1 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

The Parker Ranch installation in Hawaii

BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Distribution Transformers

Energy Conservation Program

LBNL Staff

U.S. Department of Energy

Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy

November 28, 2011

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
2 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Draft Engineering, Life-Cycle Cost, Payback Period Results for 

Default and ZDMH/Wound Core Exclusion Scenarios for 

Medium Voltage Dry-Type Transformers

Prepared for the Medium Voltage Distribution Transformers Negotiated Rulemaking Working 

Group

November 28, 2011

Contents

• Engineering Design Options for DLs 11 & 12

• Life-Cycle Cost Results for DLs 11 & 12

• Payback Period Results for DLs 11 & 12

• Engineering Design Options: ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenario for DLs 11 &12

• Life-Cycle Cost Sensitivity Results: ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenario for DLs 11 & 12

• Payback Period Sensitivity Results: ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenario for DLs 11 & 12

• National Impacts Analysis Results by Efficiency Level

• National Impacts Analysis Results by Trial Standard Level

Contents

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
3 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

• The following LCC and PBP Results for DL 11 are based on these design 

options 

Design Line 11 Engineering

$10,000 

$12,000 

$14,000 

$16,000 

$18,000 

$20,000 

$22,000 

$24,000 

$26,000 

$28,000 

$30,000 

98.50% 98.70% 98.90% 99.10% 99.30% 99.50% 99.70%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 50% Load, Temperature Corrected

M6_CuCu_fm_3leg

M4_CuAl_fm_3leg

M4_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_AlAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_CuCu_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_3leg

ZDMH_AlAl_dgw_3leg

H0_CuCu_fm_3leg

SA1_AlAl_dgw_3leg

SA1_CuCu_dgw_5leg

CSLs

CSL 0

2007 FR

CSL 1 CSL 2 CSL 3 CSL 4 CSL 5 CSL 6

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
4 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

• The following LCC and PBP Results for DL 12 are based on these 

design options

Design Line 12 Engineering

$25,000 

$35,000 

$45,000 

$55,000 

$65,000 

$75,000 

$85,000 

$95,000 

99.00% 99.10% 99.20% 99.30% 99.40% 99.50% 99.60% 99.70%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 50% Load, Temperature Corrected

M5_AlAl_mc_3leg

M4_CuAl_mc _3leg

M4_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_AlAl_mc_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_CuCu_mc_3leg

H0_AlAl_mc_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_3leg

H0_CuCu_mc_3leg

SA1_AlAl_dgw_5leg

SA1_CuCu_dgw_5leg

CSLs

dEL0

2007 FR

dEL 1 dEL 2 dEL 3 dEL 4 dEL 5 dEL 6 dEL 7

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
5 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 11 LCC Default Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6

Efficiency (%) 98.81% 98.94% 99.06% 99.13% 99.32% 99.50%

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 32.44% 58.75% 46.61% 34.32% 46.51% 78.91%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 67.56% 41.25% 53.39% 65.68% 53.49% 21.09%

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean LCC Savings ($) 490 -203 449 1317 743 -3731

Median LCC Savings ($) 421 -487 273 1083 343 -4413

-15000

-10000

-5000

0 

5000

10000

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 11 Average LCC Savings

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
6 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 12 LCC Default Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Efficiency (%) 99.21% 99.30% 99.39% 99.46% 99.53% 99.59% 99.63%

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 5.42% 7.47% 28.64% 19.65% 26.43% 48.86% 80.64%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 94.58% 92.53% 71.36% 80.35% 73.57% 51.14% 19.36%

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean LCC Savings ($) 5056 7388 5300 8495 8170 1898 -12204

Median LCC Savings ($) 4695 6794 4231 7585 6983 335 -14093

-40000

-30000

-20000

-10000

0 

10000

20000

30000

40000

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6 EL 7

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 12 Average LCC Savings

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
7 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 11 PBP Default Results

 

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 

Mean Payback (Years) 17.0 26.9 20.4 16.4 18.6 27.0 

Median Payback (Years) 14.4 20.2 17.5 16.0 18.0 25.6 

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 98.08% 97.59% 99.98% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 1.92% 2.41% 0.02% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean Retail Cost ($) 21,918 23,687 25,960 26,283 28,930 34,965 

Mean Installation Costs ($) 4,090 4,434 4,342 4,295 4,622 5,206 

Mean Operating Costs ($) 978 901 748 687 557 441 

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 1,629 3,742 5,922 6,199 9,172 15,792 

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 114 191 344 406 535 651 

Payback of Average Transformer 14.2 19.6 17.2 15.3 17.1 24.3 

0 

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6

Average Payback Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 11 Average Payback Period

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
8 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 12 PBP Default Results

 

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Mean Payback (Years) 6.0 9.0 15.3 13.6 14.8 19.1 27.1 

Median Payback (Years) 4.8 8.1 14.1 13.3 14.4 18.4 25.8 

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 99.11% 99.96% 99.97% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0.89% 0.04% 0.03% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean Retail Cost ($) 55,185 58,786 66,562 70,541 75,492 84,501 99,657 

