1 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

The Parker Ranch installation in Hawaii

BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM

Distribution Transformers

Energy Conservation Program

LBNL Staff on behalf of

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, and 

National Impacts Analysis Results

for Low-Voltage Dry-Type Transformers

Prepared for the Low-Voltage Distribution Transformers Negotiated 

Rulemaking Working Group

November 28, 2011

Contents

• Engineering Analysis Results for Design Lines 6-8

• Life-Cycle Cost Results for Design Lines 6-8

• Payback Period Results for Design Lines 6-8

• National Impacts Analysis Results for Design Lines 6-8

Contents
3 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 6 Engineering: 25kVA 

1Φ 10kV BIL

$-

$500 

$1,000 

$1,500 

$2,000 

$2,500 

$3,000 

$3,500 

97.80% 98.00% 98.20% 98.40% 98.60% 98.80% 99.00% 99.20% 99.40% 99.60% 99.80% 100.00%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 35% load, Temperature Corrected

M6_AlAl_bl_co

M5_AlAl_bl_co

M4_AlAl_bl_co

M3_AlAl_bl_co

M3_CuAl_bl_co

M3_CuAl_bl_sh

H0_AlAl_bl_co

H0_CuCu_bl_co

SA1_AlAl_dgw_co

SA1_CuCu_dgw_co

CSLs

CSL 0

EPACT '05

CSL 1 CSL 2 CSL 3

NEMA Pr.

CSL 4 CSL 5 CSL 6 CSL 7
4 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 7 Engineering: 75kVA 

3Φ 10kV BIL

$500 

$1,500 

$2,500 

$3,500 

$4,500 

$5,500 

$6,500 

$7,500 

$8,500 

$9,500 

97.80% 98.00% 98.20% 98.40% 98.60% 98.80% 99.00% 99.20% 99.40% 99.60%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 35% Load, Temperature Corrected

M12_AlAl_bl_3leg

M12_CuAl_bl_3leg

M6_AlAl_bl_3leg

M6_AlAl_fm_3leg

M4_CuAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

H0_AlAl_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_3leg

H0_CuCu_fm_3leg

SA1_AlAl_dgw_5leg

SA1_CuCu_dgw_5leg

CSLs

CSL 0

EPACT '05

CSL 1 CSL 2 CSL 3

NEMA Pr.

CSL 4 CSL 5 CSL 6 CSL 7
5 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 8 Engineering: 300kVA 

3Φ 10kV BIL

$2,000 

$4,000 

$6,000 

$8,000 

$10,000 

$12,000 

$14,000 

$16,000 

$18,000 

98.40% 98.60% 98.80% 99.00% 99.20% 99.40% 99.60% 99.80% 100.00%

Manufacturer Selling Price ($)

Efficiency at 35% Load, Temperature Corrected

M6_AlAl_bl_3leg

M6_AlAl_fm_3leg

M6_CuCu_fm_3leg

M5_AlAl_bl_3leg

M5_AlAl_fm_3leg

M4_CuAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_fm_3leg

M3_AlAl_slm_3leg

M3_CuAl_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_fm_3leg

H0_AlAl_slm_5leg

H0_CuCu_fm_3leg

SA1_AlAl_dgw_5leg

CSL 0

EPACT 

'05

CSL 1 CSL 2

NEMA 

Pr.

CSL

3

CSL 4 CSL

5

CSL

6

CSL

7
6 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 6 LCC Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Efficiency (%) 98.23% 98.47% 98.60% 98.80% 98.93% 99.17% 99.44%

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 0.03% 4.80% 20.70% 20.62% 20.45% 40.61% 95.05%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 90.30% 95.20% 79.30% 79.38% 79.55% 59.39% 4.95%

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 9.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean LCC Savings ($) 272 301 193 279 300 138 -939

Median LCC Savings ($) 275 294 173 246 269 97 -990

-2000

-1500

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

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

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 6 Average LCC Savings

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

median

average
7 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 7 LCC Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Efficiency (%) 98.23% 98.47% 98.60% 98.80% 98.93% 99.17% 99.44%

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.7% 2.8% 3.5% 45.0%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 98.6% 98.6% 98.6% 98.4% 97.2% 96.5% 55.1%

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Mean LCC Savings ($) 1779 1779 1779 1856 2036 2286 334

Median LCC Savings ($) 1717 1717 1717 1787 1941 2194 190

-3000

-2000

-1000

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

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

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 7 Average LCC Savings

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

median

average
8 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 8 LCC Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Efficiency (%) 98.80% 99.02% 99.14% 99.25% 99.32% 99.44% 99.58%

Transformers with Net Increase in LCC (%) 7.06% 5.11% 8.56% 14.23% 10.54% 10.52% 77.90%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 92.94% 94.89% 91.44% 85.77% 89.46% 89.48% 22.10%

