Sustainability: NEMA, EEI help with efficient transformer purchases
-- Control Engineering, 7/3/2008
Toronto, Ontario, Canada – Energy efficiency of year 2010 starts now. Electric utilities will more quickly incorporate energy-efficient electric transformers into their distribution grids because of a new program from Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). The program also will help participants to partake in federal depreciation incentives.With the EEI Premium Efficient Transformers Purchasing program, NEMA manufacturers will build and EEI utilities will install distribution transformers that meet or exceed the Department of Energy’s 2010 efficiency standards well before the regulations become mandatory. Transformers that meet or exceed these new standards will be designated “NEMA Premium Efficiency Transformers” to assist buyers in quickly locating compliant products.
At the time of the announcement, eight manufacturers had said they would provide NEMA Premium Efficiency Transformers: ABB Inc.; Acme Electric Corp.; Cooper Power Systems; Federal Pacific; General Electric / GE Prolec; Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives; Schneider Electric/Square D; and VanTran Industries Inc.
In October 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) finalized minimum efficiency requirements for medium-voltage dry-type and liquid-filled transformers. The standards, scheduled to take effect in 2010, are expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 238 million tons over the next 30 years.
With approximately 1.2 million distribution transformers sold in the U.S. per year, advanced adoption of more stringent standards will save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions above and beyond the benefits identified by the DOE. EEI members purchase approximately 65% of liquid-filled transformers sold every year, the organization says.
NEMA already offers a premium designation for highly efficient electric motors. Expansion of the effort to include distribution transformers “demonstrates that utilities and manufacturers are willing to accelerate government mandates where feasible in providing win-win solutions for electricity customers and the environment,” says Evan Gaddis, NEMA president. “We applaud EEI and their members for their environmental initiative.”
EEI president Tom Kuhn Kuhn says, “Energy efficiency is a top priority for EEI’s member companies, and the NEMA Premium Efficiency Transformers program will help our members more quickly find and specify high-efficiency transformer units.”
Kuhn encourages vendors to begin producing high-efficiency transformers. He points to a new federal law makes purchasing such transformers more economical for utilities. “The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 gives a 50% bonus depreciation credit for equipment placed in service this year, which will make transformers purchased and put in service this year that much more economical,” he says.
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. NEMA is the trade association of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry.
Utilities invest in electricity in other ways, EEI says.
Also read: Going Green Again, automation enables manufacturing sustainability: Concerns about energy efficiency and environmental practices are back and gaining momentum, so automation vendors and their customers are helping ensure that manufacturing is one of the greenest sectors of the economy.
– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, editor in chief
Control Engineering System Integration eNewsletter
Register here and scroll down to select your choice of eNewsletters free.
View All Blogs
Now Playing:
