Blog

Understanding the Advantages of Amorphous Core Transformers

Transformers are an easily overlooked aspect of your energy infrastructure. Many of the UK’s transformer fleet are already approaching the end of their predicted lifespan, with a growing proportion of them having been installed 30 years ago or more. Increasingly, this aging infrastructure represents a potential point of failure that could result in huge disruption for your site if a transformer failed.

With energy costs increasingly putting pressure on businesses, unlocking cost savings wherever possible is vital. Aging transformers typically represent a significant level of wasted energy as well as threatening your site’s power resilience. While upgrading a transformer can be a significant investment, better energy efficiency makes it more economic in the long run, and avoids the worst-case scenario of a sudden transformer failure that could result in hours or days or disruption.

What material is used in the core of a transformer? Why our Amorphous cores are better

Amorphous core transformers represent an updated, significantly more energy efficient alternative to older cold rolled grain oriented (CRGO) transformers. Typically, up to 80% of the losses experienced by conventional transformers can be avoided, as well as better longevity.

Conventional transformers are typically cheaper to purchase initially, but this lower upfront cost increasingly represents a false economy. Based on industry standard 5% losses, a conventional transformer will double their initial purchase cost in terms of wasted energy every nine months. Over a 15-year period, they can consume 20 times their purchase price in energy losses and add some 73,000kg of CO2e to your organisation’s carbon emissions.

In comparison, low-loss amorphous core transformers lose only between £200 and £300 of energy per year, with total losses significantly less than 1%. Even 20 years into their lifespan, they will not have reached their initial purchase price in terms of additional energy costs.

These cost savings can be further increased with the inclusion of integrated voltage optimisation technology with a transformer. Most sites in the UK are supplied with an overvoltage, driving up energy costs and increasing wear and tear on equipment. Voltage optimisation conditions incoming voltage to avoid this issue, reducing energy costs, bolstering power resilience and cutting down on maintenance requirements.