November 26, 2024 • 18 mins
Decarbonizing the grid is an enormous challenge faced by the industry. It’s a big task for anyone to undertake, with so many overwhelming questions – where do we even start? Does the market even have the solutions today to meet global ambitious targets in time?
It can be a daunting topic to talk about, bu.css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}Mark as PlayedTranscript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
High voltage takes center stage
in this season of HitachiEnergy's Power Pulse podcast.
We promise to bring you great contentfrom the brightest minds in the business.
We'll discuss challenges, opportunities,and all the hot topics
any high voltage enthusiast
or anyone interested in sustainabilityfor that matter, is sure to enjoy.
This episode of the podcast is dedicatedto all sustainability officers.
(00:22):
We'll talk about how we can
decarbonize the existing power gridand discuss some solutions available.
Companies in the power industryare becoming increasingly committed
to reaching a sustainable future, soonerrather than later.
This is also a priorityfor Hitachi Energy,
so we invited Christian Cingolanialong to talk about the solutions
availableto decarbonize the grid right now.
(00:43):
Christian is an electrical engineerwho also holds a master's in management.
He is the current sales and marketingmanager for the European region at Hitachi
Energy having worked in the companyfor over 25 years.
As an engineer working in sales, he’sanalytic and motivated by competition
and KPIs.
Welcome back to Power Pulse.
I'm your host, Sam Dash, and todayI'm speaking with Christian Cingolani,
(01:07):
the marketing and sales managerfor high voltage products in Europe.
Hi, Christian.
Hi, Sam.
So, Christian,I hear you lived for one month
on an isolated island in Brazilwith no electricity.
Is that right? Yes.Have I heard that right?
Yeah, that's right.
This, I would say almost in another life.
(01:27):
Tell me a little bit about thatand if that experience
impacted your choiceto work in the energy industry.
Yeah. That's a good question. Yes.
This was, I would say, long time ago,more than 25 years ago.
Traveling in Brazil,I found together with some friends
a very nice place,a nice island, quite isolated.
And the idea was to spend some few daysand then finally I stayed one month.
(01:51):
Yeah.
Definitely. It was a very nice experience.
I still remember thatmonth, and I would say, yeah,
this part with the electricityand the energy and the easiness
in the day to day life, yes,I think it has some impact.
I like how you seem to have experiencedboth ends of the spectrum,
and probably a large areain between where you lived off the grid
(02:15):
and now you're working quiteintimately with the grid, right? Yes.
And so you've come in from Swedenwhere you're based.
Is that right?
Yes. That's right. I'm based in Sweden.
But you're originally from Argentina.
What has this trajectorybeen like in more detail?
How did you end up working with HitachiEnergy?
(02:36):
Yeah, well, around 25 years ago,I started in Hitachi
Energyat that moment with previous company name.
I like it very much from the beginningto work in that environment.
Really from the beginningI saw that, let's say the potential
of the electricity in the,
let's say, energy matrix of the countries- ok, this really the future.
(02:57):
And then like 20 years ago,I got the opportunity to spend some time
in one of the main manufacturing areas,let's say, of Hitachi Energy.
It was in Sweden.
Also, my plan was to be there two yearsand then it has been more than 20 now.
Yeah, right. For family and so on.
And then I establishedand I'm located in Sweden.
Yeah.
Which do you likemore, Sweden or Argentina?
(03:19):
Is it a hard comparison? It’sdifficult, yes.
Yeah. Yeah.
You know you feel like partof both countries and both cultures.
I come also from my familywith quite international background;
relatives, parentsliving in different countries and so on.
Yeah. But yeah, difficult.
Yeah.
So Christian, as I'm sure you're aware,this industry is not known
to be the greenest, the energy industry.
(03:42):
So tell me, how can high voltage equipmentbe sustainable?
Thanks Sam for the question.
I think I would start firstby maybe clarifying a little
about the concept about the life cycleassessment that we use nowadays a lot.
Life cycle assessment,or LCA, is methodology
that is accepted by the governmentsand the industry to measure the impact
in the environment of our operations.
