GE Vernova is expanding its existing manufacturing facilities in Stafford, U.K., aimed at supporting demand for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems.
The expansion focuses on two key sites of its Electrification Systems’ Grid Solutions business in Stafford:
- Stafford HVDC Facility at Redhill, HVDC and Flexible AC Transmission Systems valves: This facility is anticipated to double its valve manufacturing capacity to support the growing demand for HVDC systems with the installation of an additional Voltage-Sourced Converter valve assembly line. The valves, considered the “heart” of an HVDC converter station, enable the optimal transmission of power from offshore wind farms and other renewable energy sources to the grid.
- Stafford Transformer Facility at Lichfield Rd, HVDC converter transformers: This site will undergo significant upgrades to boost capacity and enhance its ability to produce HVDC converter transformers, critical for integrating renewable energy into the grid. Transformers produced at this site have recently been installed in the North Sea to support the 1.4 GW Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
“Helping our customers deliver sustainable, affordable, and reliable energy to people worldwide is central to GE Vernova’s mission,” says Philippe Piron, CEO of GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems business. “By expanding our Stafford operations, we are strengthening our ability to support the energy transition in the U.K. and the rest of the world and creating new jobs as a result.”
GE Vernova’s Grid Solutions business recently signed an agreement to supply HVDC systems for five of TenneT’s offshore wind projects, as part of the Dutch-German Transmission System Operator’s goal to connect 40 GW of offshore wind farms to the high voltage grids in the Netherlands and Germany. The valves and the transformers technology for these projects are planned to be manufactured at the Stafford facilities.
