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 15, 2011
2 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

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

Default and ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenarios for 

Medium Voltage Dry-Type Transformers

Prepared for the Medium Voltage Distribution Transformers Negotiated Rulemaking 

Working Group

November 15, 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

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

EL 0

2007 FR

EL 1 EL 2

EL 3

EL 4 EL 5 EL 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

EL 0

2007 FR

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5

EL 6

EL 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 (%) 8.64% 43.67% 17.35% 17.13% 32.77% 73.11%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 91.32% 56.33% 82.65% 82.87% 67.23% 26.89%

Transformers with No Impact on LCC (%) 0.04% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean LCC Savings ($) 1653 413 2528 2707 2025 -2568

Median LCC Savings ($) 1711 270 2218 2381 1656 -3160

-15000

-10000

-5000

0

5000

10000

15000

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 (%) 8.13% 8.31% 19.00% 16.77% 23.78% 47.45% 81.49%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 91.87% 91.69% 81.00% 83.23% 76.22% 52.55% 18.51%

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

Mean LCC Savings ($) 4035 6514 7505 9299 8860 2306 -12563

Median LCC Savings ($) 3752 5997 6641 8496 7837 797 -14348

-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) 2.3 20.9 12.9 12.9 16.0 24.8

Median Payback (Years) 0.0 16.3 12.6 12.5 15.4 23.6

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 93.66% 97.54% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 6.34% 2.46% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 22,662 25,232 26,791 27,093 29,839 36,000

Mean Installation Costs ($) 3,869 4,228 4,267 4,296 4,622 5,205

Mean Operating Costs ($) 1,005 914 713 686 557 441

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 42 2,971 4,569 4,900 7,973 14,718

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 91 182 383 410 539 655

Payback of Average Transformer 0.5 16.3 11.9 11.9 14.8 22.5

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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) 8.9 10.2 13.4 13.0 14.4 18.8 27.0

Median Payback (Years) 8.0 9.8 13.1 12.8 14.0 18.2 26.0

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 99.73% 99.99% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0.27% 0.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 59,676 63,262 70,664 73,316 78,380 87,729 103,589

Mean Installation Costs ($) 7,082 7,232 8,130 8,317 8,636 9,313 10,270

Mean Operating Costs ($) 2,980 2,645 2,143 1,893 1,627 1,440 1,335

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 2,942 6,678 14,978 17,817 23,200 33,226 50,043

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 377 712 1,213 1,463 1,730 1,917 2,022

Payback of Average Transformer 7.8 9.4 12.3 12.2 13.4 17.3 24.8

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, 

ZDMH/SA1 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

EL 0

2007 FR

EL 1 EL 2

EL 3

EL 4 EL 5 EL 6
10 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

• The ZDMH/SA1 Exclusion Scenario LCC and PBP Results for DL 12 are based 

on this reduced set of design options

Design Line 12 Engineering, 

ZDMH/SA1 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

EL 0

2007 FR

EL 1 EL 2 EL 3 EL 4 EL 5

EL 6

EL 7
11 | Building Technologies Program eere.energy.gov

Design Line 11 LCC ZDMH/SA1 

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 (%) 8.29% 39.75% 56.61% 72.27% 0.00% 0.00%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 91.71% 60.25% 43.39% 27.73% 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 ($) 1584 665 -118 -1488 NA NA

Median LCC Savings ($) 1426 465 -437 -1838 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 ZDMH/SA1 

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 (%) 8.13% 8.35% 36.00% 79.63% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Transformers with Net LCC Savings (%) 91.87% 91.65% 64.00% 20.37% 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 ($) 4035 6516 3592 -7711 NA NA NA

Median LCC Savings ($) 3752 5997 2579 -9089 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 ZDMH/SA1 

Exclusion Scenario Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6

Mean Payback (Years) 8.5 19.2 23.4 27.1 NA NA

Median Payback (Years) 7.2 15.8 19.6 23.7 NA NA

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 100.00% 99.34% 99.71% 99.99% 0.00% 0.00%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0.00% 0.66% 0.29% 0.01% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 23,544 25,611 27,647 29,784 NA NA

Mean Installation Costs ($) 3,932 4,185 4,413 4,644 NA NA

Mean Operating Costs ($) 958 882 802 748 NA NA

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 988 3,308 5,573 7,941 NA NA

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 139 214 294 348 NA NA

Payback of Average Transformer 7.1 15.4 18.9 22.8 NA NA

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

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 ZDMH/SA1 

Exclusion Scenario Results

Efficiency Level

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mean Payback (Years) 8.9 10.2 16.8 27.6 NA NA NA

Median Payback (Years) 8.0 9.8 15.8 25.9 NA NA NA

Transformers having Well Defined Payback (%) 99.73% 99.99% 99.99% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Transformers having Undefined Payback (%) 0.27% 0.01% 0.01% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

Mean Retail Cost ($) 59,676 63,249 71,234 86,597 NA NA NA

Mean Installation Costs ($) 7,082 7,230 7,759 8,738 NA NA NA

Mean Operating Costs ($) 2,980 2,645 2,344 2,072 NA NA NA

Mean Incremental First Cost ($) 2,942 6,663 15,177 31,520 NA NA NA

Mean Operating Cost Savings ($) 377 711 1,013 1,284 NA NA NA

Payback of Average Transformer 7.8 9.4 15.0 24.5 NA NA NA

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

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