Hitachi Energy Ships Record-breaking HVDC Transformer from Sweden to China
A transformer manufactured by Hitachi Energy has begun its journey from Ludvika, Sweden, to China, marking a major milestone in global power transmission logistics.
The unit is the largest HVDC VSC transformer ever built, with a capacity of 750 MVA and designed for ±800 kV operation. It will be installed in the Gansu–Zhejiang ±800 kV Ultra UHVDC VSC Transmission Project, expected to transmit over 36 billion kWh of electricity annually to Zhejiang province.
According to Hitachi Energy, the unit left the Ludvika factory and is now en route via a multimodal transport route including road, barge, and sea, with arrival in Shanghai expected in mid-2026. The total transport weight, including the vehicle, is 820 tons, making it the heaviest shipment ever to leave the site.
“It’s fantastic to see how our HVDC transformer technology is reaching across the world. The teams in Ludvika and China behind this project have delivered outstanding work.” said Markus Pettersson, Global HVDC Transformers Unit Manager at Hitachi Energy.
Due to its size, the transformer could not be transported by rail. The logistics plan involved road transport to Köping, barge shipment to Norrköping, and sea transport onward to Shanghai. Planning and coordination took over a year.
“There was only one suitable transport wagon available in the whole of Europe, which meant an extremely narrow transport window. The logistics effort has been challenging at times, but everything has finally been resolved, and we were happy to witness the unit arriving safe at the port of Norrköping and put on its way to China,” said Anna-Karin Larsdotter, Transport Manager Transformers at Hitachi Energy.
The unit will serve as a reference for future identical transformers to be manufactured in China.
Source: hitachienergy.com
