Carbon Footprint of Transformer Manufacturing

This paper presents a methodology for calculating the carbon footprint of power transformer manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of lifecycle assessment (LCA) to understand environmental impacts. It outlines key manufacturing steps—core assembly, winding manufacturing, active part assembly, drying, testing, and dispatch—and distinguishes between on-site and off-site processes. Energy consumption, particularly electricity and gas, significantly influences the carbon footprint. Accurate waste classification and quantification are crucial for a representative environmental assessment. The paper advocates calculating the carbon footprint per kilogram of nameplate weight (kgCO2eq/kg) for consistency across transformer types. It uses a rolling average approach to allocate factory impact, following ISO 14040 and 14044 standards and the "IPCC 2021 GWP100" methodology. The analysis identifies electricity, gas consumption, steel manufacturing, and hazardous waste as major contributors to the carbon footprint. Year-to-year variations and data quality are critical for accurate assessments. The objectives are to provide a robust methodology, discuss product type influences, and highlight the importance of Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) data quality.