The energy-saving potential of distribution transformers is enormous, and the promotion bottleneck urgently needs to be broken.
Recently, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with the National Development and Reform Commission and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, held a meeting in Nanjing, Jiangsu to promote the "Distribution Transformer Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan (2015-2017)." Representatives from energy-saving management departments across the country, State Grid Corporation, China Southern Power Grid, PetroChina, Sinopec, and members of the Transformer Energy Efficiency Improvement Industry Alliance attended the meeting.
At the meeting, representatives from local economic and information commissions in Shandong and Guangxi introduced their achievements and experiences in improving the energy efficiency of distribution transformers. The State Grid Corporation presented excellent cases of energy-saving retrofitting for distribution transformers, while experts and alliance members exchanged ideas on investment and financing models for transformer retrofitting and advanced technologies for energy-saving distribution transformers.
Participating units expressed that they would actively implement the national plan for improving the energy efficiency of distribution transformers according to national arrangements, promote the elimination of high-energy-consuming outdated distribution transformers, and encourage the application of efficient energy-saving distribution equipment to further promote energy conservation and the development of energy-saving environmental protection equipment manufacturing.

　　Huge energy-saving potential
According to statistics, transmission and distribution losses in China account for about 6.6% of the total national electricity generation, with losses from distribution transformers accounting for 40-50%. For example, in 2013, the total annual electricity generation in China was 5.32 trillion kilowatt-hours, with electricity losses from distribution transformers amounting to approximately 170 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to 1.7 times the total annual electricity generation of the Three Gorges Dam (about 100 billion kilowatt-hours), indicating severe energy loss.
As an important measure for energy conservation and emission reduction, many countries around the world have introduced corresponding policies to improve the energy efficiency of distribution transformers. In recent years, China has also accelerated the promotion and application of efficient distribution transformers through the implementation of the Distribution Transformer Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan. Many domestic transformer manufacturers have invested heavily in introducing advanced manufacturing technologies and equipment from abroad, continuously developing low-loss transformers and various structural forms such as dry-type transformers like the SCB10 series and low-loss products like amorphous alloy cores, which demonstrate China's energy-saving potential for distribution transformers.
Last year, China formulated the "Distribution Transformer Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan (2015-2017)" which proposed that by the end of 2017, a preliminary upgrade of high-energy-consuming distribution transformers would be completed, with a 14% increase in the proportion of efficient distribution transformers in operation; a relatively complete supporting system and standardized market order would be established, with efficient distribution transformers accounting for 70% of new additions that year; it is expected that by 2017, a cumulative promotion of efficient distribution transformers totaling 600 million kilovolt-amperes will be achieved, resulting in an annual electricity saving of 9.4 billion kilowatt-hours, equivalent to saving 3.1 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 8.1 million tons.
Currently, under the national push for energy conservation and emission reduction, various regions are introducing policies to accelerate the development and promotion of efficient distribution transformers. They also encourage manufacturers of efficient distribution transformers to establish energy service companies or collaborate with professional energy service companies to focus on using contract energy management models to carry out projects for improving transformer energy efficiency.
Sichuan, Jiangsu, Shandong and other regions have successively released plans for improving the energy efficiency of distribution transformers to increase the promotion of efficient transformers. According to these improvement plans, by the end of 2017, Shandong Province will have preliminarily completed upgrades for high-energy-consuming distribution transformers, achieving a proportion of efficient distribution transformers in operation reaching 23%; a cumulative promotion of efficient distribution transformers totaling 40 million kilovolt-amperes; elimination of high-energy-consuming distribution transformers will be basically completed for S9 models and below. After completing its energy efficiency improvement plan for efficient distribution transformers, Shandong Province is expected to achieve an annual electricity saving of 630 million kilowatt-hours, equivalent to saving 210 thousand tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 540 thousand tons.
Jiangsu's goal is to preliminarily complete upgrades for high-energy-consuming distribution transformers in industrial enterprises by the end of 2017, increasing the proportion of efficient distribution transformers (those with level two efficiency or above as defined in GB20052-2013) in operation by 15%; among new additions that year, efficient distribution transformers should account for 70%, with an expected cumulative promotion of efficient energy-saving distribution transformers totaling 60 million kilovolt-amperes over three years.
A representative from a transformer manufacturer told reporters that due to factors such as raw materials, the cost of energy-saving transformers is significantly higher than that of traditional transformers; price is also a major factor affecting the popularization and promotion of energy-saving transformers.
In response to this situation, Zhenjiang City in Jiangsu has stipulated that enterprises purchasing and installing high-efficiency distribution transformers with an efficiency level above two will receive corresponding subsidies from municipal financial special funds on top of provincial financial subsidies. The subsidy standard for purchasing and installing level one efficient distribution transformers is set at 20 yuan/kVA; for level two efficient distribution transformers it is set at 5 yuan/kVA. Purchases made in 2015-2016 will receive subsidies at a rate of 100%, while those made in 2017 will receive subsidies at a rate of 80% based on these standards.