(04:04):
When we manufacturea product, for example, what's the carbon
footprint from the moment we extract rawmaterial, manufacture, transport,
operate and even dispose equipmentat the end of the lifetime?
Right.
One part for HitachiEnergy has been very important
is that we need to keep the total carbonfootprint at the lowest possible level.
(04:26):
This means that we are not only talkingabout a change
or replacing the SF6 gas with another gas.
We also need to keep the carbonfootprint lowest possible level.
And one important area in this LCAcalculation
is the total amount of materialyou have in your component.
So to answer your question,Hitachi Energy’s
(04:47):
strategy has been to replace the gas.
At the same time, keep the size
and the quantity of materialsof the equipment to minimum possible.
So nowadays
our portfolio has the same or very similarfootprint and size of equipment.
Yeah, I can
imagine that's a big part of the puzzleis not increasing
the amount of materials that you need,not increasing the scope of the project.
(05:09):
Exactly, exactly.
And this is connected, let’s say, alsoif we talk about the carbon footprint.
Now, just to go a little more in detailin this area, a carbon footprint is
an index that is used in the energy,in the segment to measure
the impact of greenhouse emissionsthat we have with any kind of operations,
and also is usually reportedin quantity of tons of CO2.
(05:32):
So in this way you can comparewhat you are manufacturing, you are doing
if you are not really increasingthe quantity of CO2.
Right.
And so you just mentioned carbonfootprint.
What carbon footprint does this equate
to in your typical substation or SF6?
Yeah.
Well just to compare, you know, carbonfootprint is an index that we use
(05:53):
to compare a little greenhouse effect.
Yeah.
Of an operationor for a product; in the case of SF6,
just to give a comparison,one kilogram of SF6
is equivalent to almost 24,000kg of CO2.
Right. So the impact is quite high.
What we have done in Hitachi Energywith our EconiQ portfolio,
(06:15):
we have found a way to replace this gasby other type of gases.
But at the same time we are keepingthe footprint, we are keeping the size
and the quantity of materialwe have in the equipment.
So in this way, really supporting ourcustomers in this decarbonization journey.
So in the grids that currently exist,
if there are no SF6 leaks, assuming insome perfect world there are no leaks,
(06:40):
is SF6 still bad for the planetif it's completely contained?
Yes, you'reright, SF6 is contained in our equipment.
So in theory it’snot released to the atmosphere
and also Hitachi Energy and in general,the industry has really developed
very good solutions during the last yearto really keep this gas sealed
(07:00):
and contained, to really minimizethe possibility of any emission
to the atmosphere.
But we need to remember that SF6,
although is a very good gasfrom the electrical point of view,
has a big disadvantage that is the GWP,the global warming potential.
So when you compare this with CO2,that is the most common greenhouse,
(07:21):
SF6 has an equivalenceof almost 25,000 compared with CO2.
So even if it is contained,it's just much higher
risk of somethingto be working with than say,
some of the gases that are involvedin the EconiQ portfolio.
Is that right? Yes, that's right,that's right.
And that, I would say that thisin some way, the beauty of the EconiQ
(07:44):
portfolio is this, that we have combinedthe possibility to remove the SF6.
These solutions are available todayand we can help customers
in their sustainability journey.
At the same time, we have keptthis footprint that we discussed before
to the minimum possible level or carbonfootprint to the lowest possible level.
(08:06):
And has it been difficult to create that
availability of the EconiQ portfolio?
And is demand increasing more,and will that be difficult?
Yes, definitely.
I mean, this is the result of severalyears of R&D work in Hitachi Energy.
But nowadays we are having a,I would say, quite complete portfolio.
(08:27):
It keeps growing.
Yeah.
So I believe this has been a long journey,
but now we are coming with a good solutionthat is available today.
So the possibility of removingSF6 exists today
and without increasing the carbonfootprint of the substations.
Yeah.
So you're matching demandand are at a place at Hitachi Energy
(08:47):
where you're able to grow
with this pattern of pushingfor more sustainable solutions.
Is that right?
Yes, definitely.
And the demand is growing,I would say rapidly in several regions,
Europe, North America and all aroundthe world are becoming
more and more demandsfor all these eco-efficient products.
