The grid of tomorrow: North America’s journey to a sustainable energy future

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The grid of tomorrow: North America’s journey to a sustainable energy future

Every second of every day, a vast and intricate system hums beneath North America’s cities, industries, and homes. It moves at the speed of light, stretching across millions of square miles, quietly powering everything from your morning coffee to the digital infrastructure that keeps the internet running.

The North American power grid is a vast and interconnected network, constantly adjusting in real time to balance supply and demand. Electricity must be generated and consumed at the exact same moment – a delicate balance that must be maintained across thousands of power plants, millions of miles of transmission lines, and a growing mix of energy sources.

As demand rises, extreme weather intensifies, and new technologies reshape electricity consumption, it faces its greatest test yet: adapting to a world that is electrifying at an unprecedented pace while cutting emissions. If you’re interested in hearing more, you can deep dive into this journey further by checking out the latest Power Pulse podcast episode "North America's journey to a more sustainable energy future."

A grid like no other: How it came to be and how it operates today

Developing the modern North American power grid didn’t appear overnight. Instead, this complex network evolved over many decades, tackling tremendous engineering and logistical hurdles.

Now, as electrification in North America accelerates, the grid must once again evolve – but this time, to handle higher demand, extreme weather conditions, and the shift to clean energy.

In the spotlight: A system under pressure to evolve again

For over a century, the North American grid has grown alongside the economy, expanding as demand increased significantly. But today, it faces pressure unlike anything in its history:

1. Electrification is accelerating.
   More electric vehicles, industrial electrification, and the exponential growth of digital services are just some of the key drivers pushing the grid beyond what it was originally designed to handle.
2. Renewables are reshaping energy flows.
   Unlike traditional fossil fuel plants, wind and solar power generation are variable, requiring reliable battery energy storage and energy transmission solutions.
3. Extreme weather is testing resilience.
   Heatwaves, hurricanes, wildfires, and deep freezes – once occasional disruptions – are now frequent threats to grid stability and reliability, forcing grid operators to rethink infrastructure durability.

To meet the rising demand without bottlenecks, the grid is scaling up with even more powerful high-voltage networks and with more sustainable technologies.

The next leap: 800 kV and beyond

To bridge the gap between renewable energy sources and growing electricity demand, North America is looking to expand its ultra-high-voltage transmission networks – following the examples of China and India, which have developed 800 kV and even 1,100 kV transmission corridors.

In North America, new 800 kV transmission lines are being planned to:

• Transport wind power from the Midwest to urban centers on the East Coast
• Expand the clean energy trade between the U.S. and Canada, utilizing large-scale hydro from Quebec and Manitoba.
• Connect new solar megaprojects in the Southwest to high-demand areas like California and Texas

These projects represent a paradigm shift in energy transmission. While current infrastructure often struggles to move large amounts of renewable energy over long distances, 800 kV transmission lines can do it with half the energy losses of conventional AC lines. This technology is key to integrating renewables at scale, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and ensuring grid reliability as electrification accelerates.

Beyond high voltage: The push for sustainable energy

Expanding 800 kV transmission is only part of the transformation. The next challenge is ensuring these upgrades don’t come at an environmental cost.

Today, most high-voltage switchgear – the critical components that control and protect electrical grids – relies on sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), a gas with an extremely high global warming potential (GWP). While SF₆ is highly effective as an insulator, it is 24,300 times more potent than CO₂.

As North America modernizes its grid, it cannot afford to expand transmission while continuing to rely on greenhouse gases that contradict its decarbonization goals. With carbon reduction policies gaining momentum, North America is actively phasing out SF₆ to accelerate the energy transition, for example:

1. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is enforcing strict SF₆ reduction policies, mandating utilities to phase out the gas completely by 2033. Utilities operating in California must now deploy SF₆-free equipment in new projects.
2. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has proposed regulations to phase out SF₆ use in gas-insulated equipment which includes setting emission limits for utilities, mandating reporting for users and suppliers of SF₆, and imposing limitations on other use of SF₆ in specific applications.

EconiQ^® is leading the way for North America

Hitachi Energy is at the forefront of sustainable innovation with its award-winning EconiQ high-voltage portfolio.

EconiQ technology eliminates SF₆ while maintaining the same reliability, efficiency, and compact design needed for 800 kV transmission. This is a crucial breakthrough, as ultra-high-voltage networks require exceptionally strong insulation and switching capabilities, historically achieved with SF₆.

As part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, a new EconiQ high-voltage roadmap was released with a target to achieve the world’s first 800 kV eco-efficient switchgear by 2027. This roadmap is a testament of Hitachi Energy’s commitment to enable customers and partners around the world to transition to eco-efficient alternatives and align with global climate targets.

The EconiQ high-voltage roadmap is not a mere technical advancement – it’s a bold statement about the future of energy. It’s a commitment to redefining what’s possible in energy. The future is now, and the journey to an SF₆-free world is well underway. 

Advancing North America’s sustainable future

North America’s energy landscape is evolving, and the grid must evolve with it. The transition to SF₆-free technologies, digital substations, and intelligent automation isn’t just an option – it’s a necessity for a more sustainable, secure, and resilient energy system.

This path forward requires bold action, strategic investments, and collaboration across industries. By embracing innovative and sustainable technologies today, we’re shaping a grid that’s ready for the future. A grid that both today’s and future generations can confidently depend on.