Meet Our People: Archana P - "I want to ensure light is always available"

Hi, my name is Archana and I’m an Associate Technical Power Consultant at Hitachi Energy based in Vadodara, Gujarat in India. 

I come from a small village far from here, and when I was growing up, we experienced frequent “power cuts,” also known as blackouts. At some point during every day, the utility company would shut off power to my village. This is common across India, and happens for many reasons: rapid growth, outdated power grid infrastructure, monsoons. 

During the power cuts, my family would be in darkness. And I was afraid of the dark as a child. Growing up I decided that I wanted to be the person who could ensure that light was always available, and that desire eventually led me to study electrical and electronics engineering. Earning my Bachelor of Technology degree was challenging, but as a passion-driven person, it was important to me to make a difference. 

A fantastic opportunity

During my final months at university, a recruiter visited the campus to interview candidates for Hitachi Energy’s Power Plus Management Trainee program. The selection process was rigorous! There were multiple rounds of technical and soft skills interviews, and I was proud to earn a position. I started as a trainee in 2021. 

The program enabled me to explore different business units within Hitachi Energy, from high voltage systems to grid integration and transformers.

For the first year, I worked in Research & Development in the High Voltage Technology Center, where I helped design voltage interrupters. Next, I extended my support to Italy for remote training of their Field Service Engineers for the service and maintenance of plug and switch systems (PASS). 

The program was a whirlwind way to start my career, and a wonderful introduction to Hitachi’s mission, values and way of working.

At the intersection of global expertise

I chose and began working with Hitachi Energy’s Power Consulting team in 2023. Today, I provide back-office engineering support that helps ensure the reliable and efficient operation of power grids around the world. As of now, most of my projects and customers are in Northern Europe: mostly Sweden, but also Norway and Finland. I am very connected to the Swedish Power Consulting Team - a great and joyful collaboration!

My team in India also houses back-office consultants for Spain, the UK, and the US. The power consultants, project managers and quality assurance personnel frequently meet to discuss the innovative technologies we’re using in our systems and solutions, and how to refine our global processes for the best results. These collaborations are the perfect mix of all different kinds of expertise and have helped me grow my network and my knowledge quickly. 

Variety is the spice of life

I propose and conduct a wide range of technical studies: steady-state analysis, power quality assessments, transient electromagnetic studies, grid core compliance, and insulation coordination. In a relatively short period of time, I’ve worked on a huge variety of projects! 

One of my projects was developing a life cycle analysis tool that can predict the environmental impact of a product or system over its entire life cycle. This tool will help our clients make more informed decisions about their energy infrastructure. Creating a tool was quite different from my usual power system studies, and I was proud to contribute so directly to a more sustainable future.

For another project, I designed insulation studies to ensure an installation of safety equipment would protect the equipment itself, the people working on it, and the grid it was part of. Sometimes, these installations can meet minimum requirements but still induce grid instability, so we must anticipate and account for those possible issues. 

Working at Hitachi Energy

Vadodara is a big place with lots of industry. Amidst this huge city, my team has become like a second family to me. We celebrate festivals, organize social events, and care for each other. The friendship and mentorship of my colleagues has been an anchor for me, especially since most of my family is 2,000 km away. 

I never dreamed I’d have the opportunities I do today, and I very much appreciate Hitachi’s investment in my professional development. As I look to the future, I'm excited about the growth and transformation happening in the power industry. As the world relies more and more on renewable energy sources, the need for reliable grid integration and optimization is greater than ever. I am proud that my company is at the forefront of this revolution, and that I get to be a part of it. My first years with Hitachi have flown by, and I know that my motivation from when I was a child is a dream I am gradually realizing as time goes by. 

Keeping the power available - for everyone wherever they are - is a human right that can make all the difference. 

Visit our Power Consulting page.