Power grid to play a critical role in supporting the next wave of investments in Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is experiencing a new cycle of growth driven by the expansion of mining activities, the advancement of renewable energy, and the attraction of new industrial and digital developments. This trend is increasing the demand for a more robust, resilient, and digitalized power infrastructure capable of ensuring safe and reliable electricity for highly complex operations.

The state accounts for approximately 40% of Brazil’s mining activity and is expected to receive more than BRL 128.5 billion in energy and mining investments by 2032¹. At the same time, it leads the country in solar photovoltaic generation and continues to strengthen its position within the clean energy ecosystem. Minas Gerais is also emerging as a strategic destination for large-scale data centers, with regions such as Greater Belo Horizonte, Triângulo Mineiro, Central-West Minas, and Zona da Mata identified as key locations for projects whose power demand may reach 100 megawatts.

To discuss these challenges and the technological pathways supporting the transformation of Brazil’s electrical infrastructure, industry experts will gather in Belo Horizonte during the 18th STPC (Technical Seminar on Protection and Control), organized by CIGRE-Brazil, from October 6 to 9, 2026, at Minascentro. During the event, Hitachi Energy will showcase solutions focused on automation, digitalization, operational intelligence, and grid resilience.

"Minas Gerais brings together three major trends that are reshaping the global power sector: mining growth, the expansion of renewable energy, and the potential to attract large-scale data centers. The next step is to ensure that electrical infrastructure evolves at the same pace as these investments. The ability to transmit, monitor, and manage power reliably will become increasingly critical to the state’s economic development," said Glauco Freitas, Head of South LATAM and President of Hitachi Energy Brazil.

Digitalization, Cybersecurity, and Interoperability

Among the solutions showcased by Hitachi Energy are technologies that help utilities and large industrial companies reduce outages, improve power supply reliability, and respond more quickly to events that may affect grid operations. Protection relays and control systems play a key role in identifying and mitigating faults, contributing to business continuity and the protection of critical assets.

In sectors that rely on uninterrupted power, such as mining, industry, and data centers, real-time operational visibility is equally essential. MicroSCADA X enables the monitoring of critical assets, helps anticipate potential issues, and supports faster decision-making by connecting field operational data to control centers and asset management systems.

This transformation becomes even more significant with the evolution of Digital Substations, which replace part of the conventional infrastructure with fiber-optic communication networks. This approach simplifies installations, increases data availability, and creates a stronger foundation for an increasingly connected power system.

In this context, cybersecurity has become a fundamental component of grid reliability. Hitachi Energy’s RTU500 Remote Terminal Unit family helps utilities and industries protect critical assets, enhance operational visibility, and integrate new energy sources, providing the capabilities needed to operate more resilient systems prepared for future demands.

To ensure that this digitalization process is implemented efficiently, it is also essential that equipment and systems from different manufacturers operate seamlessly together. To support this, Hitachi Energy offers solutions compliant with the international IEC 61850 standard, as well as engineering tools that simplify configuration, testing, and system integration, promoting interoperability and greater flexibility in the modernization of power networks.