And this is where Hitachi Energy comeswith a quite comprehensive portfolio.
(09:08):
Today, we can develop products from 72 up
to 420 kilovolts,soon up to 550 kilovolts.
And we keep developing.
So the vision is to really havea complete EconiQ portfolio in the future
where customers can choose dependingon the type of application they want.
Yeah, it's developing swiftlyit sounds like. Yes.
(09:28):
So, do different regions need different
solutions in regards to sustainability?
Can you tell me specificallywhat sustainable equipment is needed
versus what is available?
Yes, definitely.
I would say that this look for sustainableand eco-efficient products,
products with a minimum possiblecarbon footprint
(09:50):
is a megatrendthat we see the whole planet nowadays.
It is true that the different regionsare moving or different
countries are also movingat maybe a little different speeds.
Could be maybe a different demands,
but we believe thatthis a trend that came to stay.
So that's why we are developing portfolioto reach
all these regions, different typesof specification, customer demands, etc..
(10:13):
And in terms of the relationshipwith your customers, do you find that
a lot of customers are coming to you,asking for you to help them decarbonize,
or do you find thatthey're sort of back-footed
and you're having to seek them outand try to convince them?
I would say that you can finda little different situations,
but it's clear that customers are moreand more interested, are coming with more
(10:36):
and more questions, suggestionsalso to ask.
Many customers they want to work togetherhow to find different solutions
to decarbonize.
Because we are not talkingonly about the removal of the gas.
There are other areaswhere we can work together, minimize
the footprint,the size that will at the same time,
you know, reduce the carbon footprintin transportation, civil works and so on.
(10:58):
So there are different ideas.
Yeah.
I wonder if you can talk more about that
because we haven't heard as muchabout that aspect of things.
We've heard about people talking at lengthabout replacing SF6
with the EconiQ portfolio.
But what are those other areas
that you mentionedwhere businesses can be more sustainable?
Yes, I would say that if we talk aboutthe important concept that is the life
(11:22):
cycle assessment, that is where you canmeasure the impact, the carbon footprint,
let's say, along the whole lifespan of equipment, since we extract raw
material, manufacture, transport, operateand even dispose the equipment.
Yeah.
It's very important that we keepthis carbon footprint as low as possible.
Yeah.
(11:42):
So Hitachi Energy’s
strategy has always been, ‘okay,we need to find a way to replace the gas.
But we need to keep the sizeand the footprint as small as possible.’
So this is very important wayto keep the product
as a eco-efficient as possible;not to remove the gas,
but then at the same time increasea lot of material used for the product.
(12:02):
So when you say footprintyou're talking about the carbon footprint.
So not only the size of the equipment,the land that the equipment is taking up,
but also all the different aspectsof servicing that equipment
or getting those materialsto create that equipment and sustain.
Yes, that, that's right, that's right.
So can you share with our listeners
(12:24):
a sustainability success storythat you've encountered lately?
Yeah, definitely.
There are now several nice stories.
For example, customers in the UKwhere we are together
with them, we have implementeda solution called retrofill
where we replace SF6 gas,but we keep the same equipment.
The customer doesn'tneed to change the whole equipment.
(12:45):
We change the gas,plus some small accessories.
But the main part of the equipmentremains. Yeah.
And this is a very convenientway, let’s say, for customers
to develop their sustainability strategy
without the needto replace the whole switchgear.
That example of the United Kingdom,how long has that process
taken from inception to being completed?
(13:07):
Yeah, from the beginninguntil we managed to finalize,
we say it took several months of worktogether with a customer.
That's much shorterthan I expected you to say, actually.
Yes, yes.
Of course you have the R&D process beforewhen we developed the whole concept
and so on. This took several years.
Yeah, yeah. The R&D.
Then with the customer,once we identify the project,
(13:30):
this retrofill, is not a solutionwe can apply
for all types of products– it’s limited nowadays.
But I believe it's a solutionwith huge potential.
Now if we can help customersjust replace the gas
without replacing the whole switchgear,this is one.
