ACS Construction Group has been appointed Principal Contractor for a major expansion at GE Vernova’s High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) Transformers facility in Stafford, a key development supporting the global clean energy transition.

Initial construction began in September 2024 with the Test Supply Building, and the company has now been awarded the full Expansion Project, which commenced in summer 2025. The centrepiece is a 42-metre-high HVDC Test Facility covering approximately 2,200 square metres, designed to increase capacity for producing large-scale transformers.

The project includes construction of a Dispatch Building, a Connecting Building, internal alterations to existing factory space, installation of advanced infrastructure, and the demolition of a four-storey office block to clear ground for development. Around 1,700 piles and over 15,000 cubic metres of reinforced concrete will be placed across the site.

All work is being conducted within a live manufacturing environment, requiring precise coordination to avoid disruptions. A fully integrated Faraday cage will allow for high-voltage testing in a controlled electromagnetic setting.

Environmental safety has been prioritised through remediation efforts, utility diversions, and a dedicated Construction Environmental Management Plan, developed in line with Local Authority and Environment Agency requirements.

Paul Grady, Managing Director of ACS Construction Group, highlighted the project’s importance: “This is about delivering the infrastructure required for the next generation of clean energy transmission.”