Hyosung Heavy Industries is strengthening its foothold in Latin America’s power infrastructure market by supplying key power equipment for a major hydropower expansion project in Brazil and expanding cooperation on next-generation grid stabilization technologies.
The company announced on July 29 that it has secured an order from Andritz Hydro, a global hydropower and power equipment specialist, to supply six units of 500kV ultra-high voltage transformers. The transformers will be deployed at the Foz do Areia Hydropower Plant expansion project in Brazil’s Paraná state.
While the contract value and delivery schedule were not disclosed, the order is considered a significant achievement as ultra-high voltage transformers are critical components for large-scale power generation facilities that require high reliability and advanced technology.
Brazil is one of the world’s largest hydropower markets, ranking second globally in installed hydropower capacity. More than 60% of the country’s electricity generation comes from hydropower, and the nation has been accelerating investment in power infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth, electrification, and the expansion of energy-intensive industries.
Andritz Hydro, Hyosung Heavy Industries’ customer for the project, provides hydropower equipment and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services in Brazil. The company is responsible for equipment associated with more than 25% of Brazil’s hydropower capacity, according to Hyosung.
Beyond the transformer supply deal, the two companies also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to jointly develop a hybrid STATCOM (Static Synchronous Compensator) solution aimed at enhancing power grid stability.
The hybrid STATCOM combines Hyosung Heavy Industries’ power electronics-based STATCOM technology with Andritz Hydro’s synchronous condenser technology. STATCOM systems rapidly respond to voltage fluctuations, while synchronous condensers provide inertia and stability to power systems.
The integrated solution is expected to play a key role in supporting grids as renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power continue to expand. By improving grid flexibility and stability, the technology can help address challenges caused by fluctuations in renewable energy generation.
Industry analysts view the partnership as a strategic move for Hyosung Heavy Industries to expand beyond traditional power equipment manufacturing into comprehensive grid solutions. As countries worldwide invest in modernizing aging power networks and integrating renewable energy, demand for advanced stabilization technologies is increasing.
Hyosung Heavy Industries has been expanding its global power equipment business through high-voltage transformers, circuit breakers, and other grid solutions across markets including the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The latest Brazil project is expected to further strengthen the company’s position in the rapidly growing Latin American energy market.
