Hyosung Heavy Industries’ 22.9-kilovolt solid-state transformer, or SST (Hyosung Heavy Industries)
Hyosung Heavy Industries’ 22.9-kilovolt solid-state transformer, or SST (Hyosung Heavy Industries)

Hyosung Heavy Industries is expanding its US power infrastructure business as demand from AI and data centers continues to grow.

The company is combining its local manufacturing base with its expertise in power equipment and grid technologies.

Rising power demand and aging grid infrastructure are driving major investments in the US power network.

At the center of Hyosung’s technology strategy is the solid-state transformer, or SST, which the company sees as a key component of power systems in the AI era. In 2022, Hyosung developed a 22.9-kilovolt, 1.05-megavolt-ampere SST that connects directly to urban distribution networks.

Unlike conventional transformers, SSTs use power semiconductors to control voltage and current while providing electrical insulation. The global SST market is projected to grow by more than 40 percent annually as power infrastructure is modernized, according to market research firms.

The market for high-capacity SSTs serving data centers at 22.9 kV and above remains at an early stage, with only a handful of companies pursuing demonstrations and commercialization. Hyosung seeks an early foothold as data centers demand larger, more flexible and more efficient power systems.

To support its US expansion, Hyosung has invested $300 million in enlarging its ultra-high-voltage transformer plant in Memphis, Tennessee. Once completed, the expanded facility is expected to have one of the largest production capacities of its kind in the US.

The company has also formed a joint venture with US infrastructure company Quanta Services to manufacture circuit breakers ranging from 72.5 kV to 800 kV in Pennsylvania. The venture gives Hyosung local manufacturing capabilities for both transformers and circuit breakers.

Quanta’s nationwide operations and customer network are expected to help Hyosung reach major power users and broaden its access to the US infrastructure market.

Hyosung plans to combine this local production base with its portfolio of SSTs, energy storage systems, static synchronous compensators and high-voltage direct-current transmission technologies to target the growing data center power market.

“Driven by the expansion of AI and data centers, power infrastructure has become a core industry directly linked to national security,” Hyosung Group Chair Cho Hyun-joon said.

“Building on our US manufacturing facilities and technological capabilities, we must establish ourselves as an irreplaceable, long-term partner in stabilizing the American power grid.”


jyoungseon8@heraldcorp.com