September 20, 2022

Hitachi Energy to support major renewable electricity transmission between Canada and New York City

HVDC Light® transmission system will transfer renewable energy for over 1 million New York homes and help achieve the state’s climate goals

Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, today announced it was selected by Transmission Developers Inc., a Blackstone portfolio company specialized in renewable power development, to supply a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station that is a key part of the transmission solution for the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) HVDC interconnection between Québec, Canada and the New York City metro area, the United States.

The link will enable the delivery of clean, renewable hydropower between Canada and New York, contributing to New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which aims for the state to be powered by 70 percent renewable energy by 2030.^*1CHPE is expected to decrease CO₂ emissions by an average of 3.9 million metric tons per year, equivalent to removing 44 percent of passenger vehicles from New York City.^*2

Using Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light^® technology, CHPE will transfer up to 1,250 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1 million New York households. The link will efficiently transmit electricity for more than 600 kilometers (372 miles) underground from Hertel, Canada, through Lake Champlain and the Hudson River, to an HVDC converter station in Astoria, Queens.^*1

“HVDC systems have tremendous potential for bringing large amounts of electricity directly into cities, which is essential for securing sustainable and affordable power today and in the future,” said Niklas Persson, Managing Director of Hitachi Energy’s Grid Integration business. “We are proud to play a crucial role in this very important investment in North America’s transition to renewable energy and carbon neutrality.”

“Hitachi Energy’s market leading HVDC technology will ensure efficient and reliable transmission of renewable energy for over 1 million New York homes and help achieve the state’s climate goals,” said Transmission Developers CEO Donald Jessome. “We look forward to beginning construction activity later this year and to delivering an abundance of clean, renewable energy to New Yorkers.”

Power requirements in cities are increasing, especially in densely populated areas where land is already scarce, and difficulties can arise when new right-of-ways must be secured for traditional transmission lines. HVDC technology enables large amounts of high-quality electricity to be delivered where it is most needed with complete control and with a very compact footprint using out-of-sight underground or underwater cables.

The complete CHPE system, of which the HVDC converter stations are the enabling technology, is expected to create more than 1,400 jobs during construction and, during the first 30 years of operation, deliver almost $50 billion in economic benefits to New York state.^*1

For the New York site, Hitachi Energy will supply the HVDC Light converter station, that will convert the DC power from Canada to AC power and make it available for the AC grid in New York.

Kiewit, one of North America’s largest and most respected engineering and construction companies, will be responsible for the civil works for the converter station in New York. The collaboration with Kiewit will combine the core competencies of the two companies to deliver a best-in-class solution.

Note to editors:

Hitachi Energy’s HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH digital control platform^*3, converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.

HVDC Light^® is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and “power-from-shore” connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light’s defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.

*1 Champlain Hudson Power Express

*2 May 2021 PA Analysis Report

*3 Modular Advanced Control for HVDC (MACH)

HVDC website:

https://www.hitachienergy.com/offering/product-and-system/hvdc

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About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We serve customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, we pioneer technologies and enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future. We are advancing the world’s energy system to become more sustainable, flexible and secure whilst balancing social, environmental and economic value. Hitachi Energy has a proven track record and unparalleled installed base in more than 140 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ around 38,000 people in 90 countries and generate business volumes of approximately $10 billion USD.
https://www.hitachienergy.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachienergy
https://twitter.com/HitachiEnergy

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society with data and technology. We will solve customers’ and society’s challenges with Lumada solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, under the business structure of Digital Systems & Services, Green Energy & Mobility, Connective Industries and Automotive Systems. Driven by green, digital, and innovation, we aim for growth through collaboration with our customers. The company’s consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2021 (ended March 31, 2022) totaled 10,264.6 billion yen ($84,136 million USD), with 853 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 370,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company’s website at https://www.hitachi.com.

