Commission Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 of 21 May 2014 on implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to small, medium and large power transformers

Article 1

Subject matter and scope

This Regulation shall apply to transformers purchased after 11 June 2014.

This Regulation shall not apply to transformers specifically designed for the following applications:

(a) instrument transformers, specifically designed to transmit an information signal to measuring instruments, meters and protective or control devices or similar apparatus;

(b) transformers specifically designed and intended to provide a DC power supply to electronic or rectifier loads. This exemption does not include transformers that are intended to provide an AC supply from DC sources such as transformers for wind turbine and photovoltaic applications or transformers designed for DC transmission and distribution applications;

(c) transformers specifically designed to be directly connected to a furnace;

(d) transformers specifically designed to be installed on fixed or floating offshore platforms, offshore wind turbines or on board ships and all kinds of vessels;

(e) transformers specifically designed to provide for a situation limited in time when the normal power supply is interrupted due to either an unplanned occurrence (such as a power failure) or a station refurbishment, but not to permanently upgrade an existing substation;

(f) transformers (with separate or auto-connected windings) connected to an AC or DC contact line, directly or through a converter, used in fixed installations for railway applications;

(g) earthing or grounding transformers specifically designed to be connected in a power system to provide a neutral connection for earthing either directly or via an impedance;

(h) traction transformers specifically designed to be mounted on rolling stock, connected to an AC or DC contact line, directly or through a converter, for specific use in fixed installations for railway applications;

(i) starting transformers, specifically designed for starting three-phase induction motors so as to eliminate supply voltage dips and that remain de-energised during normal operation;

(j) testing transformers, specifically designed to be used in a circuit to produce a specific voltage or current for the purpose of testing electrical equipment;

(k) welding transformers, specifically designed for use in arc-welding equipment or resistance-welding equipment;

(l) transformers specifically designed for explosion-proof applications in accordance with Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (¹) and underground mining applications;

(m) transformers specifically designed for deep water (submerged) applications;

(n) medium Voltage (MV) to Medium Voltage (MV) interface transformers up to 5 MVA used as interface transformers used in a network voltage conversion programme and placed at the junction between two voltage levels of two medium voltage networks and that need to be able to cope with emergency overloads;

(o) medium and large power transformers specifically designed to contribute to the safety of nuclear installations, as defined in Article 3 of Council Directive 2009/71/Euratom (²);

(p) three-phase medium power transformers with a power rating below 5 kVA;

except as regards the requirements set out in point 4(a), (b) and (d).of Annex I to this Regulation.

Medium and large power transformers, regardless of when they were first placed on the market or put into service, shall be reassessed for conformity and comply with this Regulation, if they are subject to all of the following operations:

(a) replacement of the core or part thereof;

(b) replacement of one or more of the complete windings.

This is without prejudice to the legal obligations under other Union’s harmonisation legislation that these products could be subject to.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purpose of this Regulation and its annexes the following definitions shall apply.

(1) ‘Power transformer’ means a static piece of apparatus with two or more windings which, by electromagnetic induction, transforms a system of alternating voltage and current into another system of alternating voltage and current usually of different values and at the same frequency for the purpose of transmitting electrical power.

(2) ‘Small power transformer’ means a power transformer with a highest voltage for equipment not exceeding 1,1 kV.

(3) ‘medium power transformer’ means a power transformer with all windings having rated power lower than or equal to 3 150 kVA, and highest voltage for equipment greater than 1,1 kV and lower than or equal to 36 kV.

(4) ‘Large power transformer’ means a power transformer with at least one winding having either rated power greater than 3 150 kVA or highest voltage for equipment greater than 36 kV.

(5) ‘Liquid-immersed transformer’ means a power transformer in which the magnetic circuit and windings are immersed in liquid.

(6) ‘Dry-type transformer’ means a power transformer in which the magnetic circuit and windings are not immersed in an insulating liquid.

(7) ‘Medium power pole-mounted transformer’ means a power transformer with a rated power of up to 400 kVA suitable for outdoor service and specifically designed to be mounted on the support structures of overhead power lines.

(8) ‘Voltage Regulation Distribution Transformer’ means a medium power transformer equipped with additional components, inside or outside of the transformer tank, to automatically control the input or output voltage of the transformer for on-load voltage regulation purposes.

(9) ‘Winding’ refers to the assembly of turns forming an electrical circuit associated with one of the voltages assigned to the transformer.

(10) ‘Rated voltage of a winding’ (Ur) is the voltage assigned to be applied, or developed at no-load, between the terminals of an untapped winding, or of a tapped winding connected on the principal tapping.

(11) ‘High-voltage winding’ refers to the winding having the highest rated voltage.

(12) ‘Highest voltage for equipment’ (Um) applicable to a transformer winding is the highest r.m.s phase-to-phase voltage in a three-phase system for which a transformer winding is designed in respect of its insulation.

(13) ‘Rated power’ (Sr) is a conventional value of apparent power assigned to a winding which, together with the rated voltage of the winding, determines its rated current.

(14) ‘Load loss’ (Pk) means the absorbed active power at rated frequency and reference temperature associated with a pair of windings when the rated current (tapping current) is flowing through the line terminal(s) of one of the windings and the terminals of the other windings are in short-circuit with any winding fitted with tappings connected to its principal tapping, while further windings, if existing, are open-circuited.

(15) ‘No load loss’ (Po) means the active power absorbed at rated frequency when the transformer is energised and the secondary circuit is open. The applied voltage is the rated voltage, and if the energized winding is fitted with a tapping, it is connected to its principal tapping.

