Comparison Study of Carbon Footprint of Different Transformer Models in Low-Voltage Distribution Networks

Approximately 40% of global carbon dioxide emissions originate from the power sector. In addition to emissions generated during electricity production, various electrical facilities, including transformers, contribute approximately 4% to these emissions due to losses. This paper presents a lifecycle-based carbon footprint evaluation process and assessment model, focusing on three common transformer models used in the distribution network. The model effectively calculates the carbon emissions associated with different lifecycle stages of various capacities and types of 10 kV oil-immersed transformers. The halflife cycle assessment reveals the carbon footprint composition of different transformer types and illustrates how the carbon emissions of each component vary with transformer capacity. In contrast, the full lifecycle analysis shows that carbon emissions during the transformer's operational phase account for the majority of total emissions. This study concludes that replacing low-loss transformers and enhancing the overall efficiency of the distribution network are crucial for reducing carbon emissions