ABB announced that it is investing around $200 million in its medium-voltage manufacturing capabilities across Europe.
Over the next three years the compamy plnas to expand production capacity, accelerate the transition to next-generation technologies for power distribution and strengthen supply for customers that are modernizing their power infrastructure.
This includes utilities, industry, and rapidly growing data center markets.
According to the International Energy Agency, electricity’s share of final energy consumption is expected to rise from around 20 percent today to nearly 30 percent by 2030, highlighting the urgency and scale of grid expansion.
“This $200 million investment will strengthen ABB’s medium-voltage manufacturing and technology capabilities in Europe and support customers as electricity demand increases and the grid evolves,” said Morten Wierod, ABB’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Demand is being driven by major structural trends, from grid modernization and the integration of renewables to data center growth and the transition to more sustainable technologies. These investments will help us expand capacity, improve availability and shorten lead times for customers in Europe and beyond, empowering them to adapt to the changing energy landscape,” adds Morten.
The funding enhances the firm's capacity to provide essential medium-voltage switchgear and grid automation solutions. It features a new $100 million facility in Dalmine, Italy, to address the increasing demand for air-insulated and SF₆-free circuit breakers and switchgear.
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An additional $100 million investment targets capacity expansion initiatives at facilities in Bulgaria (Rakovski), Finland (Vaasa), Germany (Ratingen), Norway (Skien), and Poland (Przasnysz), increasing production of technologies like gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), vacuum interrupters, and relays, which support more dependable and robust power distribution.
This initiative expands on recent funding in ABB's operations in the UK and Hungary. In Kecskemét, Hungary, an investment of around $15 million enhances R&D and manufacturing capabilities for connector technologies, improving medium-voltage network reliability and broadening ABB’s range of grid resilience solutions for utility and renewable clients.
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In Nottingham, UK, ABB allocated approximately $35 million to enhance the production of earthing and lightning protection technologies aimed at safeguarding essential infrastructure and buildings, data centers, as well as communications and transportation networks from lightning strikes and electrical surges.
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Collectively, these measures demonstrate ABB's commitment to developing robust manufacturing abilities for technologies that link and safeguard the changing grid.