Hitachi Energy and Grid United announce key milestone in development of North Plains Connector interregional transmission line

Hitachi Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., and a global leader in electrification, and Grid United, a leading developer of high-voltage interregional transmission infrastructure, today announced the next phase of their collaboration to strengthen transmission capacity between the Eastern and Western grids in the U.S. Under a newly established Engineering Services Agreement (ESA), the two companies have begun detailing project and system requirements of the North Plains Connector (NPC), an interregional transmission system that will connect Montana and North Dakota.

North Plains Connector is a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) interregional transmission system that will span approximately 420 miles. Operating at ±525 kilovolts (kV), NPC will transport up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to power millions of homes or businesses - in either direction between the eastern and western U.S. NPC will help address fast-growing electricity demand driven by AI data centers and industrial electrification. It will play a key role in enabling the sharing of power between grids serving different parts of the country.

Under the ESA, Hitachi Energy will deliver early-stage engineering services, including the development of technical specifications for the HVDC converter stations. This approach reduces project risk, enables proactive supply chain management, and accelerates and streamlines project execution. The ESA is a significant milestone that builds on a March 2024 announcement around a collaboration between the two companies and underscores a shared commitment to bolstering transmission capacity through HVDC technology in the U.S.

This agreement will support the ongoing grid connection and coordination processes among the following Independent System Operators (ISOs) and Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs): Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), Southwest Power Pool (SPP), and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC). NPC will play an important role in unlocking grid capacity. The project is also expected to serve as a catalyst for the economies of Montana and North Dakota, driving significant job creation and tax revenue for local communities.

Long-distance transmission lines are critical in delivering low-cost energy from areas with an abundant supply to those with high demand. The transmission systems being developed by Grid United, including the North Plains Connector, will help overcome one of the most persistent energy bottlenecks in the U.S. by bridging the east-west divide. The transmission systems will also play an important role in meeting national energy priorities such as the White House AI Action Plan, which focuses on strengthening the grid to promote American AI competitiveness.