THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to 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(1), and in particular Article 15(1) thereof,
After consulting the Ecodesign Consultation Forum,
Whereas:
(1) The Commission has carried out a preparatory study that analysed the environmental and economic aspects of transformers. The study was developed together with stakeholders and interested parties from the Union and the results have been have made publicly available. Transformers are considered as energy related products within the meaning of Article 2(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC.
(2) The study showed that energy in the use phase is the most significant environmental aspect that can be addressed through product design. Significant amounts of raw materials (copper, iron, resin, aluminium) are used in the manufacturing of transformers, but market mechanisms seem to be ensuring an adequate end-of-life treatment, and therefore it is not necessary to establish related ecodesign requirements.
(3) Ecodesign requirements set out in Annex I apply to products placed on the market or put into service wherever they are installed. Therefore such requirements cannot be made dependant on the application in which the product is used.
(4) Transformers are usually purchased under framework agreements. In this context, purchase refers to the act of contracting with the manufacturer for the delivery of a given volume of transformers. The contract is deemed to have come into force on the date of signature by the parties.
(5) Certain categories of transformers should not be covered by this Regulation, due to their specific function,. The energy consumption and saving potential of such transformers is negligible compared to other transformers.
(6) Regulatory concessions are granted because of the weight limitations for mounting transformers on utility poles. In order to avoid misuse of transformers specifically manufactured for pole-mounted operation, they should include a visible display ‘For pole-mounted operation only’, so as to facilitate the work of national market surveillance authorities.
(7) Regulatory concessions are granted to transformers equipped with equipment capable of performing voltage regulation functions to integrate distributed generation from renewable sources into the distribution grid. Such concessions should gradually be phased out as this emerging technology matures and measurement standards become available to separate the losses associated to the core transformer from those associated to the equipment performing additional functions.
(8) Ecodesign requirements for the energy performance/efficiency of medium power transformers and for the energy efficiency of large power transformers should be set with a view to harmonising ecodesign requirements for these devices throughout the Union. Such requirements would also contribute to the efficient functioning of the internal market and to improving Member States' environmental performance.
(9) Establishment of ecodesign requirements for medium and large power transformers is also necessary to increase the market penetration of technologies and design options improving their energy performance or efficiency. Total losses of the transformers fleet in the EU27 in 2008 amounted to 93,4 TWh per year. The cost-effective improvement potential through more efficient design has been estimated in about 16,2 TWh per year in 2025, which corresponds to 3,7 Mt of CO2 emissions.
(10) It is necessary to provide for a staged entry into force of the ecodesign requirements in order to provide an appropriate timeframe for manufacturers to redesign their products. Time limits for the implementation of those requirements should be set taking into account impacts on the costs for manufacturers, in particular small and medium size enterprises, while ensuring timely achievement of the policy objectives.
(11) To allow an effective implementation of the regulation, National Regulating Authorities are strongly advised to take account of the effect of minimum efficiency requirements on the initial cost of the transformer and to allow for the installation of more efficient transformers than the regulation requires, whenever these are economically justified on a whole life cycle basis, including an adequate evaluation of losses reduction.
(12) To facilitate compliance checks, manufacturers should be asked to provide information in the technical documentation referred to in Annexes IV and V to Directive 2009/125/EC.
(13) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 19(1) of Directive 2009/125/EC,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: