Hitachi Energy has announced investment of over $100 million for upgrade and modernization of its power transformer factory in Varennes and other facilities in Montreal, to address increasing customer demand for sustainable energy in North America, through funding from the Government of Quebec.
The investment supports Hitachi Energy’s recent announcement to ramp up its global transformer manufacturing capacity to support the long-term plans and electrification efforts.
The company’s Varennes facility not only supports national and regional power grids but also serves utility-scale renewable energy projects. The factory designs and engineers large power step-up transformers, auto-transformers with very high voltage, shunt reactors, and transformers for static compensators and HVDC transmission systems.
The location’s manufacturing capacity ranges from 100 to 1,200 MVA and their operating voltage is 800 kV.
A new additional 130,000 sq ft on-site transformer testing facility in Varennes will help meet growing demand in the province for sustainable energy solutions.
The facility will support the certification of power transformers manufactured in Varennes and is expected to be completed before the end of 2027. It will also create around 70 jobs to enable capacity expansion.
The initiative backs Quebec's broader strategy to meet its energy goals as well as requirement for more than 150 TWh of additional energy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“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,” said Bruno Melles, Business Unit Transformers, Managing Director at Hitachi Energy.
