Significance of the Implementation of the New Energy Efficiency Standard for Transformers

Significance of the Implementation of the New Energy Efficiency Standard for Transformers
 

The new national standard GB 20052-2024 for transformer energy efficiency has been fully enforced since February 1, 2025, marking a key milestone for energy conservation, carbon reduction and industrial upgrading in China’s power sector. It delivers far-reaching impacts on energy transition, industrial development and operational safety.
 
From the perspective of national energy strategy, the standard tightens loss limits comprehensively and phases out high-consumption legacy transformers such as S9 and S11 to cut power transmission and distribution losses drastically. For the first time, it covers special transformers for PV, wind power and energy storage, filling the gap in energy efficiency supervision for new power systems and curbing energy waste caused by light-load operation of new energy equipment, thus supporting the country’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals.
 
For the transformer industry, the standard sets mandatory market access thresholds to eliminate backward low-efficiency capacity and curb disorderly competition driven by low-cost inferior products. It pushes manufacturers to upgrade production technologies and widely adopt energy-saving materials including high-grade silicon steel and amorphous alloy. The industry will accelerate consolidation and shift toward high-end, energy-efficient and intelligent manufacturing, enhancing the global competitiveness of China’s power equipment.
 
In terms of operation and maintenance, high-efficiency transformers feature lower loss and temperature rise with better stability, reducing risks of malfunctions, fire hazards and power outages to improve power supply reliability. They also slash long-term electricity expenses for power grids and industrial users. Large-scale replacement of outdated equipment revitalizes existing power assets and boosts investment in green power equipment, advancing the sustainable development of power grids and industrial sectors.