EU-TRACE
EU-TRACE – European Transformers Accelerated Efficiency
In the past ten years, Ecodesign has stimulated transformer technologies that meet and exceed the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), but their adoption is slow because of the long lifetime of distribution transformers. As a result, approximately 75% of transformers in European distribution networks still have energy efficiency levels from before the introduction of mandatory MEPS.
Preliminary analysis suggests that increasing the annual replacement rate from the current 2.5% to 3% could save the EU around 200 GWh per year. This would represent a significant contribution to the targets of the Energy Efficiency Directive and to wider EU climate objectives.
EU-TRACE aims to develop policies that accelerate the replacement of old distribution transformers in industry and utility grids across the European Union.
The project will assist EU Member States with establishing policies for industrial end-users and guiding measures for distribution network operators that tap into this savings potential. It will work in active collaboration with key stakeholders such as regulators, industry users, and national energy agencies, incorporating diverse insights and expertise. A detailed data collection on end-user and utility transformer fleets will create a solid basis. This will be followed by an evaluation of existing national policy frameworks and the identification of policy gaps, which will ultimately result in the development of policy recommendations. A policy impact projection tool based on robust modeling will complement the outcomes. Along with this, EU-TRACE will promote design-for-recycling and the use recyclable, high-value materials in transformer manufacturing, ensuring that replacement programs contribute to the EU circular economy goals.
Objectives
- Develop new policies, tools, and incentives to speed up transformer replacement.
- Help energy companies and private businesses adopt high-efficiency transformers.
- Monitor and predict the impact of these policies on energy savings and greenhouse gas reduction.
- Promote recycling and sustainable materials in transformer production.
- Engage with stakeholders to ensure the solutions are practical and effective.
By doing this, the project aims to save an extra 2.1 TWh of electricity every year over the next 20 years, supporting Europe’s climate and energy efficiency goals.
E.DSO and DSOs
E.DSO will mainly contribute by leading the work on stakeholder engagement by identifying the main stakeholder groups to be engaged throughout the project, developing a dedicated strategy to ensure their engagement, and will co-organise policy co-creation workshops at national and EU level, and other national dissemination and capacity building events. E.DSO will also support data collection for the project analysis, namely on transformer fleets and on national and European regulatory frameworks for DSOs.
Hard Facts
Contact: projects@edsoforsmartgrids.eu