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

Mean LCC Savings ($) 1020 2517 2722 2707 4131 4139 -2724

Median LCC Savings ($) 901 2368 2517 2476 3864 3869 -3067

-10000

-5000

0

5000

10000

15000

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

Average LCC Savings ($)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 8 Average LCC Savings

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

median

average
9 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 6 PBP Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mean Payback (Years) 0.8 6.1 13.8 13.7 13.8 17.5 35.1

Median Payback (Years) 0.7 5.1 12.2 13.0 13.3 16.9 33.8

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 90.33% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 9.67% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 1,122 1,198 1,335 1,657 1,716 1,944 2,818

Mean Installation Costs ($) 996 1,025 1,115 1,026 1,059 1,164 1,490

Mean Operating Costs ($) 133 126 119 102 96 87 80

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 9 114 341 573 665 998 2,199

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 15 22 29 46 52 61 68

Payback of Average Transformer 0.6 5.1 11.8 12.5 12.8 16.3 32.3

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Average Payback 

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

Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 6 Average Payback Period

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

median

average
10 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 7 PBP Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mean Payback (Years) 4.1 4.1 4.1 4.4 5.9 6.9 18.2

Median Payback (Years) 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.3 5.8 6.8 17.7

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 3,414 3,414 3,414 3,458 3,813 4,089 5,929

Mean Installation Costs ($) 1,744 1,744 1,744 1,761 1,734 1,839 2,362

Mean Operating Costs ($) 222 222 222 215 187 153 131

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 466 466 466 527 854 1,236 3,599

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 121 121 121 129 156 190 212

Payback of Average Transformer 3.8 3.8 3.8 4.1 5.5 6.5 17.0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

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

Average Payback Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 7 Average Payback Period

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

median

average
11 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 8 PBP Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mean Payback (Years) 9.1 8.4 10.4 12.3 11.2 11.2 24.9

Median Payback (Years) 8.6 8.2 10.1 12.1 11.0 11.0 24.3

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

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

Mean Retail Cost ($) 7,209 8,136 9,110 10,478 11,557 11,556 18,709

Mean Installation Costs ($) 2,849 2,999 3,153 3,271 3,158 3,158 3,905

Mean Operating Costs ($) 739 600 528 449 320 320 264

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 788 1,865 2,994 4,479 5,445 5,444 13,343

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 98 236 308 388 517 517 573

Payback of Average Transformer 8.1 7.9 9.7 11.6 10.5 10.5 23.3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

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

Average Payback Period (years)

Efficiency Level

Design Line 8 Average Payback Period

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

median

average
12 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

EC 3 EC 4

DL6 DL7 DL8

TSL1 EL 4 EL 4 EL 4

TSL2 EL 4 EL 6 EL 6

TSL3 EL 4 EL 4 EL 4

TSL4 EL 4 EL 4 EL 4

TSL5 EL5 EL 5 EL 5

TSL6 EL 7 EL 7 EL 7

TSL 7 EL 3 EL 3 EL 2

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

7. NEMA Premium
13 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

National Impacts Results for LVDT, 

by Trial Standard Level

Summary Results by TSL for Low-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

7. NEMA Premium

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.617 0.615 0.614 0.615 0.615 0.615 0.610 0.616

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 19.244 -3.226 -5.860 -3.226 -3.226 -4.623 -16.491 -2.217

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 26.533 11.954 17.092 11.954 11.954 14.533 19.417 10.387

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 1.288 1.842 1.288 1.288 1.575 2.078 1.120

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 8.728 11.232 8.728 8.728 9.910 2.926 8.170

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 2.146 2.428 2.146 2.146 2.249 -2.292 2.165
14 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Summary Results by TSL for Equipment Class 3

National Impacts Results for LVDT, 

by Trial Standard Level

Summary Results by TSL for Equipment Class 4

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.022 0.021 0.021 0.021 0.021 0.021 0.021 0.021

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.890 -0.241 -0.241 -0.241 -0.241 -0.279 -0.914 -0.143

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 0.841 0.404 0.404 0.404 0.404 0.464 0.621 0.268

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.044 0.050 0.067 0.029

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.164 0.185 -0.294 0.124

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.004 -0.272 0.011

Trial Standard Level

Base 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Transformer Shipments 2015-2044 (Billion KVA) 0.60 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59 0.59

Equipment Cost Savings ($Billions) 18.35 -2.99 -5.62 -2.99 -2.99 -4.34 -15.58 -2.07

Operating Cost Savings ($Billions) 25.69 11.55 16.69 11.55 11.55 14.07 18.80 10.12

Cumulative Source Savings 2044 (Quads) 1.24 1.80 1.24 1.24 1.52 2.01 1.09

Net Present Value at 3% Discount Rate ($Billions) 8.56 11.07 8.56 8.56 9.72 3.22 8.05

Net Present Value at 7% Discount Rate ($Billions) 2.14 2.42 2.14 2.14 2.24 -2.02 2.15