Attachments

Jocelyn Chang
Hitachi Energy Ltd.
+41 79384 7775
jocelyn.chang@hitachienergy.com

September 20, 2022

‫أول HUAWEI CONNECT خارج الصين: ابتكارات هواوي السحابية تذهب للعالمية

بانكوك، 20 سبتمبر 2022 / PRNewswire / — بدأت HUAWEI CONNECT 2022 في بانكوك، تايلاند اليوم. ألقى كين هو، الرئيس المناوب لهواوي، كلمة رئيسية، أطلق العنان الرقمي. أعلن تشانغ بينغان، الرئيس التنفيذي لشركة Huawei Cloud ، عن خطط لإطلاق مناطق جديدة في إندونيسيا وأيرلندا، وكشف النقاب عن خطة النظام البيئي “اذهب للسحابة، اذهب للعالمية”، وأكد من جديد الالتزام بكل شيء كخدمة. قالت جاكلين شي، رئيسة خدمة التسويق والمبيعات العالمية في Huawei Cloud ، إن Huawei Cloud ستطلق أكثر من 15 ابتكارًا على مستوى العالم، تغطي السحابة الأصلية، وتطوير الذكاء الاصطناعي، وحوكمة البيانات، والمحتوى الرقمي، وتطوير البرامج، و MacroVerse aPaaS .

وفقًا لكين هو، يجب على المؤسسات احتضان السحابة لتطوير القفزة حيث أن التكنولوجيا الذكية الرقمية هي المستقبل. دمجت Huawei Cloud أكثر من 240 خدمة وأكثر من 50000 واجهة برمجة تطبيقات لجلب أحدث تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي وتطوير التطبيقات وتقنيات البيانات الضخمة وأدوات التطوير إلى السحابة. سيساعد الابتكار والخبرة في Huawei Cloud المزيد من المؤسسات على الانتقال إلى السحابة بشكل أسرع وأفضل.

تلتزم Huawei Cloud ببناء شبكة عالمية واحدة، والتي تسمح بالوصول إلى الخدمات على Huawei Cloud في غضون 50 مللي ثانية من أي مكان في العالم. لن تحتاج الشركات بعد الآن إلى إنشاء مراكز بيانات خاصة بها. ستطلق Huawei Cloud مناطق جديدة في إندونيسيا وأيرلندا. بحلول نهاية هذا العام، ستكون Huawei Cloud قد نشرت 29 منطقة و 75 منطقة توافر ( AZs ) تغطي أكثر من 170 دولة ومنطقة.

كما أصدر تشانغ بينغآن خطة “اذهب للسحابة، اذهب للعالمية”. مع التركيز على كل شيء كخدمة، ستشارك Huawei Cloud خبرتها المحلية المكتسبة في الخدمات لأكثر من 170 دولة ومنطقة، بالإضافة إلى نظرة ثاقبة على الشركات والصناعات في المناطق الرئيسية، وستساهم بتكنولوجياتها وحلولها في نظام بيئي عالمي. سيساعد هذا الجهد المزيد من الشركات على استخدام السحابة بشكل أفضل والانتقال إلى العالمية بشكل أكثر نجاحًا.

تلتزم سحابة هواوي بنهج “من قبل محلي، من أجل محلي” لبناء نظام بيئي رقمي عالمي. على مدى السنوات الثلاث المقبلة، ستقدم Huawei Cloud الدعم لما لا يقل عن 10000 شركة ناشئة واعدة في جميع أنحاء العالم، مع الدعم بما في ذلك تحسين التكلفة والدعم الفني والتدريب على ريادة الأعمال وموارد الأعمال الأخرى. انضم أكثر من 120 شركة في آسيا والمحيط الهادئ إلى برنامج Huawei Cloud Startup .

تعمل Huawei أيضًا على صقل المنصة الرائدة في الصناعة للابتكارات على السحابة. في خطابها، قدمت جاكلين شي 15 خدمة سحابية مبتكرة من Huawei ، بما في ذلك CCE Turbo و Ubiquitous Cloud Native Service (UCS) ونموذج موجة بانجو و DataArts LakeFormation و Virtual Live و CodeCheck و CloudTest و KooMessage و KooSearch و KooGallery .

بالنظر إلى المستقبل، ستستمر Huawei Cloud في تمكين الصناعات من خلال البنية التحتية كخدمة والتكنولوجيا كخدمة والخبرة كخدمة، لإطلاق العنان الرقمي مع كل شيء كخدمة وبناء الأساس السحابي لعالم ذكي.

