South Africa's Transformer Manufacturing Industry
South Africa's transformer manufacturing industry can bridge local and national grid gaps, boost energy security, and tap into global market demand, according to Mervyn Naidoo, Group CEO of ACTOM.
The country's energy transition, as well as similar efforts worldwide, is driving up demand for power transformers as nations upgrade and expand their power grids to meet rising energy needs.
The Infrastructure Gap
A critical infrastructure gap has been exposed: a severe shortage of transformers. As countries expand generation capacity and decarbonize their grids, the demand for transformers has surged beyond current global supply capabilities.
- Renewable sources, such as solar and wind, are often geographically dispersed, located far from existing grid infrastructure.
- Unlike legacy fossil fuel plants, these sources require new transmission and distribution infrastructure, including transformers.
SA’s transformer manufacturing can bridge local and national grid gaps, boost energy security, and tap into global market demand.
Author's summary: South Africa's transformer manufacturing industry can fill a local and national infrastructure gap.