GE Power Conversion
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electrical engineering |
| Predecessor | Converteam |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Paris-Saclay , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Parent | GE Vernova |
GE Power Conversion, previously known as Converteam, is a French firm specializing in electrical engineering and operates as a subsidiary under GE Vernova. Its worldwide headquarters is situated within the Paris-Saclay innovation and business hub, located to the south of Paris in the Île-de-France area.
History
In 1989, elements of the British General Electric Company joined forces with components of Compagnie Générale d'Electricité (currently Alcatel-Lucent) to establish Cegelec, which became part of GEC-Alsthom. Concurrently, a German subsidiary of Allgemeine Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft (AEG) merged with Westinghouse Drive Systems. These entities united in 1995, forming the CEGELEC Industrial Systems Group. The company was renamed Alstom Power & Conversion in 1999 and separated from Alstom on 10 November 2005 to become an independent entity.
On 29 March 2011, GE Energy declared its intention to acquire a 90% ownership interest in Converteam for $3.2 billion. The acquisition was finalized on 2 September 2011.
Company structure and operations
The organization functions through five main divisions: GE Energy Power Conversion Group SAS based in France; GE Energy Power Conversion GmbH located in Berlin, Germany; two UK branches situated in Rugby and Kidsgrove; and GE Energy Power Conversion Inc. headquartered in Pittsburgh, USA. Additionally, it operates an Engineering Development Center in India and maintains subsidiaries within BRIC nations, including Brazil and China.
Products
Focusing on electrical motors—both induction and synchronous types—as well as generators, the company provides an extensive array of products such as drives tailored for low to medium voltage industrial uses, often customized according to customer specifications. Its generators are predominantly employed in fossil fuel-based power generation facilities. Moreover, it delivers Vessel Automation Systems alongside Dynamic Positioning Systems for maritime applications.
Renowned for their robustness and energy efficiency, these offerings are supported by complementary consulting and maintenance services.
Electric ship propulsion
The firm supplied induction motors managed by variable-frequency drives together with 20 MW generators for the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, commissioned beginning in 2009. Its propulsion solutions are also implemented on LNG carriers, French Mistral-class amphibious assault vessels, and the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. Ongoing advancements include the development of an Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System intended for upcoming Royal Navy carriers.