In a significant move that highlights the growing importance of America’s energy infrastructure, power management company Eaton announced a $340 million investment to convert an existing 861,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Jonesville, South Carolina, to produce three-phase transformers. The facility, which will create 700 new jobs, represents a major economic boost for Union County and will further strengthen South Carolina’s manufacturing sector.
Three-phase transformers are crucial components for dependable power distribution for utilities and commercial operations, supporting grid modernization efforts. This expansion comes at a critical time. A June 2024 report by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council found that disrupted supply chains from the 2020 pandemic, alongside trends of greater electrification and increasing construction of renewable generation and transmission infrastructure, have resulted in developers and electric utilities facing wait times of two to four years for the delivery of new transformers.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimated that to meet 2050’s energy needs, the distribution transformer supply may need to increase by between 160% to 260% from 2021 levels. According to Mike Yelton, president of Eaton’s Americas Region, Electrical Sector, “Electrical power demand is increasing dramatically, and our solutions are at the heart of energy systems everywhere, from the utility grid to industrials, data centers, buildings and more.”…