Mean Installation Costs ($) 7,146 7,231 7,820 8,316 8,636 9,322 10,269 

Mean Operating Costs ($) 2,971 2,646 2,308 1,893 1,627 1,442 1,334 

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 1,743 5,430 13,794 18,270 23,540 33,235 49,339 

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 367 692 1,030 1,444 1,711 1,895 2,003 

Payback of Average Transformer 4.7 7.9 13.4 12.7 13.8 17.5 24.6 

0 

5 

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6 EL 7

Average Payback Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 12 Average Payback Period

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
9 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

• The ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenario LCC and PBP Results for DL 11 are based on this reduced set of design options

Design Line 11 Engineering, Wound 

Core Exclusion Scenario

$10,000 

$12,000 

$14,000 

$16,000 

$18,000 

$20,000 

$22,000 

$24,000 

$26,000 

$28,000 

$30,000 

98.50% 98.70% 98.90% 99.10% 99.30% 99.50% 99.70%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 50% Load, Temperature Corrected

M6_CuCu_fm_3leg

M4_CuAl_fm_3leg

M4_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_AlAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_CuCu_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_3leg

H0_CuCu_fm_3leg

CSLs

CSL 0

2007 FR

CSL 1 CSL 2 CSL 3 CSL 4 CSL 5 CSL 6

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
10 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

• The Wound Core Exclusion Scenario LCC and PBP Results for DL 12 are based on this reduced set of design options

Design Line 12 Engineering, Wound 

Core Exclusion Scenario

$25,000 

$35,000 

$45,000 

$55,000 

$65,000 

$75,000 

$85,000 

$95,000 

99.00% 99.10% 99.20% 99.30% 99.40% 99.50% 99.60% 99.70%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 50% Load, Temperature Corrected

M5_AlAl_mc_3leg

M4_CuAl_mc _3leg

M4_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_AlAl_mc_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_CuCu_mc_3leg

H0_AlAl_mc_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_3leg

H0_CuCu_mc_3leg

CSLs

dEL0

2007 FR

dEL 1 dEL 2 dEL 3 dEL 4 dEL 5 dEL 6 dEL 7

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
11 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 11 LCC Wound Core 

Exclusion Scenario Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6

Efficiency (%) 98.81% 98.94% 99.06% 99.13% 99.32% 99.50% 

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 31.08% 58.66% 65.58% 77.84% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 68.92% 41.34% 34.42% 22.16% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean LCC Savings ($) 524 -196 -770 -2175 NA NA

Median LCC Savings ($) 449 -481 -1185 -2629 NA NA

-8000

-6000

-4000

-2000

0 

2000

4000

6000

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 11 Average LCC Savings

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
12 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 12 LCC Wound Core 

Exclusion Scenario Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Efficiency (%) 99.21% 99.30% 99.39% 99.46% 99.53% 99.59% 99.63% 

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 5.42% 7.47% 31.51% 73.11% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 94.58% 92.53% 68.49% 26.89% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean LCC Savings ($) 5056 7388 4743 -5340 NA NA NA

Median LCC Savings ($) 4695 6794 3704 -6763 NA NA NA

-25000

-20000

-15000

-10000

-5000

0 

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6 EL 7

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 12 Average LCC Savings

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
13 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 11 PBP Wound Core 

Exclusion Scenario Results

 

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 

Mean Payback (Years) 16.5 26.9 27.4 31.7 NA NA

Median Payback (Years) 14.2 20.2 22.2 26.5 NA NA

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 98.32% 97.58% 99.74% 99.99% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 1.68% 2.42% 0.26% 0.01% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean Retail Cost ($) 21,915 23,680 25,984 27,814 NA NA

Mean Installation Costs ($) 4,114 4,432 4,475 4,810 NA NA

Mean Operating Costs ($) 975 901 806 765 NA NA

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 1,650 3,733 6,079 8,244 NA NA

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 117 191 286 327 NA NA

Payback of Average Transformer 14.1 19.6 21.2 25.2 NA NA

0 

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6

Average Payback Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 11 Average Payback Period

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
14 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 12 PBP Wound Core 

Exclusion Scenario Results

 

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Mean Payback (Years) 6.0 9.0 16.1 26.3 NA NA NA

Median Payback (Years) 4.8 8.1 14.4 23.9 NA NA NA

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 99.11% 99.96% 99.96% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0.89% 0.04% 0.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 

Mean Retail Cost ($) 55,185 58,786 66,461 80,522 NA NA NA

Mean Installation Costs ($) 7,146 7,231 7,769 8,761 NA NA NA

Mean Operating Costs ($) 2,971 2,646 2,346 2,078 NA NA NA

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 1,743 5,430 13,643 28,695 NA NA NA