Are there any other instancesthat stand out as recent success stories?
Yes. Let me bring another two examples.
(13:52):
One is in Denmark,where we see that all customers
have basically switched into non-SF6breakers.
So nowadays we have more than 100
breakers installed in the countryand they are basically moving out,
let's say from the traditional SF6and going hundred
percent into eco-efficient productsand live tank breakers.
Yeah.
(14:13):
The other good example,we have a customer in Germany.
We are planning to deliver soon.
I would say in a couple of monthsI would say the first 420
kilovolt EconiQ GIS substation.
And just sort of painta visual for our listeners.
What does that look like on the ground,you know, is there a fleet of trucks
(14:34):
that bring this equipmentin? Is it on a train?
Do you fly it in?
How big is it?
Yes, in the case of Denmark,we are talking
about relatively small productsthat are being sent by truck.
In the
case of Germany, there we aretalking really about a big substation
will be in a building and we are talkingabout many trucks going from our factory
(14:54):
in Switzerland to deliver the componentsto the customer in Germany.
And helping to assemble itthere in Germany.
Is that right?
Yes, going to be assembling in Germany,and we're going to do it together
with the customerand to train them and also assemble
and complete the whole installation.
Yes. So there are a lot of differentcomponents involved in one of these jobs.
(15:16):
The travel,the training, the testing, etc..
Exactly.
It's a quite complex substationand switchgear
- 420 kilovolt, completewith all types of accessories.
So yeah, very interestingand looking forward really for delivery
and put into servicethis first 420 kilovolt GIS EconiQ.
I'm looking forward to circling backto you and hearing how it goes.
(15:38):
Very good.
We are very proudto be part of this journey together
with our customerto deliver the eco-efficient product.
And when you deliver a product like that,what goes into that delivery?
Not just say in Germany, butall over the world from start to finish.
If you painted a picture for ourlisteners, what does that look like?
Is the equipment being deliveredby trucks, by plane, by train?
(16:01):
How big is it?
How many peopledo you send along with this equipment?
Yeah, in the case of Germany,
I would say it’s quite complexand complete switchgear equipment
that will be installedinside the building.
We are talking about several trucksleaving our facilities
in Zurich, just some meters from here,going to Germany.
Together with these, we sendseveral specialists because it's not only
(16:23):
the installation, it's about the trainingand the operation of the switchgear.
So it's a complete team participating.
So in that case,you've had to send the equipment over,
but also you've had to have trainingfor how to use the equipment
and you've had to test the equipmentto see how well it works in that setting
and that context. Is that right?
(16:44):
That's right.
Especially with the new technology,of course, the customer wants to do all
this part of the work together and verifythat everything is on site and in place.
Right.
And for example, with your storyabout the UK or any other customers
that come to mind, really,
what's the most common obstacleor challenge you hear from customers in
(17:06):
terms of what's getting in the way of themmaking this transition?
It's a good question.
I would say that during the last year,we saw more and more interest
from customers to go into thiseco-efficient production portfolio.
But during some time,it has been a little unclear
with the regulations and laws onwhat's going to be allowed or not.
Fortunately, now, recently,
the European Union has released a regulation where clarifies already now what
(17:31):
is allowed, how it’sgoing to be in the future handling of SF6,
how the customers need to startmoving into non-SF6 products.
So this is really helping nowbecause it has clarified
and has really confirmed that EconiQis the right solution for our customers.
Right.
So that regulation has provided some focus
and I imagine also some support - lighta fire under everyone.
(17:52):
Exactly, exactly.
Well, thanks so much for joining us today,Christian.
You've helped
clarify the importance of reducing carbonemissions in daily operations
based on society's need and in linewith the strategies you described.
Thank you Sam. You're welcome.
Thanks for tuning into this episode of Power Pulse.
Until next time.
(18:12):
And that's it for today.
We'll be back soonwith some more great content.
But, before you go,remember to give us a follow
so you don't miss an episode.
Thanks for tuning in. See you soon.
This episode was brought to you by HitachiEnergy.
Createdand introduced by Bárbara Freitas-Daniels.