الصورة – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1901281/Zhang_Ping_an_CEO_Huawei_Cloud.jpg

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022

Electoral Commission hosts Research Seminar aimed at Safeguarding Democracy in the Age of Growing Mistrust, 21 Sept

The Electoral Commission invites members of the media to a Research Seminar, themed: Safeguarding Electoral Democracy in the Age of Growing Mistrust.

Between 2009 to 2021, the Electoral Commission commissioned numerous election-related surveys to gauge levels of public perceptions and trends in the attitudes and interests of South African voters in electoral democracy and voting.

These studies were conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).

The HSRC was recently commissioned by the Electoral Commission to undertake an analysis of the long-term trends in all the election-related surveys conducted to date.

These findings will now be presented at a seminar, intended to create a dialogue between the Electoral Commission, its partners and stakeholders to reflect on the broader implications of the findings not only for the work of the institution, but for the future of South Africa’s electoral democracy.

Source: Government of South Africa

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022

Government hosts 2022 annual Thusong Service Centre Week, 19 to 23 Sept

Government leads the 2022 annual Thusong Service Centre Week

Government working with communities and social partners countrywide will lead the Annual Thusong Service Centre Week under the theme, Batho Pele Revitalisation- Walking the Talk, taking, place on 19 – 23 September 2022.

The Thusong Service Centre Week forms part of Public Service Month and it aims at promoting the value Thusong Service Centres continue to offer communities, largely by the access they promote to services and information about opportunities. A significant focus will be on the integrated mobile outreach programme and its effectiveness in responding to the needs of the citizens, particularly those who live in the most remote corners of our country.

The activities of the Thusong Service Week will profile the work of public servants particularly front line officials based at Thusong Service Centres and their contribution to the envisioned efficient Public Service, which is putting people first. South Africans are encouraged to visit their nearest Thusong Service Center to explore the array of services offered at their local centres. Thusong Service Centres are one-stop service points which bring government information and services closer to people.

This year marks 23 years since the Thusong Service Centres were introduced to improve livelihoods through information and opportunities. The programme has had a positive impact on the lives of thousands of citizens as it made government more accessible and visible. Basic services required by citizens have been rendered under one roof resulting in improved, consistent and efficient service delivery. Critically, these centres bring government closer to communities, rather than expecting communities to travel long distances at great cost to access services. Economic opportunities aimed at assisting individuals to become active players in the economic life of South Africa have been made available through the centres especially around food gardens housed in many of the Thusong Service Centres. Thusong Service Centres have made it easier for citizens to access ID documents, birth and marriage certificates, computer training, health services and UIF applications.

Various awareness raising activities are lined up from Monday 19 September 2022 to mark the beginning of the campaign and the closing event of the week will take place on Friday, 23 September 2022 at Nophoyi Thusong Service Centre, Alfred Nzo District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province.

“We call on public servants to continue to ensure that their professional ethics are beyond reproach. The Public Service is committed to the economic and effective use of resources, and to provide services in an impartial, fair and equitable way. We remain committed to ensuring that public servants serve citizens promptly and courteously, while assisting them to make informed choices when accessing services. We are building a public service that is instilled with the culture of innovation, volunteerism and service. We are working to ensure that we provide services in an impartial, fair and equitable way, without bias”, said GCIS Director General, Phumla Williams.

Source: Government of South Africa

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022

Minister Mondli Gungubele embarks on working visit to United States of America, 19 Sept

Minister Gungubele forms part of South African delegation to UN General Assembly

The Minister in the Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele will from today, 19 September 2022 embark on a working visit to the United States of America as part of the South African delegation to the 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The South African delegation is led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor.

The 77th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA77) takes place at the United Nations headquarters in New York City from 20-26 September 2022, under the theme: “A watershed moment: Unlocking transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.”

Much of the focus of the high-level and side-meetings to be held at UNGA will focus on development matters, specifically health, education and the broader implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

On Monday, 19 September 2022, Minister Gungubele will participate in the Third Sustainable Development Goals Moment 2022: High Level Meeting prior to the opening of the 77th UN General Assembly’s General Debate on Tuesday, 20 September 2022.

