Features | 24.02.2026 | 3 min read
With HVDC technology and highly complex transport logistics, the equipment connects into an energy infrastructure optimized for long‑distance, high‑efficiency transmission.
Hitachi Energy, which has been operating in Brazil for over 70 years, has reached a new milestone with the production and delivery of the biggest set of transformers ever produced by the company in the country. They are destined for a HVDC interconnection project in Saudi Arabia, one of the most innovative and technological infrastructure initiatives in the world.
Manufactured at the Guarulhos (SP) unit, the 14 transformers that assemble the set has the advanced Asymmetric Light HVDC technology, which allows for more compact and sustainable installations, reducing space requirements and environmental impact. Designed to operate for over 30 years under different climate conditions, the transformers impress by their robustness: with 580 MVA of power and 380 kV, each equipment weights 342 tons for transport and surpasses over 512 tons when fully installed. Upon completion, the HVDC systems will have total power capacity of up to 9 gigawatts (GW).
The complexity of the project required auditing and certification by the Saudi technical team, which was able to verify the technical capacity, infrastructure, and quality standards of the Brazilian operation. Local production not only consolidates national expertise, but also increases the global visibility of the Guarulhos factory within the group.
The transport of transformers is a large-scale operation, and has gained prominence in the Brazilian media. The transformers travel highways from Guarulhos to the Port of Itajaí (RJ). Logistics requires rigorous planning and controlled speed due to the sensitivity of the equipment.
“The transportation is carried out at low average speed because, although the load is extremely robust, it is quite fragile. It cannot withstand sudden acceleration or braking. Other than that, the tractors must be synchronized, so that there is no overload on one of the motors”, says Alexandre Malveiro, Hub Manager for Latin America at Hitachi Energy’s Transformers Business Unit. The equipment plays a central role in the high-voltage transmission system, and it will enable clean energy to be sent over long distances with high efficiency.
“It is a key equipment in high-voltage transmission systems that converts and conditions electrical energy for long distances. It does not directly convert currents but helps power the electronic devices that make the conversion. Hitachi Energy reinforces the prominence of Brazilian industry and engineering in a global venture, in one of the most important initiatives for the expansion and modernization of energy networks, with a focus on the new era of electricity", concludes Malveiro.
The transformers are expected to be fully delivered by September 2026, and the system will go into operation in 2027.
