Global energy technology company Hitachi Energy has announced plans for a new US$10 million (approximately €9.2 million) Power Electronics Center of Competence in Cary, North Carolina, targeting the delivery of grid stabilisation and power quality solutions to utilities, AI data centres, and industrial clients across North America. The 32,000 square-foot facility is scheduled to open in autumn 2026 and will create 150 new jobs.

Transformer Magazine reported that the centre will expand local capabilities in engineering, testing, and system integration for large-scale energy projects, and will also serve as Hitachi Energy's global hub for advanced cybersecurity solutions, protecting critical infrastructure against digital threats by integrating secure-by-design system architectures, continuous monitoring, and rapid incident-response capabilities.

Marco Berardi, senior vice president and head of Grid and Power Quality Solutions and Service at Hitachi Energy, said the world is in the age of electricity, where demand is growing faster and the grid has become the new frontline of energy security.

The investment forms part of Hitachi Energy's US$1 billion (approximately €920 million) commitment to US manufacturing announced in 2025, which also includes the expansion of several existing facilities and a new large power transformer factory in South Boston, Virginia. Together, the company said these efforts reinforce domestic supply chains and increase access to essential grid technologies.

US electricity demand is projected to grow between 35 and 50 per cent by 2040, driven by rapid AI data centre expansion, industrial electrification, integration of new energy sources, and population growth. The Cary facility is designed to help utilities extract greater capacity from existing transmission infrastructure without the need for new line construction.

View the full report on Hitachi Energy's North Carolina investment.