(16) ‘Peak Efficiency Index’ (PEI) means the maximum value of the ratio of the transmitted apparent power of a transformer minus the electrical losses to the transmitted apparent power of the transformer.

(17) ‘Declared value(s)’ mean the values given in the technical documentation pursuant to point 2 of Annex IV to Directive 2009/125/EC, and where applicable, the values used to calculate these values.

(18) ‘Dual voltage transformer’ means a transformer with one or more windings with two voltages available in order to be able to operate and supply rated power at either of two different voltage values.

(19) ‘Witnessed testing’ means actively observing the physical testing of the product under investigation by another party, to draw conclusions on the validity of the test and the test results. This may include conclusions on the compliance of testing and calculations methods used with applicable standards and legislation.

(20) ‘Factory acceptance test’ means a test on an ordered product where the customer uses witnessed testing to verify the product’s full accordance with contractual requirements, before they are accepted or put into service.

(21) ‘Equivalent model’ means a model which has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided, but which is placed on the market or put into service by the same manufacturer or importer as another model with a different model identifier.

(22) ‘Model identifier’ means the code, usually alphanumeric, which distinguishes a specific product model from other models with the same trade mark or the same manufacturer’s or importer’s name.

Article 3

Eco-design requirements

The ecodesign requirements set out in Annex I shall apply from the dates indicated therein.

If threshold voltages in electricity distribution networks deviate from the standard ones across the Union (³), Member States shall notify the Commission accordingly, so that a public notification can be made for the correct interpretation of Tables I.1, I.2, I.3a, I.3b, I.4, I.5, I.6, I.7, I.8 and I.9 in Annex I.

Article 4

Conformity assessment

Where the information included in the technical documentation for a particular model has been obtained:

(a) from a model that has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided but is produced by a different manufacturer; or

(b) by calculation on the basis of design or extrapolation from another model of the same or a different manufacturer, or both;

the technical documentation shall include the details of such calculation, the assessment undertaken by the manufacturer to verify the accuracy of the calculation and, where appropriate, the declaration of identity between the models of different manufacturers.

Article 5

Verification procedure for market surveillance purposes

When performing the market surveillance checks referred to in Directive 2009/125/EC, Article 3(2), Member State authorities shall apply the verification procedure set out in Annex III to this Regulation.

Article 6

Indicative Benchmarks

The indicative benchmarks for the best-performing transformers technologically possible at the time of adoption of this Regulation are identified in Annex IV.

Article 7

Review

The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of technological progress and shall present the results of the assessment, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, to the Consultation Forum no later than 1 July 2023. The review shall in particular address the following issues:

— the extent to which requirements set out for Tier 2 have been cost-effective and the appropriateness to introduce stricter Tier 3 requirements,

— the appropriateness of the concessions introduced for medium and large power transformers in cases where installation costs would have been disproportionate,

— the possibility of utilising the PEI calculation for losses alongside the losses in absolute values for medium power transformers,

— the possibility to adopt a technology-neutral approach to the minimum requirements set out for liquid-immersed, dry-type and, possibly, electronic transformers,

— the appropriateness of setting minimum performance requirements for small power transformers,

— the appropriateness of the exemptions for transformers in offshore applications,

— the appropriateness of the concessions for pole-mounted transformers and for special combinations of winding voltages for medium power transformers,

— the possibility and appropriateness of covering environmental impacts other than energy in the use phase, such as noise and material efficiency.

Article 8

Circumvention

The manufacturer, importer or authorised representative shall not place on the market products designed to be able to detect they are being tested (e.g. by recognising the test conditions or test cycle), and to react specifically by automatically altering their performance during the test with the aim of reaching a more favourable level for any of the parameters declared by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative in the technical documentation or included in any documentation provided.

Article 9

Entry into force

The Regulation shall enter into force on the 20^th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

ANNEX I

1. Minimum energy performance or efficiency requirements for medium power transformers

Medium power transformers shall comply with the maximum allowed load and no-load losses or the Peak Efficiency Index (PEI) values set out in Tables I.1 to I.5, excluding medium power pole-mounted transformers, which shall comply with the maximum allowed load and no load losses values set out in Table I.6.

As of the date of application of Tier 2 requirements (1 July 2021), when the one-to-one replacement of an existing medium power transformer entails disproportionate costs associated with their installation, the replacement transformer is, exceptionally, only required to meet Tier 1 requirements for the given rated power.

In this respect, installation costs are disproportionate if the costs of the replacement of the complete substation housing the transformer and/or the acquisition or rental of additional floor space are higher than the net present value of the additional avoided electricity losses (tariffs, taxes and levies excluded) of a Tier 2 compliant replacement transformer over its normally expected service life. The net present value shall be calculated based on capitalised loss values using widely accepted social discount rates (⁴).

In this case, the manufacturer, importer, or authorised representative shall include in the technical documentation of the replacement transformer the following information:

— Address and contact details of the commissioner of the replacement transformer

— The station where the replacement transformer is to be installed. This shall be unequivocally identified by either a specific location or a specific installation type (e.g., station or cabin model)

— The technical and/or economic justification of the disproportionate cost to install a transformer that is only Tier 1 compliant instead of a Tier 2 compliant one. If the transformers(s) were commissioned by a tendering process, all the necessary information regarding the analysis of bids and the award decision shall be provided.

In the above cases, the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative shall notify the competent national market surveillance authorities.

1.1.   Requirements for three-phase medium power transformers with rated power ≤ 3 150 kVA