Content and scriptwriting by Cassandra Inay.
Guest speaker, Christian Cingolani.
(18:33):
Hosted by Sam Dash.
Produced and edited by Creative Chimps.
High voltage takes center stage
in this season of HitachiEnergy's Power Pulse podcast.
We promise to bring you great contentfrom the brightest minds in the business.
We'll discuss challenges, opportunities,and all the hot topics
any high voltage enthusiast
or anyone interested in sustainabilityfor that matter, is sure to enjoy.
This episode of the podcast is dedicatedto all sustainability officers.
(00:22):
We'll talk about how we can
decarbonize the existing power gridand discuss some solutions available.
Companies in the power industryare becoming increasingly committed
to reaching a sustainable future, soonerrather than later.
This is also a priorityfor Hitachi Energy,
so we invited Christian Cingolanialong to talk about the solutions
availableto decarbonize the grid right now.
(00:43):
Christian is an electrical engineerwho also holds a master's in management.
He is the current sales and marketingmanager for the European region at Hitachi
Energy having worked in the companyfor over 25 years.
As an engineer working in sales, he’sanalytic and motivated by competition
and KPIs.
Welcome back to Power Pulse.
I'm your host, Sam Dash, and todayI'm speaking with Christian Cingolani,
(01:07):
the marketing and sales managerfor high voltage products in Europe.
Hi, Christian.
Hi, Sam.
So, Christian,I hear you lived for one month
on an isolated island in Brazilwith no electricity.
Is that right? Yes.Have I heard that right?
Yeah, that's right.
This, I would say almost in another life.
(01:27):
Tell me a little bit about thatand if that experience
impacted your choiceto work in the energy industry.
Yeah. That's a good question. Yes.
This was, I would say, long time ago,more than 25 years ago.
Traveling in Brazil,I found together with some friends
a very nice place,a nice island, quite isolated.
And the idea was to spend some few daysand then finally I stayed one month.
(01:51):
Yeah.
Definitely. It was a very nice experience.
I still remember thatmonth, and I would say, yeah,
this part with the electricityand the energy and the easiness
in the day to day life, yes,I think it has some impact.
I like how you seem to have experiencedboth ends of the spectrum,
and probably a large areain between where you lived off the grid
(02:15):
and now you're working quiteintimately with the grid, right? Yes.
And so you've come in from Swedenwhere you're based.
Is that right?
Yes. That's right. I'm based in Sweden.
But you're originally from Argentina.
What has this trajectorybeen like in more detail?
How did you end up working with HitachiEnergy?
(02:36):
Yeah, well, around 25 years ago,I started in Hitachi
Energyat that moment with previous company name.
I like it very much from the beginningto work in that environment.
Really from the beginningI saw that, let's say the potential
of the electricity in the,
let's say, energy matrix of the countries- ok, this really the future.
(02:57):
And then like 20 years ago,I got the opportunity to spend some time
in one of the main manufacturing areas,let's say, of Hitachi Energy.
It was in Sweden.
Also, my plan was to be there two yearsand then it has been more than 20 now.
Yeah, right. For family and so on.
And then I establishedand I'm located in Sweden.
Yeah.
Which do you likemore, Sweden or Argentina?
(03:19):
Is it a hard comparison? It’sdifficult, yes.
Yeah. Yeah.
You know you feel like partof both countries and both cultures.
I come also from my familywith quite international background;
relatives, parentsliving in different countries and so on.
Yeah. But yeah, difficult.
Yeah.
So Christian, as I'm sure you're aware,this industry is not known
to be the greenest, the energy industry.
(03:42):
So tell me, how can high voltage equipmentbe sustainable?
Thanks Sam for the question.
I think I would start firstby maybe clarifying a little
about the concept about the life cycleassessment that we use nowadays a lot.
Life cycle assessment,or LCA, is methodology
that is accepted by the governmentsand the industry to measure the impact
in the environment of our operations.
(04:04):
When we manufacturea product, for example, what's the carbon
footprint from the moment we extract rawmaterial, manufacture, transport,
operate and even dispose equipmentat the end of the lifetime?
Right.
