Hitachi Energy has extended its service contract with Brazilian electricity generator Eletrobras to include digital technology providing real-time monitoring and cyber security.

This will be for the Rio Madeira high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system. The 2375km HVDC link is one of the longest in the world and, for over a decade, the system has benefited from Hitachi’s HVDC technology under an EnCompass long-term service agreement, to deliver 3.15GW of power to some 45 million people.

Hitachi Energy’s experts on-site have continuously customised the technology to meet the evolving needs of the Brazilian network and accommodate seasonal variations, enhancing the reliability and stability of this critical power infrastructure.

For Eletrobras, the safety of people, systems and the environment are essential values, and the renewal of this partnership is said to reinforce the commitment to a reliable and efficient operation. The joint actions between Eletrobras (eletrobras.com) and Hitachi enable the continued modernisation of the HVDC system, and both are committed to delivering technology and high service standards to meet the growing demands of Brazil’s energy sector.

“We’re proud to extend our partnership with Eletrobras, further strengthening our relationship of trust, transparency and shared goals,” said Andreas Berthou from Hitachi Energy. “We are committed to ensuring continued support to the Rio Madeira HVDC system throughout its lifetime, delivering cutting-edge digital service with sustainability and customer value at its core.”

The project features a Mach control and protection system, the brain behind the link, providing monitoring and control functions through the entire lifetime of the HVDC system. The extended agreement also includes cyber security that is essential to increase the resiliency of the system and help guard the critical infrastructure against threats.

This combination of technology and digital expertise, coupled with technical know-how, has helped deliver availability while upholding safety standards.

EnCompass is Hitachi Energy’s portfolio of partnership-oriented service offerings. This order underlines the company’s commitment to long-term service partnerships and builds on its track record of delivering innovative and reliable energy services. This collaboration ensures the HVDC system continues to deliver clean, renewable energy from the Amazon basin to Brazil’s major urban centres, supporting the country’s energy transition goals.

Hitachi Energy (www.hitachienergy.com) is a specialist in electrification, powering a sustainable energy future with digital power grid technologies. Headquartered in Switzerland, it employs 50,000 people in 60 countries and generates revenues of around $16bn.