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Summaries of EU Legislation

Ecodesign requirements — power transformers

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 with regard to small, medium and large power transformers

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

  • Regulation (EU) No 548/2014, implementing Directive 2009/125/EC, sets out ecodesign* requirements for placing on the market or putting into service power transformers with a minimum power rating of 1 kVA used in 50 Hz electricity transmission and distribution networks or for industrial applications.
  • Experience in the implementation of Directive 2009/125/EC revealed that there were national deviations in standard voltages in electricity distribution grids in certain EU countries. These deviations justified changing the threshold voltage levels in the categorisation of transformers and the applicable minimum energy performance requirements. Regulation (EU) 2019/1783 therefore amends Regulation (EU) No 548/2014.

KEY POINTS

  • The regulation applies to transformers purchased after 11 June 2014.
  • Medium* and large transformers*, regardless of when put on the market or into service, must be reassessed for compliance and conformity with the regulation if:
    • the core or part of the core has been replaced; and
    • one or more of the complete windings has been replaced.
  • Transformers designed for a number of specific purposes are excluded from the regulation including those to be:
    • directly connected to a furnace;
    • installed on fixed or floating offshore platforms, offshore wind turbines or on board ships and all kinds of vessels;
    • used in arc-welding equipment or resistance-welding equipment.
  • The ecodesign requirements are set out in the annexes to the regulation.
  • The regulation sets out the conformity assessment procedure.

Changes introduced under Regulation (EU) 2019/1783

These changes include:

  • if threshold voltages in electricity distribution networks deviate from the standard ones across the EU, EU countries must notify the European Commission accordingly, so that a public notification can be made for the correct interpretation of the various tables in Annex I to the regulation (ecodesign requirements);
  • the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative must not put on the market any products that can detect when they are being tested and change their performance accordingly;
  • to make verification testing easier, market surveillance authorities are permitted to test, or witness the testing of, larger transformers at premises such as those of the manufacturer;
  • the Commission will review the regulation and present the results no later than 1 July 2023.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 has applied since 11 June 2014. The changes introduced by amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1783 have applied since 14 November 2019.

BACKGROUND

Directive 2009/125/EC establishes a framework to set ecodesign requirements for energy-related products. The Commission must set these for products which are widely sold and traded in the EU and have a significant environmental impact.

For more information see:

KEY TERMS

Ecodesign: Policy to improve, through better design, products’ environmental performance throughout their life cycle, especially their energy efficiency.
Medium power transformers: 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.
Large power transformers: 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.

MAIN DOCUMENT

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 (OJ L 152, 22.5.2014, pp. 1-15)

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission communication in the framework of the implementation of Commission Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 on implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to small, medium and large power transformers (Publication of titles and references of harmonised standards under Union harmonisation legislation) (OJ C 416, 11.11.2016, pp. 12-13)

Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products (OJ L 285, 31.10.2009, pp. 10-35)

See consolidated version.

last update 30.01.2020

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