One part for HitachiEnergy has been very important
is that we need to keep the total carbonfootprint at the lowest possible level.
(04:26):
This means that we are not only talkingabout a change
or replacing the SF6 gas with another gas.
We also need to keep the carbonfootprint lowest possible level.
And one important area in this LCAcalculation
is the total amount of materialyou have in your component.
So to answer your question,Hitachi Energy’s
(04:47):
strategy has been to replace the gas.
At the same time, keep the size
and the quantity of materialsof the equipment to minimum possible.
So nowadays
our portfolio has the same or very similarfootprint and size of equipment.
Yeah, I can
imagine that's a big part of the puzzleis not increasing
the amount of materials that you need,not increasing the scope of the project.
(05:09):
Exactly, exactly.
And this is connected, let’s say, alsoif we talk about the carbon footprint.
Now, just to go a little more in detailin this area, a carbon footprint is
an index that is used in the energy,in the segment to measure
the impact of greenhouse emissionsthat we have with any kind of operations,
and also is usually reportedin quantity of tons of CO2.
(05:32):
So in this way you can comparewhat you are manufacturing, you are doing
if you are not really increasingthe quantity of CO2.
Right.
And so you just mentioned carbonfootprint.
What carbon footprint does this equate
to in your typical substation or SF6?
Yeah.
Well just to compare, you know, carbonfootprint is an index that we use
(05:53):
to compare a little greenhouse effect.
Yeah.
Of an operationor for a product; in the case of SF6,
just to give a comparison,one kilogram of SF6
is equivalent to almost 24,000kg of CO2.
Right. So the impact is quite high.
What we have done in Hitachi Energywith our EconiQ portfolio,
(06:15):
we have found a way to replace this gasby other type of gases.
But at the same time we are keepingthe footprint, we are keeping the size
and the quantity of materialwe have in the equipment.
So in this way, really supporting ourcustomers in this decarbonization journey.
So in the grids that currently exist,
if there are no SF6 leaks, assuming insome perfect world there are no leaks,
(06:40):
is SF6 still bad for the planetif it's completely contained?
Yes, you'reright, SF6 is contained in our equipment.
So in theory it’snot released to the atmosphere
and also Hitachi Energy and in general,the industry has really developed
very good solutions during the last yearto really keep this gas sealed
(07:00):
and contained, to really minimizethe possibility of any emission
to the atmosphere.
But we need to remember that SF6,
although is a very good gasfrom the electrical point of view,
has a big disadvantage that is the GWP,the global warming potential.
So when you compare this with CO2,that is the most common greenhouse,
(07:21):
SF6 has an equivalenceof almost 25,000 compared with CO2.
So even if it is contained,it's just much higher
risk of somethingto be working with than say,
some of the gases that are involvedin the EconiQ portfolio.
Is that right? Yes, that's right,that's right.
And that, I would say that thisin some way, the beauty of the EconiQ
(07:44):
portfolio is this, that we have combinedthe possibility to remove the SF6.
These solutions are available todayand we can help customers
in their sustainability journey.
At the same time, we have keptthis footprint that we discussed before
to the minimum possible level or carbonfootprint to the lowest possible level.
(08:06):
And has it been difficult to create that
availability of the EconiQ portfolio?
And is demand increasing more,and will that be difficult?
Yes, definitely.
I mean, this is the result of severalyears of R&D work in Hitachi Energy.
But nowadays we are having a,I would say, quite complete portfolio.
(08:27):
It keeps growing.
Yeah.
So I believe this has been a long journey,
but now we are coming with a good solutionthat is available today.
So the possibility of removingSF6 exists today
and without increasing the carbonfootprint of the substations.
Yeah.
So you're matching demandand are at a place at Hitachi Energy
(08:47):
where you're able to grow
with this pattern of pushingfor more sustainable solutions.
Is that right?
Yes, definitely.
And the demand is growing,I would say rapidly in several regions,
Europe, North America and all aroundthe world are becoming
more and more demandsfor all these eco-efficient products.
And this is where Hitachi Energy comeswith a quite comprehensive portfolio.
