Groundbreaking electricity superhighway powered by HVDC technology connects Canadian hydropower with New York City

• Hitachi Energy supports Hydro-Québec and Transmission Developers with the commissioning of a 1,250-megawatt HVDC link from Québec directly into Astoria, Queens. 
• The project’s capacity is equivalent to what is needed to power one million homes, supplying almost 20 percent of New York City's electricity needs; the delivery of clean hydropower can cut carbon emissions by nearly four million metric tons annually.
• Champlain Hudson Power Express is North America’s largest HVDC city-center infeed, with virtually invisible transmission lines powering a major metropolitan city.

New York, June 16, 2026 New York City has officially switched on one of the most ambitious clean energy infrastructure projects in North America, with a groundbreaking 1,250 megawatt transmission line linking Canadian hydropower directly to the city.

Hitachi Energy, a global leader in electrification, together with Hydro-Québec, a leader in hydropower and large-scale transmission in Canada, and Transmission Developers (TDI), a developer of unique clean energy transmission projects (and a Blackstone portfolio company), announced the start of commercial operations for the Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) city-center infeed project.

By connecting New York City directly to Hydro-Quebec’s network of over 60 hydropower stations, CHPE has the ability to deliver enough renewable energy to power one million homes and meet nearly 20 percent of New York City’s electricity needs.

At the core of the project is Hitachi Energy’s HVDC Light® technology, a state‑of‑the‑art Voltage Source Converter (VSC)-based solution designed for efficient long-distance transmission with minimal environmental impact. Using advanced power electronics, the system precisely controls voltage and power flow while delivering electricity with exceptionally low losses.

Unlike traditional transmission infrastructure, CHPE was designed to be almost entirely invisible. The transmission cables are buried underground and underwater through Lake Champlain and the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, preserving landscapes, safeguarding ecosystems, and strengthening resilience against extreme weather.

HVDC Light is engineered with a highly compact footprint, enabling converter stations and associated infrastructure to be placed directly within dense urban environments, helping to alleviate grid congestion and delivering reliable, clean power where it is needed most.

“We partnered with Hitachi Energy from the early stages of CHPE, building a relationship grounded in deep expertise, trusted collaboration, and continuous support. The advanced HVDC Light technology, combined with strong project execution, has been critical to bringing this project to life. Together, we have delivered a reliable and resilient transmission infrastructure to New York strengthening energy security, affordability, and progress for the communities we serve,” said Justin Sauber, CEO of TDI.

“CHPE will help transform how New York City is powered, delivering clean electricity across hundreds of miles straight into the city center. By transforming a former fossil fuel site in Astoria—long associated with air pollution and respiratory health challenges—this project will help improve local air quality while enhancing New York’s energy infrastructure and ensuring reliable power supply,” said Niklas Persson, CEO, Grid Integration Business Unit at Hitachi Energy.

CHPE is set to reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 3.9 million metric tons annually, equivalent to removing 44 percent of New York City’s cars from the road^*1. By replacing fossil fuel-based generation, the project will contribute to New York State’s mandate to achieve 70 percent renewable electricity by 2030^*2.

• 1 Champlain Hudson Power Express
• 2 New York's Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act

The commissioning of CHPE also marks an important technological milestone: it is the second major commissioned HVDC city-center infeed project in the world to operate at ±400 kV, following Hitachi Energy’s groundbreaking commissioning in Mumbai, the first of its kind globally at this voltage level. 

As cities around the world face growing electricity demand and accelerating decarbonization targets, CHPE offers a powerful new model for how clean energy can move across borders into urban centers, paving the way for the next generation of large-scale renewable energy integration.

About Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy is a global leader in electrification, powering the electricity era to meet the energy demands of today, and the next 25 years. As the energy arm of Hitachi Group, over three billion people depend on our pioneering, mission-critical technologies to power their daily lives. With over a century of innovation, we are addressing the most urgent energy challenge of our time: driving the evolution of the world’s energy system to ensure abundant, secure, affordable, and sustainable power for today’s generation and the next. With an unparalleled installed base in over 140 countries, we are the grid ecosystem partner across the utility, industry, data center, and transportation sectors. Headquartered in Switzerland, we employ over 56,000 people in 60 countries and generate revenues of around $20 billion USD.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT(Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi aims to be a global leader in continuously transforming social infrastructure through digital, contributing to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. 

Hitachi operates worldwide across four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – as well as a Strategic SIB Business Unit focused on new growth areas. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi creates value by combining data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. 

Revenues for FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026) totaled 10,586.7 billion yen, with 606 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 290,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.