EOS® pioneers again: Joint Industry Project for Power Transformers

In collaboration with Siemens Energy, TenneT, Electrical Oil Services and other industry players, DNV has launched the Joint Industry Project (JIP) for Power Transformer. The aim is to harmonise the practices of the transformer industry with sustainability goals and to improve the environmental compatibility and reliability of electricity and power transformers. In this interview, we speak to Kilian Gerbl from Electrial Oil Services (EOS) about the company's role in the project and how he envisions an environmentally friendly energy infrastructure.  

To distinguish only between bio-oils and mineral oils in the classification of transformer oils would definitely not have covered the scope. The inclusion of recycled insulating oils in the assessment was an important point for the development and improvement of our energy infrastructure in the area of transformers.

Kilian GerblProduct Line Manager

By rigorously processing insulating oils, we are conserving valuable resources and thus protecting the environment. This must also be reflected in the classification of transformer oils.

Kilian GerblProduct Line Manager

Kilian Gerbl, first of all, what does DNV stand for?

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is a leading classification society and was founded in Oslo in 1864 to enable standardised classification and taxation of Norwegian ships. Today, DNV is a global risk management company in the energy and maritime industries.

Among other things, DNV offers technical consultancy services and globally recognised certifications for the energy value chain. This includes digital energy management, but also renewable energy, oil and gas.

DNV also initiates important projects. Such as the current Joint Industry Project (JIP) for Electricity and Power Transformers.

Why has DNV launched this Joint Industry Project for Power Transformers?

Together with many other players in the industry, this project aims to harmonise the practices of the energy industry with sustainability goals. Of course, it is also about the environmental compatibility and reliability of electricity and power transformers and how these can be improved.

What are the goals of the Joint Industry Project (JIP) for Power Transformers?

The main objectives of the JIP are

• to establish standardised limit values and performance indicators for power transformers
• to develop a basis for Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) on transformers
• define an assessment methodology for different end-user segments
• and to compile a recommended life cycle assessment method for transformers.

For us - as for all participants in this joint project - it is important to have a standardised assessment of sustainable solutions for the energy market and also for transformers.

It sounds extensive - and it is. I think it's great to be part of this project. The stakeholders who can and should have a stake in such decisions for the future are brought together in this Joint Industry Project for Power Transformers. Only by working together in the JIP can we ensure that our declarations, indicators and methods are truly sustainable and future-proof.

We are facing great challenges, but also great opportunities. We simply have to pool our knowledge.

What role do you respectively Electrical Oil Services (EOS^®) play in the JIP for Power Transformers?

The role of Electrical Oil Services was clearly to contribute the perspective of an insulating oil recycler. In terms of practical implementation, it was important for us to show how sustainable it is to recycle the mineral oils in the cycle.

Other participants, such as Siemens Energy as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), contributed their perspective as a transformer manufacturer. That's a good thing. We at Electrical Oil Services specialise in transformer oils - from collection to processing and logistics. We also offer the market new insulating oils as well as recycled transformer oils like our EOS^® Premium.

We can look back on a long history of expertise and pioneering work. For 70 years, Electrical Oil Services has been recycling transformer oils! We are part of the solution: by consistently recycling insulating oils, we conserve valuable resources and thus protect the environment. This must also be reflected in the classification of transformer oils.

The reuse of insulating oil on a sustainable basis is what we call the EOS^® Closed Loop Model.

How can we imagine your influence as an insulating oil recycler in practice?

Well, thanks to our involvement in the industry project, we are now giving a recycled insulating oil a better sustainability rating than a new mineral oil. The results of the JIP were published in Madrid in mid-June 2024. A great thing, all that.

Understand me correctly, bio-oils are on the rise and justifiably get a good rating due to their sustainability. But bio-oils are - at least currently - more difficult to recycle than mineral oils. And mineral oils in particular are already being recycled in huge quantities. That's what we're looking at.

Differentiating only between bio-oils and mineral oils in the classification of transformer oils would definitely not have covered the scope. The inclusion of recycled insulating oils in the assessment was an important point for the sustainable development and improvement of our energy infrastructure in the area of transformers.

What does an environmentally compatible energy infrastructure look like to you? And what can be realised?

In terms of transformers or generally speaking? Europe is already working on many aspects of an environmentally compatible energy infrastructure as part of the Green Deal in the course of the Energy Transition.

Electrical Oil Services (EOS^®) plays an important part in the energy transition. We see success in the interplay of the following factors:

1. Renewable energies: Renewable energies are the be-all and end-all in generation. Europe is already on the right track here and is investing heavily in wind, solar and hydroelectric power plants. And therefore also needs more transformers.

2. Storage solutions: Due to the base load required, efficient storage options are the next indispensable building block.

3. Resource conservation: Thirdly, resource conservation is an important pillar whenever and wherever it is technically and commercially feasible. The aim is to minimise the consumption of resources - this is where recycled insulating oil comes into play - and to extend the service life of infrastructure components such as transformers.

4. Energy research: It is equally important to be bold and endeavour innovations. This can significantly accelerate further progress.

Thank you very much for the interview, Kilian Gerbl!

Find out more about Electrical Oil Services (EOS^®) in further interviews:

• EOS^® Interview: 5 tips for sustainable transformer oil management
• Transformer expertise: EOS^® interview with a transformer specialist
  
• EOS^® database: Sound decisions in transformer management
  
• EOS^® transformer database: Documentation of insulating oil samples
  

Joint Industrie Project (JIP) for Power Transformers industry partners include at the moment:

Siemens Energy, Hitachi, SGB-SMIT Group, R&S Group, Ormazabal, HSP/Trench Group, TenneT TSO, Elia Group, Amprion TSO, Westnetz, Thyssen Krupp Electrical Steel, Essexwire, JFE Steel Corporation, Nippon Steel, Metal One, M&I Materials (Midel), Nynas, Cargil, Ergon, and Electrical Oil Services (EOS). Click here for more infos on the project.