(09:08):
Today, we can develop products from 72 up
to 420 kilovolts,soon up to 550 kilovolts.
And we keep developing.
So the vision is to really havea complete EconiQ portfolio in the future
where customers can choose dependingon the type of application they want.
Yeah, it's developing swiftlyit sounds like. Yes.
(09:28):
So, do different regions need different
solutions in regards to sustainability?
Can you tell me specificallywhat sustainable equipment is needed
versus what is available?
Yes, definitely.
I would say that this look for sustainableand eco-efficient products,
products with a minimum possiblecarbon footprint
(09:50):
is a megatrendthat we see the whole planet nowadays.
It is true that the different regionsare moving or different
countries are also movingat maybe a little different speeds.
Could be maybe a different demands,
but we believe thatthis a trend that came to stay.
So that's why we are developing portfolioto reach
all these regions, different typesof specification, customer demands, etc..
(10:13):
And in terms of the relationshipwith your customers, do you find that
a lot of customers are coming to you,asking for you to help them decarbonize,
or do you find thatthey're sort of back-footed
and you're having to seek them outand try to convince them?
I would say that you can finda little different situations,
but it's clear that customers are moreand more interested, are coming with more
(10:36):
and more questions, suggestionsalso to ask.
Many customers they want to work togetherhow to find different solutions
to decarbonize.
Because we are not talkingonly about the removal of the gas.
There are other areaswhere we can work together, minimize
the footprint,the size that will at the same time,
you know, reduce the carbon footprintin transportation, civil works and so on.
(10:58):
So there are different ideas.
Yeah.
I wonder if you can talk more about that
because we haven't heard as muchabout that aspect of things.
We've heard about people talking at lengthabout replacing SF6
with the EconiQ portfolio.
But what are those other areas
that you mentionedwhere businesses can be more sustainable?
Yes, I would say that if we talk aboutthe important concept that is the life
(11:22):
cycle assessment, that is where you canmeasure the impact, the carbon footprint,
let's say, along the whole lifespan of equipment, since we extract raw
material, manufacture, transport, operateand even dispose the equipment.
Yeah.
It's very important that we keepthis carbon footprint as low as possible.
Yeah.
(11:42):
So Hitachi Energy’s
strategy has always been, ‘okay,we need to find a way to replace the gas.
But we need to keep the sizeand the footprint as small as possible.’
So this is very important wayto keep the product
as a eco-efficient as possible;not to remove the gas,
but then at the same time increasea lot of material used for the product.
(12:02):
So when you say footprintyou're talking about the carbon footprint.
So not only the size of the equipment,the land that the equipment is taking up,
but also all the different aspectsof servicing that equipment
or getting those materialsto create that equipment and sustain.
Yes, that, that's right, that's right.
So can you share with our listeners
(12:24):
a sustainability success storythat you've encountered lately?
Yeah, definitely.
There are now several nice stories.
For example, customers in the UKwhere we are together
with them, we have implementeda solution called retrofill
where we replace SF6 gas,but we keep the same equipment.
The customer doesn'tneed to change the whole equipment.
(12:45):
We change the gas,plus some small accessories.
But the main part of the equipmentremains. Yeah.
And this is a very convenientway, let’s say, for customers
to develop their sustainability strategy
without the needto replace the whole switchgear.
That example of the United Kingdom,how long has that process
taken from inception to being completed?
(13:07):
Yeah, from the beginninguntil we managed to finalize,
we say it took several months of worktogether with a customer.
That's much shorterthan I expected you to say, actually.
Yes, yes.
Of course you have the R&D process beforewhen we developed the whole concept
and so on. This took several years.
Yeah, yeah. The R&D.
Then with the customer,once we identify the project,
(13:30):
this retrofill, is not a solutionwe can apply
for all types of products– it’s limited nowadays.
But I believe it's a solutionwith huge potential.
Now if we can help customersjust replace the gas
without replacing the whole switchgear,this is one.
Are there any other instancesthat stand out as recent success stories?
Yes. Let me bring another two examples.
(13:52):
One is in Denmark,where we see that all customers
have basically switched into non-SF6breakers.
