Transformer Energy Saving & Carbon Reduction Promote Green Energy Equipment High-Quality Development

Led by the energy conservation and carbon reduction of transformers, accelerate the high-quality development of green energy equipment

Energy is the core resource for the sustainable economic and social development. Energy-saving equipment serves as the fundamental cornerstone of industrial energy conservation and carbon reduction, as well as a key carrier for achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and safeguarding energy security. The Implementation Plan for the High-Quality Development of Energy-Saving Equipment (2026–2028) issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) closely follows the requirements of intelligence, greening and integration. It charts the course for the energy-saving equipment industry and brings strategic opportunities of policy empowerment, quality improvement and efficiency enhancement to the transformer sector.

I. Clarify the strategic path for transformer energy efficiency improvement

China’s transformer industry has established a complete industrial system with initial achievements made in intelligent, green and integrated development. Nevertheless, it still faces shortcomings including room for improvement in key core technologies, low energy efficiency of some in-service equipment, insufficient intelligent application, and inadequate integration with energy consumption systems. Guided by industrial chain collaborative innovation, the Implementation Plan defines the industry’s transformation from scale expansion to quality and efficiency-driven growth, and sets quantified targets: by 2028, the proportion of newly added high-efficiency energy-saving transformers will exceed 75%, and their proportion in the in-service stock will reach 15%.

II. Strengthen intelligent empowerment and break through core technological bottlenecks

Focus on research and development of key materials and core components. Leverage the "task-oriented recruitment of top experts" mechanism to pool superior resources to make breakthroughs in technologies such as high-magnetic-induction ultra-low-loss silicon steel sheets and intelligent on-load tap changers. Further deepen the integration of industry, academia, research and application, and accelerate the commercialization of innovative achievements.

III. Accelerate the promotion of high-efficiency products and galvanize market demand momentum

By implementing policies such as equipment upgrading and preferential taxation, power grid and new energy enterprises are encouraged to carry out energy-saving diagnosis, renewal and upgrading of equipment. Smooth supply-demand docking is facilitated to guide users to adopt premium products at reasonable prices and raise the market penetration rate of high-efficiency energy-saving transformers.

IV. Enhance the coupling capacity of equipment with new energy and industrial systems

In light of the characteristics of new energy power generation and industrial energy consumption demands, develop grid-connected dedicated and special transformers. Promote the integrated design of transformers and industrial energy consumption systems to realize collaborative energy conservation and improve energy utilization efficiency. Meanwhile, embed the coordination of intelligence, greening and integration into the whole product lifecycle, and advance intelligent management and control, green manufacturing, as well as the recycling of waste equipment.

The Implementation Plan for the High-Quality Development of Energy-Saving Equipment demonstrates China’s determination to advance industrial energy conservation and carbon reduction. It will drive technological iteration and boost the core competitiveness of the transformer industry, facilitating energy structure transition and the attainment of the dual-carbon goals. With joint efforts from all stakeholders, China’s transformer industry will overcome bottlenecks, accomplish in-depth transformation, and underpin high-quality economic development.