Hitachi Energy has announced an upgrade and modernisation of its power transformer factory in Varennes, Canada, and other facilities in Montreal, to address fast-growing customer demand for sustainable energy in North America.
More than $100m (approximately CAD$140m) will be invested in projects around Montreal will include funding from the Government of Quebec through Investissement Quebec.
This money is in line with Hitachi’s recent announcement to ramp up its global transformer manufacturing capacity to support long-term plans and electrification efforts.
The Varennes facility has been in operation since 1971 and is Hitachi Energy’s main manufacturing location for large power transformers in North America, supporting national and regional power grids, and serving utility-scale renewable energy projects.
The factory designs and engineers a vast range of superior-quality transformers, including large power step-up transformers, auto-transformers with very high voltage, shunt reactors, and transformers for static compensators and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems.
The location’s manufacturing capacity ranges from 100 to 1200 megavolt-ampere and their operating voltage reaches as high as 800kV.
The establishment of a new on-site transformer testing facility at the site is a critical element of the company’s efforts to meet growing demand in the province for sustainable energy solutions.
The additional 12,000-square metre facility will support the certification of power transformers manufactured in Varennes and is expected to be completed before the end of 2027.
This initiative aligns with Quebec’s broader strategy to meet its ambitious energy goals, including the need for more than 150 terawatt-hours of additional energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 – around twice what Quebec consumes today, said Hitachi.
“Globally, demand for transformers and electrical equipment continues to grow at an unprecedented scale,” said Hitachi Energy’s business unit transformers, managing director Bruno Melles.
“At Hitachi Energy we are continuously developing our global footprint and capacity to address our customers’ mid- and long-term needs.
“In addition to our global investments, the support of the Quebec government will help to address North America’s rising demand for transformers to support fast-growing sectors like renewable energy, data centers, and industrial electrification, as Quebec strengthens its role as a key player in the energy transition.”