Hitachi Energy to open Glasgow engineering hub to support critical UK grid upgrades
Scotland’s clean energy sector continues to grow with the announcement that Hitachi Energy is bringing a new UK Engineering Centre of Excellence to Glasgow.
Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader in electrification, will open the new premises in the city centre, after receiving a £1.7 million grant from Scottish Enterprise to support an overall investment of over £3m.
The Engineering Centre will create approximately 90 new specialized roles, including specialist engineers and project managers, focused on upgrading the UK’s electrical grid to support the transition to a net-zero future.
As well as servicing the UK’s electrical grid, the Glasgow Centre will be part of Hitachi’s global network, servicing projects worldwide and the high-level engineering skill set available in Scotland is expected to be shared throughout its global network of engineers helping to prepare the grid so that Artificial Intelligence (“AI readiness”) can be deployed safely, securely and at scale.
Gillian Martin and Hirohide Hirai
This announcement comes following Holyrood’s Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, Gillian Martin, leading an energy transition delegation at World Expo Osaka to explore opportunities for Scottish businesses and inward investment.
Ms Martin’s visit to Hitachi formed part of an overall four-day programme of activity to build on this existing relationship and promote Scottish businesses to the global delegation attending Expo Osaka.
Hirohide Hirai, Vice President & Executive Officer at Hitachi Ltd, said: “The UK is a very important country for the whole of the Hitachi Group. I am very proud of the role Hitachi Energy is playing in the vital task of developing the electricity grid for Scotland’s electrified future. People are our most important asset and establishing our new Glasgow Centre is a key step in welcoming more local talent to support our growth.”
Laura Fleming
Hitachi Energy’s Country Managing Director for the UK and Ireland, Laura Fleming, highlighted the continued investment in Scotland: “This represents a significant investment in Scotland and adds to our footprint across the UK. The investment is largely due to the continued trust of our customers in helping them to deliver the energy system of the future. Together, we are rapidly expanding to meet soaring demand for grid infrastructure.
Across the UK and in Scotland we plan to expand to over 1,000 employees by 2027 offering long lasting and rewarding careers with this site being key to our growth placing Scotland as central to achieving Clean Power by 2030.”
Hitachi Energy is the latest energy company to move into Scotland, boosting the start-to-end supply chain and securing Scotland’s position as a world leader in the move to renewables.
AI readiness begins by building a digital foundation across three layers: connectivity, intelligence, and data management.
A solid digital foundation: Hitachi Energy’s technology stack illustrates their co-ordinated approach to the application of AI. Image: Hitachi Energy
Connectivity involves equipping physical assets with sensors, software, and secure communications networks so they can be monitored and controlled. Intelligence is then applied by integrating these assets with operational technology (OT) platforms such as protection and control systems, while linking them with IT networks to enable secure, bidirectional data flow. Finally, effective data management consolidates information from (often) siloed systems and transforms it into actionable insights through applications such as advanced distribution management systems (ADMS), asset performance management (APM), and energy optimization platforms.
Together, these layers transform isolated equipment into integrated, intelligent systems capable of supporting AI applications.
Hitachi Energy’s technology stack - developed in collaboration with companies in the broader Hitachi Group– captures this layered approach and is illustrated in the below graphic, reflecting how physical assets, connectivity, cybersecurity, and applications come together to create a grid that is both reliable today and ready for AI-driven operations tomorrow.