses 100% renewable electricity generated from hydropower and solar panels to support its operations. Ludvika, which is one of Hitachi Energy's largest production facilities, has moved beyond addressing its electricity supply and is now close to eliminating the use of all fossil fuels from all its operations.

The company has long implemented its own technologies in its operations to enable the integration of renewable energy. For example, in 2015, its south Africa operations installed a 750 kW rooftop PV plant and a 1 MVA/380 kWh battery-based PowerStore, to improve the use of renewables and provide a continuous supply of energy.

Through the objectives and its Sustainability 2030 plan, the company reinforces its commitment to accelerate the actions that drive business in a sustainable way. Based on four pillars: Planet, People, Peace and Partnerships, the strategy is based on the Development GoalsUN Sustainable (SDG), with a specific focus on the following: 3 (Good health and well-being), 4 (Quality education), 5 (Gender equality), 6 (Clean water and sanitation), 7 (Clean and affordable energy), 12 (Responsible production and consumption), 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions); and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). In line with these SDGs, each pillar has corresponding goals that drive the business to provide social, environmental and economic value.