The annual SDG Moment aims to provide a snapshot of progress, highlight actions taken by member states, and advance the transformations needed to achieve the 2030 Agenda. It was created by the political declaration adopted at the first SDG Summit in 2019, which mandated the Secretary-General to convene the event as part of every high-level week of the UNGA from 2020 to 2030.

Minister Gungubele will also attend the opening of the Transformation Education Summit where Minister of Basic Education, Ms Angie Motshekga will deliver the country statement.

On Wednesday, 21 September 2022, Minister Gungubele will in his capacity as Minister of State Security participate in the Twelfth Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF’s) Ministerial Plenary Meeting (MM12).

The Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF) was launched in New York on 22 September 2011 as an informal platform to address critical counter-terrorism challenges facing the world. Consisting of 29 countries (including South Africa), the GCTF aims to make a practical contribution to addressing counter-terrorism issues by engaging at the practitioner and technical expert level.

The MM12 meeting will focus particularly on implementing the GCTF’s initiatives at national and regional level. It will also take stock of the GCTF’s efforts and achievements, discuss its priorities and highlight future initiatives.

Minister Gungubele will also deliver the country statement on Wednesday during the High-Level Meeting to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities.

The High-Level meeting will reflect on the implementation of the declaration whilst also identifying the gaps. This is particularly relevant as it has been noted that Minorities, globally, are facing renewed barriers in the promotion and protection of their rights, various forms of discrimination, including hate speech and violence.

The various engagements at UNGA will provide South Africa with an opportunity to highlight issues of national, regional and international importance. South Africa’s participation in the General Debate of the UNGA77 is a strategic opportunity for the promotion of our national and foreign policy objectives as espoused in Chapter 7 of the NDP, Positioning South Africa in the World.

Source: Government of South Africa

September 20, 2022September 21, 2022

Energy crisis must be resolved – President Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says resolving the energy crisis is critical to ensure that the economic and investment potential of the country is realised.

This as South Africa was plunged into Stage 6 load shedding for the second time this year, prompting the President’s urgent return to the country during an international trip.

Households have had to deal with bouts of up to four hours of load shedding at least twice a day since Sunday morning, with load shedding slightly eased to Stage 5 by Tuesday morning.

“Solving the electricity crisis is necessary if we are to realise the potential of our economy. In 2018, we launched an ambitious investment drive to raise R1.2 trillion in new investments over five years. To date, and with still a year to go, we have raised more than 90% of that amount in commitments from both domestic and foreign investors.

“Of these commitments, around R330 billion has already flowed into the economy, opening new factories, expanding production lines and creating new jobs,” the President said in his weekly newsletter.

The President said the current power crisis is a reminder of “how unstable our ageing power stations are” and the need for greater urgency to implement the measures he announced in July to bring stability to the grid.

“On Sunday, I held an urgent virtual meeting with Ministers and officials on the reasons for the current load shedding, and the steps being taken to reduce the severity and frequency of load shedding in the coming days and weeks. Eskom has already announced some of the measures it is taking and we will remain seized with this issue until the situation is resolved,” he said.

Following his visit to Washington last week, where discussions were held with US President Joe Biden, President Ramaphosa said these international visits and discussions may not have the desired impact on attracting trade and investment to the country if load shedding persists.

“The visits we undertake to various countries, be they working visits, State visits or trade missions, are crucial for promoting investment and trade. They bring in investment and they create jobs. They also improve our relations with the countries we visit, thus creating great opportunities for our country.

“Building strong partnerships with other countries is important, but it is not enough. That is why we are working to make our economy more competitive, more efficient and more attractive to both international and local companies. First and foremost, we have to overcome the electricity crisis,” he said.

The President emphasised that despite the country’s current challenges, foreign direct investment from companies all over the world is proof that there is “a great future for companies that do business in South Africa”.

“The recent launches of new investments and expansion projects by Ford, Anglo American, Metair Investments, Corobrik, Consol Glass, Isuzu, Sappi, Google, Netflix, Sandvik and others show that both domestic and foreign investors see South Africa as a favourable place to invest and to do business.

“These companies recognise the progress we are making in several areas of reform, such as telecommunications, energy, water provision, freight rail and ports. The Presidency is working with several departments and other partners on cutting red tape in critical regulatory processes,” he said.

Source: South African Government News Agency