EconiQ® is the future of sustainable high-voltage switchgear. And that’s not just some random claim – it’s a proven reality. In this season finale, we’re joined by Dr. Markus Heimbach, a renowned high-voltage expert and the Managing Director of the High Voltage Products business at Hitachi Energy, who takes us inside the remarkable journey of the i…

The high-voltage sector is moving away from SF6 – but making the switch isn’t as simple as it sounds. With a growing number of SF6-free solutions available, the challenge now is ensuring they work safely, reliably, and efficiently across the grid. And in this journey, standardization will be the next big step the industry must take to accelerate th…

China is a powerhouse in energy and there’s simply no denying it. The country is making bold moves in clean energy, building record-breaking solar and wind farms, rolling out supercharged power grids, and embracing the shift to SF6-free technology to cut out emissions just to name a few. But here’s the big question: Is China designing the blueprint…

India is building a grid for greatness. It’s laying a strong foundation for a power grid that’s not only reliable and efficient but also sustainable, innovative, and future-ready. What does it look like exactly? It’s an energy network that: Runs on clean energy. A shift from traditional energy sources to renewable power like solar, wind, and hydro.…

North America is on an exciting journey to reshape its dynamic energy landscape – starting with the adoption of SF6-free technologies and soon, introducing 800 kV high-voltage transmission lines. This shift isn’t just about adopting the latest innovations – it's about rethinking how we deliver energy more efficiently and sustainably. In this episod…

As the world pushes for net-zero emissions, SF6 has no place in the future of energy. But you know what does? Eco-efficient innovations like Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ®. EconiQ is a revolutionary portfolio that’s reliable, scalable, with the lowest carbon footprint – and completely free of SF6 ! In this episode, we break down the newly unveiled EconiQ…

Who says you need to be an engineer to thrive in the energy industry? This episode shines a spotlight on the diverse opportunities available for professionals from all walks of life. We sit down with Ana Camarero, Chief Financial Officer of the Grid Integration business at Hitachi Energy, who has successfully carved out a career in energy, even wit…

Air fryers are a godsend – especially when you want crispy fries without the mess and fuss of a deep fryer. Easy and instant, it’s hard to imagine life without it. But like any kitchen appliance, they need regular care to keep delivering the results you expect. Just as you wouldn’t leave kitchen appliances unattended, high-voltage systems require t…

We all love it when things just work out as you'd expect – the waiter gets your order right, it doesn’t rain after getting a carwash, and your gadgets turn on with a simple click. Everything just runs like clockwork. But in reality, that isn’t always the case, especially when it comes to electricity. From harmonics to flickers and surges, power qua…

Decarbonizing the grid is an enormous challenge faced by the industry. It’s a big task for anyone to undertake, with so many overwhelming questions – where do we even start? Does the market even have the solutions today to meet global ambitious targets in time? It can be a daunting topic to talk about, but the good news is Christian Cingolani is he…

Around the world, industries strive to reduce their environmental impact and retrofitting aging high-voltage equipment is proving to be a smart and cost-effective choice. It’s just like when your phone gets a boost with a system update, retrofitting old equipment lets you make it more efficient and sustainable without throwing it all away. It’s abo…

Julia Pyper has been at the top of our list since we started The World Changing Podcast in 2022. Why? Julia is known for her in-depth coverage of the clean energy transition, has a cross-party climate policy podcast, "Political Climate," and is now VP of public affairs for GoodLeap - a fin-tech company helping millions of people join the clean ener…

When we say that EconiQ™ is at the forefront of sustainable innovation, we truly mean it and, in this episode, we’re bringing receipts! This one is dedicated to all design engineers out there who want to know why EconiQ is the standout champion when it comes to SF6-free solutions. Together with Amaya Lago, Territory Marketing Manager for the High V…

For years, F-gases have been in the spotlight for many complex reasons – some good and some bad: they make it possible to achieve impressive things like the super reliability of our electricity supply. On the other hand, they have a downside (the high Global Warming Potential of SF6 comes to mind). All things considered, it would be unfair to put a…

Navigating the high-voltage industry is just like exploring a complex maze, where each twist and turn represents new technologies, regulatory hurdles, unpredictable market dynamics, outdated infrastructure, and more. It can feel overwhelming! How do you choose the right path? Together with Dr. Arthouros Iordanidis, Head of Global Product Group Circ…

Quality is more than just a feature; it’s a promise of reliability, durability, and consistency. Upholding quality is integral to any company and reflects its commitment to excellence by delivering on promises made to customers. With the demands of modern energy systems, ensuring high-voltage product reliability is more crucial than ever. In this e…

