HD Hyundai Electric has secured a partnership with global power equipment maker Hitachi Energy to compete for a major US electricity transmission project. The South Korean company will set up dedicated production facilities for high voltage direct current transformers in Ulsan to support the initiative.
The collaboration, formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed at a Korea-Sweden partnership event, targets the West Coast Energy Highway project. Hitachi Energy brings established expertise in HVDC transmission systems, which can carry electricity over long distances more efficiently than conventional alternating current networks.
The agreement positions HD Hyundai Electric to expand its presence in North American power infrastructure as utilities invest billions to upgrade aging transmission systems and connect renewable energy sources. The Ulsan manufacturing base would allow the company to meet domestic content requirements increasingly common in US infrastructure projects.
HVDC technology has gained traction as grid operators seek to move wind and solar power from remote generation sites to population centers. The systems can also link separate regional grids and improve network stability.
The partnership reflects growing competition among Asian and European manufacturers for contracts tied to America’s energy transition spending.