　　Transformers 'Energy Conservation and Consumption Reduction'
"The Distribution Transformer Energy Efficiency Improvement Plan will accelerate the development and promotion application of efficient energy-saving distribution transformers, promote structural upgrades in the transformer industry, and comprehensively enhance the energy efficiency level of distribution transformers; this has played a significant role in promoting energy-saving transformer adoption," said a representative from a transformer company in Shanghai. It is understood that while China's transformer industry is large-scale, it consists mostly of small and medium-sized enterprises with low concentration; manufacturers are relatively dispersed which has become an industry dilemma that cannot be ignored.
An expert from the National Quality Supervision Inspection Center for Medium-Voltage Transmission Equipment stated that promoting energy-saving transformers will not only effectively assist in energy conservation and emission reduction but more importantly can open up breakthroughs for competition in the fiercely competitive transformer industry achieving dual benefits.
It is understood that energy-saving distribution transformers include amorphous alloy core transformers and adjustable capacity transformers among others. For instance, amorphous alloy transformers are a type developed in the 1970s as an energy-saving transformer. By using a new soft magnetic material—amorphous alloy—amorphous alloy transformers outperform traditional silicon steel transformers. Calculations show that amorphous alloy transformers reduce no-load losses by about 80% compared to traditional silicon steel sheet transformers while no-load current decreases by about 85%, making them currently one of the most effective types for saving energy among distribution transformers; however they do not have advantages regarding price or raw material supply.

　　Breaking through bottlenecks in promoting energy-saving transformers
"In recent years, China has repeatedly introduced policies to accelerate the development and promotion application of efficient distribution transformers. Under these policies' impetus, production levels have increased somewhat but overall efficiency levels remain low. The development of energy-saving transformers is relatively lagging behind while their potential remains enormous," said Xue Jun, general manager of Baotou Kedian Electric Manufacturing Co., Ltd., during an interview.
With the gradual adjustment of China's industrial structure, there is increasing emphasis on improving the efficiency of power supply and distribution systems. Since distribution transformers account for a significant proportion of the entire distribution system, the requirements for their losses, noise, and cost are becoming higher. The original S11 type products can no longer meet market demand and are gradually being phased out, while the lower-loss S13 and S15 type products are becoming mainstream in the market.
An expert from the National Power Transmission and Distribution Technology Cooperation Network stated that various regions have successively introduced energy efficiency improvement plans for distribution transformers, which will bring many opportunities for amorphous transformers.
However, some experts point out that currently, energy-saving distribution transformers, especially amorphous alloy transformers, are not cheap. Companies will need to invest a large amount of initial capital in the process of replacing transformers, while the cost recovery period brought by the equipment is too long, making it difficult for users to make a decision to replace. The way to solve the high costs and prices is to continuously enhance the industrialization capability of efficient distribution transformers, including process optimization, material optimization, and improving production efficiency.
In terms of technology and industrialization, it is necessary to enhance the industrialization capability of efficient distribution transformers. This includes solving key raw material and basic production process issues for distribution transformers, strengthening research on energy-saving technologies for distribution transformer systems, and focusing on research into new technologies, new structures, and new materials for efficient distribution transformers. Special attention should be given to studying the applicable scenarios and technical reliability of single-phase distribution transformers, on-load tap-changing distribution transformers, aluminum-wound distribution transformers, and high flash point plant insulation oil distribution transformers to enhance the continuous innovation capability of the distribution transformer industry.
However, energy-saving transformers urgently need to address some issues in their own development. There is a need to improve the supporting system construction for efficient distribution transformers. This includes accelerating the formulation and improvement of relevant standards and specifications, standardizing testing and certification institutions for distribution transformers, and establishing a life cycle evaluation system for distribution transformers. Demonstrations of manufacturing and application of efficient distribution transformers should be carried out, as well as demonstrations of manufacturing and system applications.

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