How much can the Amorphous Alloy Dry Type Transformer reduce no-load losses compared to traditional silicon steel transformers?

Driven by rising energy costs and carbon neutrality goals, the energy efficiency of power equipment has become a core concern for industrial and commercial users. As a core component of the distribution system, the optimization of transformer no-load losses directly affects the long-term operating costs and environmental benefits of the power grid. The new generation of technologies represented by the Amorphous Alloy Dry Type Transformer is redefining industry energy efficiency standards with its disruptive material properties.
The core of a traditional silicon steel transformer is made of cold-rolled grain-oriented silicon steel sheets. Its crystal structure will produce significant hysteresis loss and eddy current loss in an alternating magnetic field, resulting in high no-load energy consumption. The amorphous alloy material uses an ultra-high-speed cooling process (cooling rate of 10⁶°C/second) to make the metal atoms present an amorphous structure with disordered arrangement. This unique atomic arrangement greatly reduces the resistance during magnetization, making the coercivity of the amorphous alloy core only 1/5 of that of silicon steel, and reducing hysteresis loss by more than 80%.
Take a 1600kVA transformer as an example: the no-load loss of traditional silicon steel models is usually around 2200W, while the typical no-load loss of amorphous alloy dry-type transformers can be controlled in the range of 450-650W, a reduction of 70%-80%. This means that a single device can reduce no-load power consumption by about 15,000kWh per year, equivalent to saving 4.5 tons of standard coal consumption and reducing 12 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Energy efficiency comparison: the economic and environmental value behind the data
The gap in no-load loss is directly converted into quantifiable economic benefits. Assuming that an industrial user operates a 1600kVA transformer, the electricity cost is calculated at $0.12/kWh:
Annual no-load electricity cost of silicon steel transformer: 2200W × 24 hours × 365 days ÷ 1000 × 0.12 ≈ $2,315
Annual no-load electricity cost of amorphous alloy transformer: 600W × 24 hours × 365 days ÷ 1000 × 0.12 ≈ $630
Only for no-load loss, amorphous alloy transformers can save users about $1,685 per year, and a cumulative savings of more than $33,000 over a 20-year life cycle. If load loss optimization and maintenance-free design are added, the overall energy saving benefits will be more significant.
Although the brittleness and processing difficulty of amorphous alloy strips have restricted their popularity, process innovations in recent years have greatly improved product reliability. Through core annealing process optimization, epoxy resin vacuum packaging and seismic structure design, modern amorphous alloy dry-type transformers can withstand extreme temperatures from -40°C to 150°C and operate stably in high humidity and dusty environments. Experimental data show that its no-load loss can still maintain more than 95% of the initial value after 10 years of operation, and the attenuation rate is much lower than that of silicon steel transformers.
Globally, amorphous alloy dry-type transformers are becoming a key option for power grid upgrades. China's "dual carbon" strategy clearly requires that the energy efficiency level of newly built distribution transformers be no less than level 1 (corresponding to no-load loss ≤710W), and the EU Ecodesign regulations also list amorphous alloys as a priority promotion technology. According to industry forecasts, by 2030, the market share of amorphous alloy transformers in the Asia-Pacific region will exceed 40%, becoming a standard choice for industrial, commercial buildings and new energy power stations.
The answer lies not only in the numerical difference in no-load loss, but also in its deep fit with sustainable development goals. Reducing no-load energy consumption by 70%-80% means lower electricity bills, smaller carbon footprints, and more reliable power supply. For companies pursuing long-term value, this is not only a technological upgrade, but also a strategic investment for the future.