"Hitachi Energy Inaugurates Largest Global Technology and Innovation Center in Chennai"

Hitachi Energy Technologies Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Switzerland's Hitachi Energy, celebrated the inauguration of its expansive Global Technology and Innovation Center in Chennai on Thursday, marking the largest such facility within the company's global network.

This cutting-edge center is poised to offer comprehensive support across various business models, catering to diverse industry segments. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin officiated the inaugural ceremony, underscoring the center's significance. With the capacity to accommodate nearly 2,500 energy transition technologists specializing in grid automation, transformers, high-voltage systems, and grid integration, this facility is poised to serve the world at large.

The center is equipped to execute over 1,000 projects annually, spanning across 40 countries. Its multifaceted competencies encompass engineering, project management, tendering, supply chain management, customer services, marketing, cybersecurity, commissioning, system studies, and remote services, according to a company statement.

Claudio Facchin, CEO of Hitachi Energy, emphasized the pivotal role that this center plays in the company's overall portfolio. He noted that it represents a strategic investment aimed at expediting innovation, digitalization, and engineering capabilities to support customers in advancing the global energy system's sustainability, flexibility, and security.

Facchin also highlighted India's prominent role in the renewable energy sector, noting that the country had already achieved a significant milestone by installing 172 GW of renewable energy capacity by March of this year. India is firmly on track to meet its ambitious goal of reaching 500 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, accompanied by plans to seamlessly integrate this additional capacity into the transmission network, recognized as one of the most extensive synchronized grids globally.

Global industry leaders such as Hitachi Energy are urged to continue investing in technology and resources while capitalizing on established footprints and supply chains cultivated over decades in various countries and regions. Such investments are essential to meeting growing demand and avoiding potential bottlenecks in the transition to sustainable energy systems.

Facchin concluded, "What we don't talk about enough when discussing supply chains is the availability of people skills to execute the transition — from design engineers and commercial staff to blue-collar workers and commissioning staff. It is with this consideration that we have continually expanded and extended the scope of this Global Centre in Chennai. It has grown from less than 50 people at inception to the institution we are inaugurating today, which will host more than 2,500 experts — and counting."

HBL