Firm begins work to expand UK’s only large-scale grid manufacturing facility in Stafford creating 100 jobs
GE Vernova has celebrated the start of work to expand its manufacturing site in Stafford - the UK’s only large scale grid manufacturing facility - which will create around 100 new jobs.
The expansion plan will support growing global demand for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) grid technologies critical to the energy transition.
Once complete, the expansion is expected to double the site’s production of HVDC transformers -vital for efficiently delivering electricity from renewable sources to power networks across Europe, Asia and North America.
HVDC technology is essential for transporting large volumes of electricity over long distances with minimal energy loss, making it a cornerstone of resilient, low-carbon grids.
Sarah Jones MP, Minister of State for Industry, visited the site at a launch event on June 12 and said: “This is our clean energy superpower mission in action – boosting our supply chains and creating new jobs in areas across the country – from engineering to manufacturing to apprenticeships.
“Upgrading the grid is critical to delivering homegrown clean energy to millions of homes, and this manufacturing facility will help make vital components to get more clean energy projects plugged in."
Johan Bindele, vice president and CEO - grid systems integration at GE Vernova, said: “This expansion reflects the growing demand for technologies that enable electrification at scale - from connecting offshore wind to supporting inter-connectors.
“This further strengthens our manufacturing legacy in the UK and enhances our ability to deliver HVDC technologies critical to grid modernisation around the world. Just as importantly, it creates opportunities for highly skilled workers who will help shape the future of energy infrastructure.”
The expansion will result in the creation of around 100 new jobs, including opportunities for apprentices, trainees, engineers and manufacturing specialists, within the business.
Stafford MP Leigh Ingham MP said: “The expansion of this facility marks a huge milestone, not just for our region, but for the UK’s energy future. With world-leading HVDC technology being built right here, we are helping power renewable projects across Europe, Asia, and North America. That’s Stafford expertise supporting Net Zero on a global scale.”
The site recently produced its first transformer for the TenneT 2 GW programme, one of the largest single phase transformers manufactured in Stafford. Transformers produced at the site have recently been installed in the North Sea to support the Sofia Offshore Wind Farm.
The site will also support the effective delivery of Eastern Green Link 1, where GE Vernova is supplying and constructing two HVDC converter stations to transmit renewable energy to homes across Britain.
GE Vernova has more than 120 years of experience in the UK, with more than 30 per cent of the UK’s electricity generation through its equipment. The company also runs another major manufacturing facility in Rugby and supports thousands of full-time employees. It is supplying the turbines to what will be the world’s firs gas-fired power plant with carbon capture, at Net Zero Teesside Power, and is also supplying hundreds of turbines to Dogger Bank Wind Farm.
