China's growing power demands bring new opportunities

Siemens Energy is among those looking to tap into China’s fast-growing market for ultra-high-voltage power network technologies.

The company has just announced it will set up a new facility at its transformer production location in Guangzhou, China, to produce 800-kilovolt converter transformers. In addition to high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transformers, the plant will also produce power transformers with ratings up to 1,400 mega-volt-amperes (MVA).

“With our new facility we’re not only extending our global network of HVDC transformer factories and expanding our product portfolio in Asia,” said Jürgen Vinkenflügel, CEO of the transformers business unit of Siemens Energy. “Through the local production of HVDC transformers we’re also enhancing our competitiveness in the field of HVDC transmission in China.”

China is working to massively expand its power generating capacity and ultra-high-voltage network to help it meet future power demands.

Siemens’ facility expansion also includes a special test center with a desert-like climate — 10 percent humidity and temperatures of around 28 degrees C — designed to keep humidity from making its way into transformer insulation.

The plant’s vicinity to the Pearl River with its inland ports will make it possible to dispatch the high-rating transformers, which often weigh several hundred tons, by ship.