Hardware Podcasts

The electric transformer shortage

Catalyst · 22 Feb 2024 · 34m

What this episode covers

Tim Mills, CEO of transformer manufacturer ERMCO, explains the persistent shortage of distribution transformers, where lead times have jumped from 12 weeks to over two years and prices have risen over 60%. He attributes the crisis to a confluence of demand drivers including EV chargers, renewable energy integration, federal infrastructure spending, and storm-related replacements, which overwhelmed manufacturers who remained cautious due to the housing crash of the 2000s. Mills details the supply-side bottlenecks, specifically the tight labor market in rural manufacturing hubs and the near-monopoly on grain-oriented electrical steel by Cleveland Cliffs. The episode also covers the regulatory uncertainty surrounding new Department of Energy efficiency standards that could force a shift to amorphous steel, and the potential of solid-state transformers for future grid management.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
ERMCO, WoodMackenzie, Cleveland Cliffs, Gridbridge, Energy Hub
Products
Solid-state transformers
Materials
Amorphous steel, Grain-oriented steel

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