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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
15 | 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
16 | 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 -1.13 -1.22 -1.11 -1.44 -1.86 -3.65

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 5.67 1.98 2.13 1.83 2.36 2.84 3.38

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.22 0.24 0.21 0.26 0.32 0.38

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.85 0.91 0.71 0.92 0.98 -0.26

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.05 0.05 0.01 0.01 -0.05 -0.80
17 | 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 -0.0042 -0.0042 -0.0035 -0.0042 -0.0056 -0.0109

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.0161 0.0066 0.0066 0.0054 0.0066 0.0082 0.0099

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.0007 0.0007 0.0006 0.0007 0.0009 0.0011

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0025 0.0025 0.0019 0.0025 0.0026 -0.0011

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0000 0.0000 -0.0001 0.0000 -0.0003 -0.0025

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.1731 0.1722 0.1722 0.1724 0.1722 0.1719 0.1710

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 3.7032 -1.1057 -1.1057 -0.8425 -1.1057 -1.4281 -2.9622

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 4.3764 1.8614 1.8614 1.3857 1.8614 2.2386 2.6591

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.2044 0.2044 0.1563 0.2044 0.2488 0.3001

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.7557 0.7557 0.5432 0.7557 0.8105 -0.3031

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.0243 0.0243 0.0081 0.0243 -0.0212 -0.6752