Distribution Transformers - Proposal to Increase MEPS Levels

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Summary

This report was prepared in October 2007 by T. R. Blackburn, for the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program (E3).

In 2000 the then National Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency Committee of Australian Commonwealth, state and territory government officials initiated the development of Regulations to mandate Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (MEPS) for electricity distribution transformers. As an outcome of this work an Australian Standard was issued in 2003. This Australian Standard specified minimum permissible power efficiency levels for liquid-insulated and dry-type electrical distribution transformers with ratings in the range 10 - 2500 kVA and with primary voltage in the range 11 - 22 kV.

The Regulations associated with the MEPS requirements mandated that no transformers covered by MEPS could be sold in Australia unless they complied with the MEPS. The MEPS requirements applied to both imported and Australian-made units. Compliance with MEPS for transformers came into force on 1 April 2004. Since the original MEPS levels were specified there has been significant development in transformer efficiency Standards and requirements in other countries including the USA, European Union, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico and India.

The overarching objective of both the previous MEPS and the proposed new MEPS is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to energy losses from electricity distribution transformers below what they are otherwise projected to be, in a manner that is in the community's best interests.

The original MEPS stated that the efficiency levels specified would remain in force for four years and that they would then be reviewed in accordance with international trends in efficiency levels and would be made more stringent if international best practice indicated such change was achievable. Specifically, the original Standard gave a set of "high efficiency" levels that were not mandatory but were desirable levels. The review process of the original levels is now underway and this report has been prepared to discuss the change of mandatory MEPS levels to those "high efficiency" levels.

This page last modified 30 January 2008