Hitachi Energy is expanding its production in Sweden

Hitachi Energy, a global technology leader that is advancing a sustainable energy future for all, announces today that it is expanding its production in Smedjebacken and Ludvika, in the region of Dalarna in Sweden, as part of its plan to employ more than 2,000 additional people in the next two years as previously announced.¹ The expansion entails a new 3,300 square meter factory in Smedjebacken, and a 1,400 square meter expansion in Ludvika that will increase production of advanced power electronic valves for use in high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission and power quality applications.  

The new factory will begin construction in the coming months and is expected to enter into operation by late 2024. This new factory will be built alongside an existing Hitachi Energy facility which was opened in August 2022. Meanwhile, the expansion in Ludvika is also planned to start before the end of the year, for completion in early 2025.

These facilities will help meet the increasing demand for HVDC systems, a technology that enables large-scale transmission of electricity, and for power quality solutions that improve voltage stability and grid reliability. This latest generation of power electronics products is especially suitable for stable integration of renewable power, interconnection of different electricity systems and supporting weak power grids to make the energy system more sustainable, flexible and secure while advancing a sustainable energy future for all.

Hitachi Energy in Sweden is on a major growth journey, driven by the accelerating energy transition demand and plans to employ over 2,000 people in Sweden over the next two years, many of whom are engineers plus a wide range of other fields.

"Demand for our world-leading technology is at an unprecedented level, and we are very happy that we can continue to invest and expand our production in Sweden," says Andreas Berthou, global head of the HVDC business at Hitachi Energy. “In Sweden, we have our HVDC and power quality competence centers, along with the R&D and key production facilities, and look forward to welcoming our future new employees, who want to join and contribute to the global energy transition.”

“We are in an incredibly exciting and expansive growth phase worldwide with a strong impact in Sweden, both in terms of investment and recruitment,” says Tobias Hansson, Managing Director, Hitachi Energy in Sweden. “We look forward to embarking on this journey together with the local and regional community.”

Hitachi Energy has over 5,500 employees in Sweden and is located in roughly 10 locations in the country. The largest locations are Ludvika with approximately 3,500 employees and Västerås with approximately 1,200 employees.

Note to editors:

Hitachi Energy’s HVDC solution combines world-leading expertise in HVDC converter valves; the MACH™ digital control platform², converter power transformers and high-voltage switchgear; as well as system studies, design and engineering, supply, installation supervision and commissioning.

HVDC Light® is a voltage source converter technology developed by Hitachi Energy, which was launched over 25 years ago. It is the preferred technology for many grid applications, including interconnecting countries, integrating renewables and “power-from-shore” connections to offshore production facilities. HVDC Light’s defining features include uniquely compact converter stations and exceptionally low electrical losses.

Hitachi Energy pioneered commercial HVDC technology almost 70 years ago and has delivered more than half of the world’s HVDC projects.

Hitachi Energy’s power quality solutions enable grid operators and industrial customers to dampen voltage fluctuations and other destabilizing effects of renewable energy and to significantly expand the transmission capacity.

More renewables in the power system means that power quality solutions, many of which we have innovated over the past 70 years, are essential to keep the grid stable and the power flowing reliably.