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 367 692 992 1,260 NA NA NA

Payback of Average Transformer 4.7 7.9 13.8 22.8 NA NA NA

-25000

-20000

-15000

-10000

-5000

0 

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5 EL 6 EL 7

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 12 Average LCC Savings

Average; Median; Box 25%-75%; Whisker 5%-95%

median

average

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
15 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

National Impacts Summary Results 

for MVDT, by Efficiency Level

Summary Results by Efficiency Level for Medium Voltage Dry-Type Transformers

 

 

Efficiency Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.223 0.224 0.223 0.223 0.223 0.222 0.221 0.221

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 4.661 0.198 -0.036 -0.637 -0.846 -2.245 -3.139 -4.130

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 5.669 0.949 1.553 2.135 2.685 2.657 3.081 3.247

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.107 0.176 0.242 0.299 0.296 0.348 0.368

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate 

($Billions) 1.146 1.517 1.498 1.839 0.412 -0.057 -0.883

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate 

($Billions) 0.403 0.475 0.352 0.419 -0.308 -0.632 -1.088

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
16 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Summary Results by EL for Equipment Class 7

National Impacts Results for MVDT, 

by Efficiency Level

Summary Results by EL for Equipment Class 8

Efficiency Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.0147 0.0029 0.0027 0.0015 0.0025 -0.0080 -0.0112 -0.0141

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.0161 0.0055 0.0072 0.0085 0.0102 0.0072 0.0086 0.0091

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.0006 0.0008 0.0010 0.0011 0.0008 0.0010 0.0010

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0083 0.0099 0.0100 0.0127 -0.0008 -0.0026 -0.0050

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0032 0.0037 0.0035 0.0045 -0.0018 -0.0030 -0.0043

 

Efficiency Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17 0.17

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 3.70 0.13 -0.04 -0.50 -0.67 -1.60 -2.22 -3.18

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 4.38 0.72 1.17 1.60 2.09 2.17 2.45 2.60

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.08 0.13 0.18 0.23 0.24 0.28 0.29

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.85 1.13 1.09 1.43 0.57 0.23 -0.58

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.30 0.35 0.25 0.32 -0.13 -0.36 -0.81

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
17 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

EC 7 EC 8

DL11 DL12

TSL1 EL 4 EL 4

TSL2 EL 4 EL 4

TSL3 EL 4 EL 3

TSL4 EL 4 EL 4

TSL5 EL 5 EL 5

TSL6 EL 6 EL 7

Proposed Trial Standard Levels 

and Mapping of TSLs to ELs

The following draft Trial Standard Levels are presented for discussion.

Draft Trial Standard Levels (TSLs) Description

1. Minimum LCC / Max NPV

2. Max Energy Savings with positive (or near zero) NPV at 3% discount rate

3. 30% Reduction in Operating Costs

4. Materials constraint (greatest LCC Savings with M3 steel available as a 

design option)

5. Materials constraint plus (gap-fill between TSL 4 and TSL 6)

6. Maximum Technology

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
18 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

National Impacts Results for MVDT, 

by Trial Standard Level

Summary Results by TSL for Medium-Voltage Dry-Type Transformers

Draft Trial Standard Levels (TSLs) Description

1. Minimum LCC / Max NPV

2. Max Energy Savings with positive (or near zero) NPV at 3% discount 

rate

3. 30% Reduction in Operating Costs

4. Materials constraint (greatest LCC Savings with M3 steel available as 

a design option)

5. Materials constraint plus (gap-fill between TSL 4 and TSL 6)

6. Maximum Technology

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22 0.22

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 4.66 -1.02 -0.95 -0.64 -0.85 -2.25 -4.11

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 5.67 2.59 2.63 2.14 2.68 2.66 3.23

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.29 0.29 0.24 0.30 0.30 0.37

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 1.57 1.68 1.50 1.83 0.41 -0.88

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.30 0.35 0.35 0.42 -0.31 -1.08

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf
19 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Summary Results by TSL for Equipment Class 7

National Impacts Results for MVDT, 

by Trial Standard Level

Summary Results by TSL for Equipment Class 8

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005 0.0005

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.0147 0.0003 0.0011 0.0015 0.0025 -0.0080 -0.0141

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.0161 0.0090 0.0095 0.0088 0.0102 0.0072 0.0091

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.0010 0.0011 0.0010 0.0011 0.0008 0.0010

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0093 0.0106 0.0103 0.0127 -0.0008 -0.0050

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0030 0.0036 0.0036 0.0045 -0.0018 -0.0043

 

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.1731 0.1724 0.1724 0.1726 0.1725 0.1718 0.1709

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 3.7032 -0.8052 -0.7521 -0.5055 -0.6652 -1.6005 -3.1830

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 4.3764 2.0184 2.0462 1.6013 2.0916 2.1673 2.6024

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.2223 0.2255 0.1805 0.2307 0.2407 0.2937

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 1.2132 1.2940 1.0958 1.4264 0.5667 -0.5806

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.2286 0.2646 0.2498 0.3237 -0.1325 -0.8067

MVDT_LCC.NIA_2011 prices_112811.pdf