The increasing fleet and network have compelled the operators to look at sustainable options

- Atul Pandit

Sr. Vice President, Transformers, Hitachi Energy India

How has India's transportation sector been evolving over the years? What are the emerging trends in metro and railways segments?

Railways and metros have been the backbone of urbanization, supporting ease of transportation and mobility to the growing cities. Transportation has been evolving over many years, expanding its network, upgrading its technology, and also adopting sustainable mobility solutions. The use of cutting-edge technology and digitization bring a significant change by resulting in a modern and efficient Metro-Rail transportation system in India. With the government's encouragement through business-friendly laws and financial backing, the metro-rail segment in India is expanding at an accelerated rate with promising long-term prospects. Currently, more than 1,700 km of the metro are either operational or under construction. The government has increased investment in metro and rail industries keeping in focus that it is becoming increasingly clear that significant infrastructure investments will accelerate India's post-pandemic economic recovery, with the infrastructure industry anticipating receiving a significant boost with numerous high-profile metro rail projects in the works.

What are the major technology solutions offered by Hitachi Energy in Indian railway and metro rail systems?

Hitachi Energy foresees transportation as India's fundamental growth driver and is actively supporting various metro and rail segments in India with its globally renowned power technology solutions. Hitachi Energy is powering nine out of ten metros in India and helping the city curb its carbon footprint. In Kanpur Metro, for example, we have provided design, supply, supervision and commissioning of special dry-type transformers to help minimize environmental contamination and fire hazard. Hitachi Energy has more than 40,000 dry-type transformers operating all around the globe. Apart from Kanpur Metro, we have also powered the world's longest highway tunnel, the Atal Tunnel, in Rohtang, near Manali, India with same products.

Hitachi Energy is providing vacuum cast coil Dry-Type Transformers to various metros in India for powering Metro stations and third Rail DC traction systems. Hitachi Energy has supplied auxiliary and rectifier duty Dry type Transformers with Transient Voltage Protection (TVP) systems suitable for operations under Transient over voltage conditions arising due to switching in Kanpur Metro and National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

Hitachi Energy offers a full range of traction substations for DC and AC applications containing all the switchgear and protection and control equipment, including fault analysis equipment for fast restoration after a disturbance. Our diverse power portfolio for rail and urban transport solutions is complemented by static frequency converter stations, power quality systems, network management systems, energy recuperation, and energy storage systems as well as a broad range of system studies and dynamic traction power supply simulations based on powerful software tools.

How is energy efficiency gaining traction in the current scenario? What are the solutions offered by Hitachi Energy that drives energy efficiency in railway and metro rail operations?

Energy efficiency is crucial for railways and metros. The increasing fleet and network have compelled the operators to look at sustainable options. The railway and metro operators are increasingly utilizing a number of initiatives, with a particular emphasis on the reduced energy consumption of the infrastructure, maintenance, and rail network aspects. Decreased energy usage is currently one of the top concerns for metro line operators because of the financial and environmental costs. To keep rail infrastructure operating in a sustainable manner, operators need equipment and infrastructure management solutions that are low emissions to cope with growing demand.

Hitachi Energy has helped increase overall system efficiency by supplying energy efficient/low loss Dry-type transformers to the metro segment. Hitachi Energy's 132 kV trackside transformers for CORE are built to reduce power voltage from the utility power network to a suitable level before feeding it to the railway catenary conductors. Hitachi Energy is also ready to support 'Mission Raftaar' initiative of railways with their state-of-the-art special connected transformers for the 2×25 kV Traction PSI.

How do you assess the government programs such as Gati Shakti promoting automation and digitalization in transportation infrastructure for operational efficiency?

The pace of infrastructure projects that have been organized through integrated planning and coordinated implementation has quickened because of government efforts like Gati Shakti. These are crucial to the country's efforts to strengthen India's rail and metro sectors as well as other infrastructure developments.

These projects enhance integrated planning and implementation of future infrastructure projects aiding connectivity between economic hubs, industrial clusters for a sustainable growth. Projects such as Gati Shakti and more leverage the power of automation and technologies to improve planning and project management.

We are also helping the operator monitor and control the operation through SCADA systems. Our SCADA system efficiently monitors field equipment, enabling the operators to take insightful measures and avoid major interruptions, enhancing performance and cutting costs.

Hitachi Energy has also digitally enabled Dry-Type Transformers with TXpertTM that minimizes total cost of ownership, reducing unplanned outages and optimizing operations.

How do you visualize the growth of India's transportation infrastructure? 

Electricity will be the cornerstone of the global energy system, and Hitachi Energy has made a concerted effort to speed up the electrification and decarbonization of the rail and transportation sectors nationally and internationally. We are working closely with operators on some of the significant projects which are already in progress and a few more approved metro projects that will be completed over the next two to three years. The Indian transportation infrastructure is expanding at a tremendous rate. In this era of population explosion, the incoming metro rail has proved to be a boon for society. With the pace with which Indian cities are getting populous, the Mass Rapid Transit Systems are the need of the hour, and the Government of India is also committed to providing better connectivity to the people.

Other factors that will propel growth rates include reform measures and new policies along with encouraging private participation. India's transport infrastructure will grow at higher rates over the next five years on account of a string of measures, including increased spending on road and rail projects. Increased infrastructure investment, railway station redevelopment, and private train operations are among the most attractive investment opportunity in railways.

How is Hitachi Energy prepared to strengthen its presence in the Indian transportation sector? What are the key plans?

More than half the world's electric locomotives and train sets are powered by Hitachi Energy transformers. We continue to partner in the nation's growth story. We work closely with leading electric locomotive manufacturers, such as Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW), Banaras Locomotive Works (BLW) and Patiala Locomotive Works (PMW) directly & leading EMU/MEMU manufacturers, such as Integrated Coach Factory (ICF), Rail Coach Factory (RCF) and Modern Coach Factory (MCF), indirectly through Propulsion OEMs.

At Savli, Vadodara, Gujarat, the company has a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for Dry Type Transformers with an annual production capacity of 1,200 units and world-class rolling stock transformer with annual production capacity of 600 units to meet the sector's growing demand. The factory is outfitted with modern equipment & testing facilities to cater the growing rail transportation sector for Dry-Type Transformers and rolling stock transformers.

Hitachi Energy has been leading the development, manufacturing, and supply of dry & rolling stock transformers for more than 40 years with path-leading technological innovation enabling safe and reliable commute to billion passengers in the country. And as the country moves closer to achieving the target of 100% electrification of the railways, we will continue to provide key electric components to support the electrification of the country's rail routes.

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