For years, transformer shortages have been discussed as a problem at the industry level, largely caused by long lead times, constrained manufacturing capacity, material availability, and growing demand. In 2026, that focus of that conversation changed. The federal government has now formally identified transformers, electrical steel, and other critical grid
A transformer core can meet every dimension on the drawing and still create problems once the unit is energized. Core loss, noise, and overall performance can all be affected by decisions made long before the core reaches final assembly. That is why choosing a large power transformer core supplier requires
Every unit of electricity entering a data center has a job to do. Ideally, all of that energy would reach the servers, storage systems, and networking equipment that perform the computing work we all rely on. In reality, electricity passes through a long chain of equipment before it reaches the
Artificial intelligence is changing the way companies think about data centers. It’s also changing the way utilities, developers, and manufacturers think about power. AI data centers require enormous amounts of electricity. The International Energy Agency projects global data center electricity consumption will more than double by 2030, with AI as
New data centers are being built across North America at an incredible pace, and the scale of these projects continues to grow. It’s not unusual to see multiple facilities under construction at the same time, each one requiring large power transformers to support continuous operation once they come online. For
Data centers are putting a different kind of pressure on power infrastructure. They don’t really have “peaks” and “valleys” the way other operations do. Once they’re online, they’re pulling steady loads all the time, and the expectation is simple: no fluctuations, and no surprises. Transformers are a big part of
Large power transformers are not equipment that can be adjusted, recalibrated, or easily replaced once they are in service. By the time a unit is energized, it has already moved through years of planning, engineering, manufacturing, transportation, and installation. Utilities and manufacturers alike expect that when the switch is finally
By the time a large power transformer reaches final assembly, expectations are already high. Schedules have little to no wiggle room, and any delay or surprise ripples quickly through the rest of the build. What’s less visible is how much of that pressure is eased (or intensified) long before the
It’s hard not to notice how much has changed in the large power transformer world this year. Demand kept rising, projects kept increasing, and the grid continued modernizing. None of that was a surprise, but what did evolve this year was the understanding of what it actually takes to keep
When winter sets in, the grid shifts from routine operation to endurance mode. Demand climbs, equipment ages one season faster, and every component is expected to perform as if nothing has changed. It’s a rhythm utilities know all too well. During the deep freeze of February 2021, temperature rapidly fell,
