Hitachi Energy and Samsung C&T Forge Strategic Alliance to Modernize Power Grids for Surging Data Center Demand
April 17, 2026
In a significant move to address the escalating power requirements of the global data center industry, Hitachi Energy and Samsung C&T have entered into a strategic collaboration. The partnership underscores the critical need to modernize and reinforce electrical grids, which are under increasing strain from the rapid expansion of data centers, particularly those driven by artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.
The two companies have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly pursue opportunities in high-voltage alternating current (HVAC) grid infrastructure. The agreement establishes a framework for the firms to combine their respective strengths: Hitachi Energy will contribute its expertise in grid technologies, advanced engineering, digital solutions, and electrical systems, while Samsung C&T will bring its extensive engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) delivery capabilities to the table. The collaboration aims to develop a shared go-to-market strategy and a pipeline of projects focused on grid modernization.
Niklas Persson, CEO of the Grid Integration Business Unit at Hitachi Energy, emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance. "The global energy landscape is entering a defining decade for its energy future, and resilient AC grid infrastructure is foundational to making the transition work," Persson stated. "This expanded collaboration with Samsung C&T brings together leading technology and execution capabilities to accelerate grid modernization, strengthen resilience, and enable the large-scale integration of renewables – supporting a more connected and energy-secure system."
Lee Byung-soo, Executive Vice President of Samsung C&T, highlighted the partners' proven track record. "Our proven collaboration model in the UAE and Australia will become a powerful competitive advantage in global power infrastructure markets," Lee said. "We will continue to lead complex cross-border transmission projects with integrated solutions that span both direct and alternating current technologies."
The partnership is part of a broader trend for Hitachi Energy, which has recently engaged in several deals to support data center power infrastructure, including supplying equipment to OpenAI's data centers and collaborating with Southwest Power Pool on AI-driven grid studies. For Samsung C&T, the construction arm of the Samsung conglomerate, this aligns with its active expansion in the data center sector, which includes recent projects like a 40MW facility in South Korea's Gyeonggi Province and a planned data center integrated with a 900MW hydrogen power plant.
This alliance is poised to have substantial implications for the data center and energy sectors. By pooling resources to enhance HVAC grid capacity and reliability, the partners aim to directly facilitate the growth of energy-intensive data centers while supporting the broader integration of renewable energy sources into the power grid. The collaboration represents a targeted response to one of the most pressing challenges in the digital economy: ensuring that power infrastructure can keep pace with relentless technological demand.
Source: datacenterdynamics
