Hitachi Energy and Hydro-Québec have announced the commercial commissioning of the 1.25 GW Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line, enabling electricity deliveries from Canada to New York City (Hitachi Energy press release, 16/06/2026).
“By connecting New York City directly to Hydro-Quebec’s network of over 60 hydropower stations, CHPE has the ability to deliver enough renewable energy to power one million homes and meet nearly 20% of New York City’s electricity needs”, said the company in its press release.
In contrast to conventional transmission infrastructure, the CHPE project was designed to remain largely out of sight. Its transmission cables have been installed underground and beneath the waters of Lake Champlain, as well as the Hudson and Harlem Rivers, helping to preserve natural landscapes, protect ecosystems, and enhance resilience against extreme weather events.
The project is expected to cut carbon emissions by approximately 3.9 Mt/year, an impact comparable to removing 44% of New York City’s vehicles from circulation. By displacing fossil fuel-based power generation, CHPE will also support New York State’s objective of sourcing 70% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030.
According to Hitachi Energy, the commissioning of CHPE represents a significant technological achievement. The project is the second major HVDC city-center infeed system worldwide to operate at ±400 kV, following the company’s pioneering project in Mumbai (India), which was the first installation globally to be commissioned at this voltage level.