In a recent interview with Power Line, N. Venu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, India and South Asia, Hitachi Energy, shared his insights on the sector’s recent performance, the key opportunities and challenges, the role of high voltage direct current (HVDC) and digital solutions, and Hitachi Energy’s priorities in the Indian market going forward. Edited excerpts…
How do you rate the performance of the power sector during the past year or so?
India’s power sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and strong growth over the past year. The installed capacity has crossed 495 GW, of which nearly half is non-fossil, underscoring the seriousness of the government in meeting its 500 GW renewable target by 2030. Foreign investments in renewables have touched record highs, and the planned Rs 9.15 trillion investment in transmission infrastructure by 2032 provides long-term visibility. Structural demand for electrification of mobility, expansion of artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centres, industrial growth, etc. ensures that the sector remains one of the most dynamic world over, even amid global economic uncertainty.
What, according to you, are the biggest opportunities and challenges for the sector?
The energy transition is opening up many new opportunities for India’s power sector. We see rising demand as renewables scale up, industries digitalise, transport shifts to electric, and data centres expand across the country. To meet this demand, the grid needs automation and reliable service support. Solutions like static synchronous compensators, storage and HVDC will all play a role in building corridors that can carry clean power where it is needed.
At the same time, there are some challenges. Supply chains must become more resilient, talent needs to be developed at scale, and large projects have to be delivered on time. And through it all, the sector must maintain a fine balance – making energy affordable while ensuring its sustainability and security – all this while continuing to attract investor confidence in what remains a volatile world.
What are the opportunities for HVDC technology in India? What are the challenges in its adoption?
Since the 1990s, HVDC has played a pivotal role in the development of India’s national grid, transitioning from a zonal division to a unified synchronous grid. HVDC technology facilitates long-distance power transmission with minimal losses, making it ideal for bulk power transfer.
India’s HVDC future looks promising, driven by key opportunities: the growing need for bulk power transmission from remote generation sites, rising urban demand fuelling city infeed projects, the push for an interconnected DC grid to integrate renewables and expanding cross-border power agreements with neighbouring countries.
To unlock the full potential of HVDC in India, several challenges must be addressed.
Extensive system studies and early access to future network models can accelerate execution. Grid planners need to factor in long-term scenarios to keep pace with evolving demand. The transportation of heavy equipment remains a logistical hurdle, requiring optimised designs and streamlined permissions. Finally, bridging the skill gap through targeted training is essential for developing HVDC-ready talent among all stakeholders.
What will be the role of emerging technologies, such as AI and digital solutions, in meeting the needs and requirements of the emerging grid?
The energy system is amidst a fast-paced transformation. Renewables, grid-edge technologies and digitalisation will drive the evolution of future power systems. To keep pace with the energy transition, the existing network must be upgraded and modernised to accommodate the flexibility required to achieve this goal.
The future of the grid lies in the adoption of new technologies, such as big data analytics for predictive maintenance, AI, robotics and virtual reality/augmented reality kits for improving the operations and maintenance of the transmission network.
Establishing technology standardisation is crucial to ensuring cybersecurity, reliability and safety for both consumers and utilities. The industry is currently actively developing standards and protocols to enhance cybersecurity, specifically for smart grids.
Hitachi Energy has been leveraging synergies by combining digital and energy technologies that support the global energy transition. We will further accelerate the drive for synergies, digitalisation and services, and continue to offer the deployment of both IT and operational technology at scale and with speed. To support our partners and customers in grid optimisation, we conduct root-cause analysis to identify grid issues, improve grid reliability, and optimise allocation of assets and costs, ultimately harmonising these efforts to increase the overall effectiveness of the grid.
What have been the key business highlights for Hitachi Energy in India in the past year or so?
For the full year ended March 31, 2025, our orders reached a record Rs 181.74 billion, up 228 per cent from the corresponding period of the previous year, while revenue stood at Rs 64.42 billion, with a 23 per cent increase over the same period.
We celebrated 75 years of presence in India in 2024, making significant contributions to the nation’s energy ecosystem. To commemorate this milestone, Hitachi Energy India Limited hosted a year-long celebration, culminating in the mega event “EDW75” in October 2024, involving all its stakeholders. During the event, the company announced its India investment plan of Rs 20 billion for the next four to five years, to accelerate its capacity expansion plan in India.
To support its investment plan, the company initiated a qualified institutional placement (QIP) and raised Rs 25.21 billion in March 2025. The net proceeds from the QIP will be deployed in capacity expansions and other avenues to accelerate growth in its India operations.
What are Hitachi Energy’s plans and priorities?
- As a technology and innovation leader, Hitachi Energy is well positioned to drive the energy transition through its 2030 Plan, focused on three strategic pillars:
- Strengthening the core: Maintaining leadership in transformers, switchgear, HVDC, power quality and grid automation, especially as demand grows from renewables, data centres and e-mobility.
- Doubling down on digital and services: Investing in digital operations and smart service solutions to enhance system reliability and customer experience.
- Accelerating growth through innovation and partnerships: Driving expansion via innovation, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions to scale sustainable solutions and meet rising energy demand.
What is your outlook for the power sector?
India’s power sector has a very bright future. We are seeing electricity assume a far greater role in driving growth, whether through the rapid scaling up of renewable energy, the growth of data centres, the shift towards electric mobility or even new frontiers like green hydrogen. By 2050, the world will need four times more generation capacity, three times more power transfer and an energy mix that is 80 per cent fossil-free.
India will clearly be at the centre of this transition. What gives confidence is that the fundamentals remain strong: supportive policies, resilient demand and robust investment flows.
The sector’s future will not be shaped by one technology alone. Progress will come from many solutions working together, whether it is HVDC, storage, digital grids or newer sustainable products. What gives us confidence is our long history in India, the strong base we have built here and the global expertise we can draw on. That combination puts us in a good position to support the country’s clean energy journey in the years ahead.