Transforming the Transformer: Market Size, Trends, Drivers, Issues, Challenges

21 Feb 2020

In delivering electricity from generation to consumer, transformers perform the key task of managing the electricity voltage at various stages. While Power Transformers (PTs) are used in the Transmission (T/R) network at HV (400 kV, 200 kV, 110 kV, 66 kV, 33 kV) & are generally rated > 200 MVA, Distribution Transformers (DTs) are used in the dist’ network at LV (11 kV, 6.6 kV, 3.3 kV, 440 V, 230 V) & are rated at up to 200 MVA. With high invest’s in the T/R seg’ & ongoing reforms in dist’ seg’, transformer industry is on a growth trajectory. Besides, increasing manufacturing capacity, Indian transformer manufacturers have matured in terms of tech’ over the years. Now, they are capable of producing transformers of up to 1,200 MVA, the highest T/R system voltage in the world. A shift in the energy mix due to the increasing share of renewables & a growing focus on smart infra’ have expanded the market for smart & digital transformers. Size of the transformer industry in India has increased at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2013-14 & 2017-18.