So nowadays we have more than 100
breakers installed in the countryand they are basically moving out,
let's say from the traditional SF6and going hundred
percent into eco-efficient productsand live tank breakers.
Yeah.
(14:13):
The other good example,we have a customer in Germany.
We are planning to deliver soon.
I would say in a couple of monthsI would say the first 420
kilovolt EconiQ GIS substation.
And just sort of painta visual for our listeners.
What does that look like on the ground,you know, is there a fleet of trucks
(14:34):
that bring this equipmentin? Is it on a train?
Do you fly it in?
How big is it?
Yes, in the case of Denmark,we are talking
about relatively small productsthat are being sent by truck.
In the
case of Germany, there we aretalking really about a big substation
will be in a building and we are talkingabout many trucks going from our factory
(14:54):
in Switzerland to deliver the componentsto the customer in Germany.
And helping to assemble itthere in Germany.
Is that right?
Yes, going to be assembling in Germany,and we're going to do it together
with the customerand to train them and also assemble
and complete the whole installation.
Yes. So there are a lot of differentcomponents involved in one of these jobs.
(15:16):
The travel,the training, the testing, etc..
Exactly.
It's a quite complex substationand switchgear
- 420 kilovolt, completewith all types of accessories.
So yeah, very interestingand looking forward really for delivery
and put into servicethis first 420 kilovolt GIS EconiQ.
I'm looking forward to circling backto you and hearing how it goes.
(15:38):
Very good.
We are very proudto be part of this journey together
with our customerto deliver the eco-efficient product.
And when you deliver a product like that,what goes into that delivery?
Not just say in Germany, butall over the world from start to finish.
If you painted a picture for ourlisteners, what does that look like?
Is the equipment being deliveredby trucks, by plane, by train?
(16:01):
How big is it?
How many peopledo you send along with this equipment?
Yeah, in the case of Germany,
I would say it’s quite complexand complete switchgear equipment
that will be installedinside the building.
We are talking about several trucksleaving our facilities
in Zurich, just some meters from here,going to Germany.
Together with these, we sendseveral specialists because it's not only
(16:23):
the installation, it's about the trainingand the operation of the switchgear.
So it's a complete team participating.
So in that case,you've had to send the equipment over,
but also you've had to have trainingfor how to use the equipment
and you've had to test the equipmentto see how well it works in that setting
and that context. Is that right?
(16:44):
That's right.
Especially with the new technology,of course, the customer wants to do all
this part of the work together and verifythat everything is on site and in place.
Right.
And for example, with your storyabout the UK or any other customers
that come to mind, really,
what's the most common obstacleor challenge you hear from customers in
(17:06):
terms of what's getting in the way of themmaking this transition?
It's a good question.
I would say that during the last year,we saw more and more interest
from customers to go into thiseco-efficient production portfolio.
But during some time,it has been a little unclear
with the regulations and laws onwhat's going to be allowed or not.
Fortunately, now, recently,
the European Union has released a regulation where clarifies already now what
(17:31):
is allowed, how it’sgoing to be in the future handling of SF6,
how the customers need to startmoving into non-SF6 products.
So this is really helping nowbecause it has clarified
and has really confirmed that EconiQis the right solution for our customers.
Right.
So that regulation has provided some focus
and I imagine also some support - lighta fire under everyone.
(17:52):
Exactly, exactly.
Well, thanks so much for joining us today,Christian.
You've helped
clarify the importance of reducing carbonemissions in daily operations
based on society's need and in linewith the strategies you described.
Thank you Sam. You're welcome.
Thanks for tuning into this episode of Power Pulse.
Until next time.
(18:12):
And that's it for today.
We'll be back soonwith some more great content.
But, before you go,remember to give us a follow
so you don't miss an episode.
Thanks for tuning in. See you soon.
This episode was brought to you by HitachiEnergy.
Createdand introduced by Bárbara Freitas-Daniels.
Content and scriptwriting by Cassandra Inay.
Guest speaker, Christian Cingolani.
(18:33):
Hosted by Sam Dash.
Produced and edited by Creative Chimps.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!