An HVDC journey: around the world for a sustainable energy future
Projects at Hitachi Energy took Thomas Frohne around the globe to advance a sustainable energy future. Get insights into his journey in our interview.
- February 25, 2025
- 5 Min. reading time
- Sponsored by: Hitachi Energy
1) What brought you to Hitachi Energy?
After graduating high school and going through an extensive selection process, I had the opportunity to complete a dual study program in electrical engineering with a focus on energy technology. In addition to the course content, I was given the opportunity to gain many different impressions of the corporate world at Hitachi Energy. At the end of my studies, it was clear to me that this was the place where I would continue my career!
2) Throughout your career, you've had various stations across the world – which were those? What roles did you fill and how did you get there?
During my dual study programme, I was already able to spend three months in the service department in Ludvika, Sweden, and another quarter year on a construction site for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system in Rostock with the support of Hitachi Energy. In my now seven years at the company, I have taken on a wide variety of tasks as a field service engineer following my studies. This included maintenance and repair work throughout Germany as well as assignments in France, Sweden and offshore off the German coast. My next role as a ‘Site Quality Specialist’ took me to South-East Asia, specifically Singapore, where I was involved in the construction and equipping of an HVDC platform. Returning to Europe, I lived in Norway for the next eleven months and was part of a team working on the finalisation of an HVDC platform. After almost two and a half years I have found my way back to Germany, now as a ‘Project Quality Specialist’ - where I am tackling new challenges in the next major energy transmission project in Germany!
3) Why is HVDC technology so important - and exciting?
Why is HVDC important for us? High-voltage direct current transmission makes it possible to transport electrical energy very efficiently over long distances by converting alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC) and back again. This allows us to connect offshore wind farms to the grid or transport energy, for example, from the windy north of Germany to consumers in the west and south. HVDC technology improves grid stability and enables more precise control of the flow of electricity. It also helps to reduce environmental pollution and is more cost-efficient in the long term.
Standing in a valve hall for the first time (where AC is converted to DC and DC to AC) feels like being in a science fiction film! You're surrounded by huge high-voltage equipment weighing tonnes, state-of-the-art power electronics and kilometres of fibre optic cables for communication and control. HVDC systems are incredibly complex and fascinating and every day I'm amazed at how we manage to integrate renewable energies into the grid and ensure that we can charge our mobile phones or turn on the oven while becoming increasingly climate-neutral as a society in the process.
4) What does everyday life as a service technician usually look like?
The day-to-day work of a service technician in the HVDC sector comprises three main tasks: preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance and emergency operations. In preventive maintenance, we carry out regular inspections and tests at various locations throughout Germany, but also abroad and, of course, offshore. This requires frequent travelling, overnight stays in hotels and flexibility. During the inspections, we create detailed service reports, which provide our customers and Hitachi Energy with important empirical values. These can be used, for example, to replace equipment before it reaches the end of its life cycle. This prevents unnecessary outages of the HVDC systems.
Corrective maintenance is less predictable and involves the repair or replacement of damaged equipment. In rare cases, such damage or faults can lead to the failure of an HVDC station. In order to maintain the function of the HVDC systems, which are all part of the critical infrastructure, rapid action is then required - sometimes within just a few hours.
To ensure that we are always available for our customers, we also have an on-call service, where we as service technicians are the first point of contact for our customers and find quick solutions to any requests with our experts at Hitachi Energy.
5) What are your favorite aspects of working within a project?
My assignments abroad as part of the project work, but even more so the relocation of the centre of my life to countries and cultures that were completely foreign to me, have brought me so many new impressions and experiences. As a result, I have grown faster and stronger than I ever expected - both personally and professionally. Without family and friends nearby the team becomes a surrogate family, so I got to know many colleagues better and made new friends.
The team spirit and trust, as well as the diversity and cultural exchange, have enriched my work life as well as my thinking and led to new perspectives. In addition to all this, it is simply incredible to see a project - how should I describe it - grow!
From an offer and countless drawings and plans, steel and cables are combined into over 24,000 tonnes of platform, huge buildings, 400 tonnes of transformers and rectifier valves, several metre high coils and much more. The project requires the cooperation of so many team members and specialists, but also of subcontractors, suppliers and colleagues on the customer side. It's simply incredible how all this becomes a critical part of our energy supply - an HVDC system.
6) What makes Hitachi Energy a good employer from your point of view? How did the company support your growth?
Beginning in its early career programmes, the company places great emphasis on team building. We received additional training in soft skills such as presentation and argumentation techniques, which I still benefit from today. Hitachi Energy proved to be a flexible employer that offers new opportunities and supports personal development. The international nature of the company offers the opportunity to immerse yourself in different jobs - your growth is only limited by your imagination and the courage to take the next step.
7) What has stuck with you from your various positions? Is there any advice you would like to give to newcomers in your field?
- Networking: Get to know as many people as possible!
- Continuous development and improvement: Stay curious and keep growing!
- Be yourself: Find your own way!
- There is never a stupid question: Always ask questions and learn new things!
- Age is just a number: Don't let your age limit you!
Hitachi Energy is a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. The company serves customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors with innovative solutions and services across the value chain. Together with customers and partners, Hitachi Energy pioneers technologies to enable the digital transformation required to accelerate the energy transition towards a carbon-neutral future and employs around 45,000 people in over 60 countries.
