Commission Regulation (EU) 2019/1783 of 1 October 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 548/2014 on implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to small, medium and large power transformers (Text with EEA relevance)

1 This Regulation sets out ecodesign requirements for placing on the market or putting into service power transformers with a minimum power rating of 1 kVA used in 50 Hz electricity transmission and distribution networks or for industrial applications. This Regulation shall apply to transformers purchased after 11 June 2014.

2 This Regulation shall not apply to transformers specifically designed for the following applications: (a) instrument transformers, specifically designed to transmit an information signal to measuring instruments, meters and protective or control devices or similar apparatus; (b) transformers specifically designed and intended to provide a DC power supply to electronic or rectifier loads. This exemption does not include transformers that are intended to provide an AC supply from DC sources such as transformers for wind turbine and photovoltaic applications or transformers designed for DC transmission and distribution applications; (c) transformers specifically designed to be directly connected to a furnace; (d) transformers specifically designed to be installed on fixed or floating offshore platforms, offshore wind turbines or on board ships and all kinds of vessels; (e) transformers specifically designed to provide for a situation limited in time when the normal power supply is interrupted due to either an unplanned occurrence (such as a power failure) or a station refurbishment, but not to permanently upgrade an existing substation; (f) transformers (with separate or auto-connected windings) connected to an AC or DC contact line, directly or through a converter, used in fixed installations for railway applications; (g) earthing or grounding transformers specifically designed to be connected in a power system to provide a neutral connection for earthing either directly or via an impedance; (h) traction transformers specifically designed to be mounted on rolling stock, connected to an AC or DC contact line, directly or through a converter, for specific use in fixed installations for railway applications; (i) starting transformers, specifically designed for starting three-phase induction motors so as to eliminate supply voltage dips and that remain de-energised during normal operation; (j) testing transformers, specifically designed to be used in a circuit to produce a specific voltage or current for the purpose of testing electrical equipment; (k) welding transformers, specifically designed for use in arc-welding equipment or resistance-welding equipment; (l) transformers specifically designed for explosion-proof applications in accordance with Directive 94/9/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and underground mining applications; (m) transformers specifically designed for deep water (submerged) applications; (n) medium Voltage (MV) to Medium Voltage (MV) interface transformers up to 5 MVA used as interface transformers used in a network voltage conversion programme and placed at the junction between two voltage levels of two medium voltage networks and that need to be able to cope with emergency overloads; (o) medium and large power transformers specifically designed to contribute to the safety of nuclear installations, as defined in Article 3 of Council Directive 2009/71/Euratom ; (p) three-phase medium power transformers with a power rating below 5 kVA; except as regards the requirements set out in point 4(a), (b) and (d).of Annex I to this Regulation.

3 Medium and large power transformers, regardless of when they were first placed on the market or put into service, shall be reassessed for conformity and comply with this Regulation, if they are subject to all of the following operations: (a) replacement of the core or part thereof; (b) replacement of one or more of the complete windings. This is without prejudice to the legal obligations under other Union’s harmonisation legislation that these products could be subject to.

1 The conformity assessment procedure referred to in Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC shall be the internal design control system set out in Annex IV to that Directive or the management system set out in Annex V to that Directive.

2 For the purposes of the conformity assessment pursuant to Article 8 of Directive 2009/125/EC, the technical documentation shall contain a copy of the product information provided in accordance with point 4 of Annex I, and the details and the results of the calculations set out in Annex II to this Regulation.

3 Where the information included in the technical documentation for a particular model has been obtained: (a) from a model that has the same technical characteristics relevant for the technical information to be provided but is produced by a different manufacturer; or (b) by calculation on the basis of design or extrapolation from another model of the same or a different manufacturer, or both; the technical documentation shall include the details of such calculation, the assessment undertaken by the manufacturer to verify the accuracy of the calculation and, where appropriate, the declaration of identity between the models of different manufacturers.

4 The technical documentation shall include a list of all equivalent models, including model identifiers.’;

The Commission shall review this Regulation in the light of technological progress and shall present the results of the assessment, including, if appropriate, a draft revision proposal, to the Consultation Forum no later than 1 July 2023. The review shall in particular address the following issues: the extent to which requirements set out for Tier 2 have been cost-effective and the appropriateness to introduce stricter Tier 3 requirements, the appropriateness of the concessions introduced for medium and large power transformers in cases where installation costs would have been disproportionate, the possibility of utilising the PEI calculation for losses alongside the losses in absolute values for medium power transformers, the possibility to adopt a technology-neutral approach to the minimum requirements set out for liquid-immersed, dry-type and, possibly, electronic transformers, the appropriateness of setting minimum performance requirements for small power transformers, the appropriateness of the exemptions for transformers in offshore applications, the appropriateness of the concessions for pole-mounted transformers and for special combinations of winding voltages for medium power transformers, the possibility and appropriateness of covering environmental impacts other than energy in the use phase, such as noise and material efficiency.’;

The manufacturer, importer or authorised representative shall not place on the market products designed to be able to detect they are being tested (e.g. by recognising the test conditions or test cycle), and to react specifically by automatically altering their performance during the test with the aim of reaching a more favourable level for any of the parameters declared by the manufacturer, importer or authorised representative in the technical documentation or included in any documentation provided.’;

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.