GE Vernova Expands UK Facilities to Cater to HVDC Demand
First published onLondon Climate Technology Show ↗
September 25, 2024: GE Vernova Inc. energy equipment production and services company has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facilities in Stafford, UK, in response to the rising demand for High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission systems. This expansion aims to enhance the company’s ability to support renewable energy projects across Europe, Asia, and North America while also contributing to the UK’s energy transition.
The expansion focuses on two main sites within its Electrification Systems’ Grid Solutions division: One at Stafford HVDC Facility at Redhill:This facility is set to double its valve manufacturing capacity with the installation of an additional Voltage-Sourced Converter (VSC) valve assembly line. These valves are crucial components of HVDC converter stations, facilitating the efficient transmission of power from offshore wind farms and other renewable energy sources to the grid. The other at Stafford Transformer Facility at Lichfield Rd: This site will receive significant upgrades to boost its capacity for producing HVDC converter transformers, which play a vital role in integrating renewable energy into the grid. Recently, transformers manufactured at this facility were installed in the North Sea to support the 1.4 GW Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
In the company’s press release, Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems business stated, "Helping our customers deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy to people worldwide is central to GE Vernova’s mission. By expanding our Stafford operations, we are strengthening our ability to support the energy transition in the UK and the rest of the world and creating new jobs as a result.”
This expansion represents GE Vernova’s second significant investment in its Stafford site. In 2018, the company established one of the world's most advanced HVDC valve testing facilities and a control system testing facility, which currently enables large-scale testing and validation of HVDC systems for projects throughout Europe and beyond.
