From Minerals to Megawatts 2025

Map of the grid supply chain 2.3 Grid infrastructure combines long build cycles with uneven regional capacity. Expansion depends on heavy industrial inputs and sequential processes that define both timing and resilience. –Complex supply tiers that dictate the pace of progress: Multiple industrial tiers (more than 12) – conductors, transformers, switchgear and structural components – interact through long build-out sequences that set the pace for grid expansion. –Lead times measured in years, not quarters: New transformer factories take two to four years to commission,22 high-voltage direct current (HVDC) facilities three to five,23 and tower/ pole fabrication plants 12 to 24 months.24 Transmission-line and substation integration extends nine to 36 months, depending on terrain and coordination. –Circularity limited by asset longevity: Unlike vehicles or electronics, grid assets have decades-long lifespans and slow turnover. Near- term secondary flows are therefore modest, though recycling of decommissioned copper and steel components is well-established. –Geography shapes supply – and delays: Manufacturing capacity is regionally dispersed but uneven. China and East Asia account for roughly 31% of transformer output, supported by large domestic steel and aluminium industries. Europe and North America retain advanced design and testing capabilities but face shortages of large-power transformers and HVDC equipment, extending delivery times and delaying grid modernization. From Minerals to Megawatts: Building Resilience for EVs, Data Centres and Power Grids 18