We sat down with The Accelerator Guy! That's Ryan Kushner of course - co-founder of Third Derivative, the world's largest climate tech accelerator. For context, Third Derivative is a non-profit joint venture of RMI and New Energy Nexus and the world’s largest and most resourced climate technology accelerator. The global, 18-month accelerator progra…

Creating an efficient, resilient, and sustainable supply chain strategy is essential for success, much like preparing a hearty Sunday lunch for the family. Salvatore Alimentato, Head of Supply Chain Management (SCM) for the High Voltage Products business at Hitachi Energy, emphasizes this in the latest Power Pulse episode. This episode examines the…

Hitachi Energy will unveil two iconic world-firsts at CIGRE Session 2024 in Paris: EconiQ 550 kV circuit breaker EconiQ 420 kV Live Tank Circuit Breaker LTA These remarkable SF6-free solutions underscore the reliability and scalability of our technology, and we can’t wait to tell you more about it! This electrifying episode features Markus Heimbach…

Hitachi Energy’s EconiQTM high-voltage portfolio champions sustainability. EconiQ products and services are proven to be reliable, scalable, and deliver the lowest carbon footprint. One might say EconiQ is truly iconic! In this CIGRE special episode part 1, we invited our guest speakers, Navid Mahdi Zadeh, Global Portfolio Manager for the High Volt…

Operations involve all the activities you need to do to make sure everything runs smoothly. It’s just like planning a birthday party. From securing the date, inviting guests and getting supplies like decorations and snacks, to setting up the venue, organizing fun games and everyone’s favorite – the eventual clean up. Good operations rely on plannin…

When we look back, it's amazing how many common threads there are among our incredible guests. From Aston co-founder Ed McKenzie to Mark Jacobson of Stanford University, we are learning about the evolution of technology in various forms and how that impacts our energy future. It's Electric! Some themes discussed in this episode: - Consensus around …

A factory is far from a plain and boring building; it’s a bustling hive of creativity and innovation where raw materials are transformed into groundbreaking technologies. It’s a place where brilliant minds with diverse backgrounds and specialties come together to turn blueprints into reality. Our guest, Claire Carmona, Operating Unit Manager of the…

Research & Development (R&D) is the driving force behind new innovations and better solutions. It is the key to advance high-voltage solutions by creating significant and high-quality improvements. In short, R&D makes everything more awesome. It’s all about exploring what’s possible and creating ways to make technology work better. Tune in to this …

One thing is clear: high-voltage is crucial for long-distance transmission of power. High-voltage systems have several components, each serving a significant function to ensure the grid is reliable, stable, and safe. In this episode, Dr. Christian Ohler breaks down the fascinating world of high voltage systems, from different types of switchgear to…

Heard the expression ‘energy transition’ before and not quite sure what it means? Ever wondered how the electrical grid came to be? Or whether the electricity we use in our lives is sustainable? In this episode, Dr. Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of the High Voltage Products business unit in Hitachi Energy and the best person to answer these qu…

Born and raised in a small Italian town near the Swiss Alps, Claudio Spadacini learned from an early age that electricity can spark world changing innovation anywhere. Due in large part to their access to hydropower, the first car ever built in Italy came from his small town. In step, Claudio’s first aspiration was to design race cars. While he sti…

As a kid, Matt Loszak loved to learn and perform magic tricks. The only problem? He ended up telling the audience the secret mechanism of the trick! Today, Matt is still breaking down magic tricks, but this time, it’s the alchemy of nuclear power. Matt and his team at Aalo Atomics are working to commercialize the breakthrough Marvel microreactor de…

Bill had an impressive career as a tech entrepreneur and businessman before he turned his sights (back to) energy. He started his first company in highschool - a graphics software company when personal computers were still text based. He has started and sold several tech companies. He joined one startup as CEO, grew the company to nearly $100 milli…

Since he first struggled with air pollution as a teenager in Los Angeles, Mark Z. Jacobson has committed himself to understanding and solving this issue. And boy, has he succeeded! Today, Mark is a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University. He has published six books an…

We're back and we're asking questions like “Why do environmentalists try to kill windfarms?” It’s a big, complicated world out there and we are breaking down five key challenges to greening the power grid. From geography to misaligned incentives, here’s a brief rundown of the themes we will be discussing throughout season 2. Want to learn more? Hea…

Flo asks: "Are our power utilities businesses or part of the government?" The answer is pretty murky. How did most power utilities in the US become investor owned, publicly traded companies with no competition? In this episode, Greg and I try to address these questions. We look into the history of power utilities in the U.S. and try to imagine how …

The dream of the smart, sustainable grid. What will it take to achieve the energy grid of our dreams? We are so excited to share this conversation we had with Gary Rackliffe. Gary is a special person to talk to for several reasons. First, Gary has spent his entire 30+ year career building and designing the US power grid. Second, he is a leader in t…

