Elisabeth Monaghan – Describe your role at Hitachi Energy.

Hamideh Bitaraf – I am a senior advisor for Hitachi Energy’s Grid Edge Solutions business. I help customers develop microgrids and energy storage systems. For instance, I have analyzed the energy quality for a utility in the Bahamas and determined how we could use 10 MW energy storage to improve their power quality and fluctuation issues. The energy storage was installed in 2019, right before Hurricane Dorian. It helped the island utility initiate a black start and restore power. In the commercial and industrial segment, another example of my work is that I conducted an analysis for a car manufacturer to calculate the energy storage size needed at different dealership locations. The company has sustainability goals to reduce carbon emissions and I looked at energy storage to shave the peak load and enable the dealerships to participate in the ancillary services market.

EM – What inspired you to work in this industry?

HB – I have always been fascinated by how renewable energy and energy storage are the future of sustainable energy. I wanted to make a lasting impact by helping to move the world away from carbon emissions and provide affordable energy for all. Affordable energy plays a critical role now not only in modernization but also in access to information and education considering the remote learning opportunities. I want to help build the grid of the future, which relies on energy storage, and renewables. and I received a Ph.D. in electrical engineering to help do this.

EM – What was one of your greatest challenges early in your career and how did you overcome it?

HB – I joined the industry in 2017, and at that time, customers were not prepared and knowledgeable about the pros and cons of energy storage. I had to educate them and work with their budget to show them the value of these grid edge technologies. There has been so much development in educating the industry, like with your publication. Now, customers are more knowledgeable and require multiple simulations and hardware-in-the-loop demonstrations before making the decision. We are all still learning about the possibilities of battery energy storage.

EM – Is there any industry trend you think we should be paying closer attention to?

HB – Demand for renewable energy is increasing as we work toward a more sustainable future globally. It requires a new grid — one with more flexibility and that’s decentralized and distributed. This will make it easier to incorporate renewables, reduce large-scale outages and deliver electricity to remote areas.

Microgrids and battery storage play a critical role here. They allow the energy network to evolve and address the new challenges of electrification and extreme weather. Today’s hybrid microgrids integrate renewable energy, storage technology and robust grid-management software. Microgrids and battery energy storage systems can help businesses and enterprises like hospitals, police stations and college campuses stay online during wildfires, storms and other drivers of unplanned power outages. Increased inverter-based resources will replace synchronous machines and force us to rethink how we operate the grid under a new paradigm. Increased demand for electric vehicles is another trend everyone should be watching that requires additional grid infrastructure upgrades.

EM – What are you currently working on that interests or excites you?

HB – I am currently working on grid-forming inverters for batteries. My latest project was in the UK, where a utility was experiencing power outages. The company needed to install energy storage to create resiliency and a backup system. This is part of the “grid of the future” — everyone from islands to urban grids needs flexibility. Many utilities are focusing on this.

EM – What technology do you think has had the greatest impact on the electric grid?

HB – It’s hard to say one thing. The impact of renewables relies on energy storage, and coordination between them requires advanced controllers. All these technologies together are impacting the grid in big ways. Utilities need to upgrade their infrastructure to address climate changes by adding transmission lines that connect remote wind or solar plants to the grid, and upgrading transformers to be able to manage larger loads.

EM – What do you consider the greatest challenge the electric energy industry currently faces?

HB – The greatest challenges are caused by climate change and the increased demand on the power grid. The power outages caused by the big freeze in Texas, and the chaos left by hurricanes, and wildfires show the need for more renewables and upgraded infrastructure. Last year, these disasters caused $95 billion in damages, and power outages cost the U.S. economy up to $70 billion annually. Electrification is going to increase. Our grid will require a strong electricity backbone to meet the increased demand for electricity by customers as they integrate renewables, mobility and e-charging.

EM – How does the industry prepare to meet that challenge?

HB – More renewables and power electronic technologies like energy storage inverters can balance the intermittency of renewables — this is a key challenge to improving the resiliency of the grid as it deals with climate change and more demand. Energy storage acts as load and generation whenever it is needed. Customers are now prosumers and can participate in demand response programs while they have diversified their energy resources from only utility to also include rooftop PVs.

EM – As a woman in electric energy, do you see the industry becoming more/less accepting of women in leadership positions?

HB – I work with women at my company, but in my experience, the customers I have always worked with are men. It’s a traditionally male industry, but our GES business unit is managed by women. I am sure any professional will be successful with good knowledge and self-confidence, no matter their gender or race.