January 2024
Transformers have a large life cycle carbon emission footprint including raw materials, manufacturing, transport to site, in service losses and end of life decommissioning. Transformers are a critical component of the present electrical grid and there is already a huge quantity of in-service transformers globally. There is also an anticipated huge demand for more transformers to meet global electrification and renewable expansion targets. IEEE PES Transformer Committee will prepare an IEEE guide on the calculation of carbon footprint for guidance on new transformers and existing asset life extension.
Active Committees/Task Forces of Interest
- IEEE Transformer Committee
- https://www.transformerscommittee.org/
- Chair: Ed teNyenhuis
- IEEE Task Force for CO2 Emissions in the Construction of Transformers
- https://www.transformerscommittee.org/subcommittees/performancechar/
- Chair: Jerzy Kazmierczak
Technical Reports & Applicable Papers or Presentations
- Remya Krishnan; K. R. M. Nair; “Carbon Footprint of Transformer and the Potential for Reduction of CO2 Emissions”; Published in: 2019 IEEE 4th International Conference on Technology, Informatics, Management, Engineering & Environment (TIME-E)
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9353301 - Cristian Rodriguez; Jorge Piñeros; Alberto Prieto; Miguel Oliva; “Sustainability in transformers: A key concept in a more sustainable power grid”; Published in: 2022 IEEE 40th Central America and Panama Convention (CONCAPAN);
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9997787 - Traci Hopkins; “Effectively Managing Today’s Transformer Challenges for Increased Asset Reliability & Sustainability”; Published in: 2023 IEEE PES Grid Edge Technologies Conference & Exposition (Grid Edge);
https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10102732
Other Available Material
- IEEE Transformer Committee Environmental Performance Task Force Meeting Oct 23, 2023,
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/transformers/subcommittees/performance/TF-CO2Emissions/F23_TF_CO2_Unapproved_Minutes.pdf,
http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/transformers/subcommittees/performance/TF-CO2Emissions/F23_CO2_Presentation2.pdf - Environmental life-cycle Assessments of transformers –Why and How? – Presentation by Ghazi Kablouti at IEEE/PES Transformer Committee Meeting in Kansas City, October 2023, http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/transformers/subcommittees/performance/TF-CO2Emissions/F23_CO2_Presentation1.pdf
- Decarbonization & Government Oversight – Presentation by Elise Arnold at IEEE/PES Transformer Committee Meeting in Kansas City, October 2023, http://grouper.ieee.org/groups/transformers/subcommittees/performance/TF-CO2Emissions/F23_CO2_Presentation3.pdf