Hitachi Energy is investing in a new renewable energy generation facility at its transformer manufacturing plant in Figeholm, Sweden, marking a significant advancement in the company’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations.
The new energy plant will provide a sustainable and long-term solution for Hitachi Energy’s Figeholm factory, which produces cellulose-based insulation materials for power transformers. This initiative aligns with the company’s Sustainability 2030 Strategy, which aims to make all of its operations carbon-neutral by 2030. The facility will utilize wood pellets sourced from sustainable and globally recognized biofuel standards, which will replace the use of heavy oil in the factory’s energy processes.
The plant will feature a heating installation with a steam boiler, which will power the presses that produce the insulation materials for transformers. This shift from heavy oil to wood pellets will significantly reduce the factory’s direct Scope 1 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing to a lower carbon footprint for the insulation material production process.
The Figeholm facility has a longstanding history in paperboard manufacturing, dating back nearly 100 years. The paper produced here is specially engineered for insulation purposes, offering high purity, mechanical strength, and dielectric properties essential for the demanding performance requirements of power transformers. These transformers are vital components of power systems, helping to regulate voltage levels for efficient generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity.
Currently, around 120 employees work at the Figeholm plant, and they will receive specialized training to operate the new renewable energy solution. The energy plant is expected to be fully operational by the summer of 2026.
Hitachi Energy, which employs approximately 6,500 people across Sweden, operates several manufacturing facilities throughout the country, with its largest operations located in Ludvika and Västerås. The company is a recognized global leader in transformer manufacturing, with the largest installed base of transformers worldwide.
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