April 2025 Transformer Industry News Update

1. Amorphous alloy transformer technology continues to break through

Nanbao Te Electric of Guangxi recently announced that its self-developed amorphous alloy three-dimensional rolled iron core transformer heat dissipation technology has passed a number of national tests, successfully applied to a number of large-scale industrial projects, to solve the large-capacity transformer heat dissipation problems by 20% compared with traditional products1. Large-capacity transformer cooling problems, energy consumption than traditional products by more than 20%. At the same time, the company is promoting a new generation of amorphous alloy material research and development, plans to launch in the year for offshore wind power scenarios of ultra-high voltage transformers.

2. Offshore Wind Power Expansion Drives Transformer Demand Surge

The global offshore wind power industry has entered a new round of growth cycle, with the new installed capacity expected to exceed 19GW in 2025, driving industry chain investment of US$80 billion. Igor said that its offshore wind power transformers have achieved localised substitution, and the delivery cycle has been shortened to within 30 days by virtue of independently produced core materials and full-process quality control system.

3. Distribution transformer market accelerates green transformation

China's distribution transformer market reached 19.435 billion yuan in 2024, of which oil-immersed transformers accounted for nearly 90%, but dry-type transformers Due to the advantages of high safety, maintenance-free, etc., the penetration rate in the indoor scene is increasing year by year.34 The State Grid has recently launched a replacement programme for high-energy-consuming transformers in Jiangxi, Fujian and other places to upgrade S9-type old equipment to S20 energy-saving models, and the comprehensive energy efficiency of a single unit has been improved by more than 15%.

4. Policy-driven industry technology iteration

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) proposes to accelerate the energy efficiency upgrade of power equipment, requiring the elimination of more than 80 per cent of S9 and below models of transformers by the end of 2025. State Grid Xinluo Power Supply Company recently completed the transformation of the first batch of 400 kVA energy-saving transformers, and is expected to promote the energy efficiency of distribution network equipment in the region to 95% within the year.

5. New energy installed capacity to promote the integration of transformer technology

2024 national photovoltaic / wind power installed capacity of 277.17GW, 79.34GW, driving transformer companies to accelerate the layout of integrated solutions for wind power storage The industry head enterprises are exploring the integration of amorphous Industry head enterprises are exploring amorphous alloy, three-dimensional rolled iron core and other technologies and intelligent monitoring system, in order to adapt to the flexibility of the new power system needs.

Summary of industry trends:

Technology innovation: amorphous alloy materials, three-dimensional rolled iron core structure and other technologies have become the focus of competition;

Application extension Application extension: offshore wind power, data centres and other scenarios to promote the development of transformers to high reliability, customization;

policy dividend: energy-saving transformation policy to accelerate the renewal of the stock of equipment, the release of hundreds of billions of market space.