Who makes large power transformers for AI data centers
constrained
Grid-scale transformers and switchyards that step transmission voltage down to what a data center campus can use, plus the substation civil works around them.
The substation and its transformers are the physical interconnect between the utility transmission grid and the campus, converting transmission voltage down to the range that HV switchgear and downstream MV distribution can handle. Everything inside the fence — HV switchgear, MV switchgear and E-houses, transformers all the way down to the rack — depends on this equipment being on site and energized before load can be added. Because a large power transformer is a custom-engineered, long-lead unit built to a specific voltage, MVA, and impedance spec, and because global manufacturing capacity for the core steel and windings involved is tight, transformer availability rather than construction speed increasingly sets the pace at which a campus can bring capacity online. For investors, the things to watch are supplier order books and backlog length, how much manufacturing capacity incumbents are adding versus how much new entrants can qualify, and whether utilities or developers begin pre-ordering transformers speculatively ahead of a firm interconnection to protect their place in the queue. Substation equipment also tends to require utility-grade qualification and testing, which limits how quickly a new supplier can be brought in even once it has capacity.
AI delta: lead times of 2–4 years; the single biggest schedule risk for GW campuses.
Companies on this part (18)
| Company | Role | Ownership | Ticker | Price | 1d | Confidence | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CG Power | manufacturer | public | CGPOWER.NS | 813 INR | -0.5% | inferred | |
| Efacec · unit of Mutares | manufacturer | subsidiary | MUX.DE* | inferred | |||
| GE Vernova | manufacturer | public | GEV | 815 USD | -1.0% | inferred | |
| Hitachi Energy · unit of Hitachi | manufacturer | subsidiary | 6501.T* | disclosed | · source | ||
| Hyosung Heavy | manufacturer | public | 298040.KS | 1877000 KRW | -1.9% | inferred | |
| Hyundai Electric | manufacturer | public | 267260.KS | 470000 KRW | -3.5% | inferred | |
| Končar | manufacturer | public | KOEI.ZG | ⚠ | inferred | ||
| LS Electric | manufacturer | public | 010120.KS | 156900 KRW | -2.2% | inferred | |
| Mitsubishi Electric | manufacturer | public | 6503.T | 4770 JPY | -2.3% | inferred | |
| Prolec GE · unit of Xignux/GEV | manufacturer | subsidiary | inferred | ||||
| Siemens Energy | manufacturer | public | ENR.DE | 119 EUR | -2.0% | disclosed | · source |
| TBEA | manufacturer | public | 600089.SS | 17.65 CNY | +1.9% | inferred | |
| WEG | manufacturer | public | WEGE3.SA | 42.73 BRL | -3.2% | inferred | |
| Delta Star | manufacturer | private | inferred | ||||
| Pennsylvania Transformer | manufacturer | private | disclosed | · source | |||
| SGB-SMIT | manufacturer | private | inferred | ||||
| Toshiba | manufacturer | private | inferred | ||||
| Virginia Transformer | manufacturer | private | inferred |
Who competes here
The same table read the other way: every company above competes for large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations sockets. Confidence tags matter — an inferred placement is a lead, not a confirmed rivalry.
Nearby parts
From the blog
- Part of the day: Large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations 2026-10-24
- The eleven parts that only show up above hyperscale 2026-09-09
- Half the supplier bench, a sixth of the coverage 2026-09-07
- The 2–4 year part: who makes large power transformers 2026-09-02
- The five AI data center parts this catalog flags as tight or constrained 2026-08-30
- Introducing the catalog: every part of an AI data center, and who makes it 2026-08-28
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- [AI Infrastructure Insight] How AI infrastructure will be designed for the future — newsroom:sk-hynix, 2026-10-22The design of future AI infrastructure will require integrating advanced compute, cooling, and power elements from various parts of the supply chain.
- Tata Power eyes 2.8GW of generation, transmission, and distribution for Indian data center sector — Data Center Dynamics, 2026-10-21Tata Power plans to secure significant generation, transmission, and distribution capacity for the burgeoning Indian data center industry.
- Hitachi Energy teams up with Ansaldo to develop integrated power solutions for data center sector and grid — Data Center Dynamics, 2026-10-21Hitachi Energy and Ansaldo have formed a collaboration to develop integrated power solutions specifically for the data center sector and the broader electrical grid.
- SpaceX pushes AI scaling into industrial realm as power equipment becomes limiting factor — DigiTimes, 2026-10-21The rapid scaling of AI infrastructure is being constrained by the availability of electrical capacity, cooling solutions, and necessary compute hardware.
- LS Power COO sees sweeping power sector investing needs: gas, renewables, transmission and more — Utility Dive, 2026-10-20LS Power's COO stated that current demand growth is substantial and that the supply side of the power infrastructure, including gas, renewables, and transmission, requires significant time to meet market needs.
- Building Physical AI Systems That Can Work in the Real World — EE Times, 2026-10-20The article discusses the need for holistic system architecture that balances compute, power, and safety when building physical AI systems, suggesting this approach is more critical than just model size.
- Malaysia says data center investors must fund transmission upgrades — DigiTimes, 2026-10-20Malaysia is requiring data center investors to fund necessary transmission upgrades, increasing the link between investment and local grid capacity.
- Power alone won't unlock the next generation of AI data centers — Data Center Dynamics, 2026-10-19The article stresses that energy flexibility, beyond mere power provision, must be considered crucial for advancing next-generation AI data centers.
- FERC approves ISO-NE ‘asset condition’ transmission review process — Utility Dive, 2026-10-19FERC approved an 'asset condition' transmission review process that commissioners suggested other regions should adopt for increased oversight of local transmission projects.
- Microsoft abandons UK AI supercomputer as grid struggles to keep up — The Register, 2026-10-19Microsoft has withdrawn from its planned UK AI supercomputer because power grid connection issues are expected to delay the nation's AI infrastructure goals until the 2030s.
Questions about large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations
- What are large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations?
- Grid-scale transformers and switchyards that step transmission voltage down to what a data center campus can use, plus the substation civil works around them.
- Which companies make large power transformers for AI data centers?
- This catalog lists 18 companies on Large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations, 13 of them with listed equity: CG Power, Efacec, GE Vernova, Hitachi Energy, Hyosung Heavy, Hyundai Electric, Končar, LS Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, Prolec GE, and 8 more.
- How does AI change demand for large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations?
- lead times of 2–4 years; the single biggest schedule risk for GW campuses.
- Large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations — is it a supply bottleneck?
- This catalog flags Large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations as "constrained". The bottlenecks page lists every part carrying a sourced supply constraint.
- How reliable are these large power transformers (345–765 kV) & substations supplier placements?
- The 18 placements on this part break down as 3 disclosed, 15 inferred. "disclosed" means the company or a filing says so; "reported" comes from trade press or a reference-design list; "inferred" is a taxonomy lead with no citation yet.
Sources: placements without a source URL come from the taxonomy seed and are tagged accordingly. How this data is built.· Markdown · JSON