What the heck is crypto? And for that matter, what is money? Greg and I take a thought provoking and philosophical journey exploring these fundamental questions. Our conversation delves into the profound implications of these technologies and their significance in our lives. One of the key topics we tackle is the formidable energy needs associated …

James D'Albora began his lifelong journey as an entrepreneur when he was 10 years old. With the dream of purchasing his own TV, he decided to get a paper route in Sacramento. Today he runs Verify Energy and sells The PowerFly (his invention) to solar companies (or EPCs). James realized that solar power EPCs didn't have a simple way to remotely moni…

Welcome to our first Greg-Flo-isode! In these episodes we take on a single timely topic that interests us and work to think unbiasedly about it. What opportunities and possible disadvantages do these programs, technologies and even ideas present us? In this episode, we break down what community solar is and why it may matter to you. Also, how does …

Are we ready to go nuclear? We’ve brought in the brilliant and multi-talented Alan Hoffman (MIT, Oklo, Cloudant, PayPal) to help us dive into the current opportunities and challenges of nuclear power. Are we ready to take the leap and employ this technology further to mitigate climate change? Let’s find out. About Alan: Alan holds a PhD in particle…

Meet Ed McKenzie: programming wiz kid, Greg's bff and musical genius. Greg and Ed have been friends and business partners for 15 years. They first met playing in a band together in college and have since written hundreds of songs together and started two companies. What makes Ed a particularly interesting guest? Ed began coding at a young age when …

Welcome to... The World Changing Podcast! Who are we? Why do we care about changing the world? Meet your host Greg Robinson and producer Flo Lumsden. In the first half of the episode, we introduce each other and discuss why we are making this world changing podcast. In the second half of the episode, Greg and I discuss how his first sustainable ene…

Curious what The World Changing Podcast is all about? Here's a snack-able summary.By Aston Labs Co.

Demand for data centers is soaring, prompting calls to cut carbon emissions. In part 2 of a 2-part series, we are joined by Dave Sterlace, Strategic Account Manager for Data Centers at Hitachi Energy, who shares some insights on how to power data centers more sustainably. Important links: Hitachi Energy - Data Centers Webpage Blog post: Powering da…

Demand for data centers is soaring, prompting calls to cut carbon emissions. In part 1 of a 2-part series, we are joined by Dave Sterlace, Strategic Account Manager for Data Centers at Hitachi Energy, who shares some insights on how to power data centers more sustainably. Important links: Hitachi Energy - Data Centers Webpage Blog post: Powering da…

In the following episode, we explore the anticipated, widespread electrification of vehicle fleets with Brian Wilkie, Director of Business Development NY Transportation Electrification at National Grid, and Gary Rackliffe, Vice President of Market Development and Innovation, North America at Hitachi Energy. From city buses to delivery vans to maint…

Early careers is not just about giving either current students or recently graduated students relevant learning experience, it's about attracting our future leaders. For our industry specifically, we seek to find passionate and driven individuals ready to energize their careers while advancing a sustainable energy future for all. Listen along as tw…

In our latest episode, we are joined by Kent Knutson, Energy Market Specialist with Hitachi ABB Power Grids, who enlightened us on some recent trends in North America related to the recent Biden Administration proposal to expand investment in critical areas of our nation’s critical infrastructure. Listen along as he explores the kinds of energy inv…

As we enter the next era of energy, which is focused on decreasing emissions, eliminating our dependence on fossil fuels, and increasing our use of distributed energy resources, there are tons of emerging and exciting technologies of which we can take advantage. Join grid edge solution experts Tilo Buehler, Head of Product Management for Grid Edge …

In part 3 of our Women in Energy series, Julia Des Chenes and Allison Cohen discuss how you can embrace diversity and inclusion programs at your organization to learn, grow and thrive. We’ll also talk about some ways employee resource groups (ERGs) can help support this growth and examples of how our Women in Energy employee resource group (ERG) at…

In this third episode in a short series on the challenges and opportunities for offshore wind power in North America, we got together with Adrienne Downey, Principal Engineer, Offshore Wind with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and Cathy Livingston, Senior Account Manager with Hitachi ABB Power Grids. Together…

In honor of Earth Day on April 22 and this year’s theme of restoring our earth, we discuss the importance of sustainability and ways we can all contribute to a cleaner, greener, carbon-neutral future. Listen along for a fun and inspiring conversation with Johanna Flood, Head of Environment, and Matthew North, Head of Health, Safety, Environment and…

In part 2 in our Women in Energy series, we speak to Carrie Cullen Hitt, Executive Director at the National Offshore Wind Research & Development Consortium (NOWRDC), and Fabio Fracaroli, Renewables Segment Lead at Hitachi ABB Power Grids about the budding offshore wind market, the new and exciting opportunities it presents for women entering or alr…