Schneider Electric announces launch of EcoStruxure™ Transformer Expert in the UK & Ireland to extend the lifespan of oil transformers and reduce downtime

Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced that its EcoStruxure™ Transformer Expert service is now available to businesses in the UK & Ireland.  

Designed to help extend the life of oil transformers and meet regulatory requirements, the subscription-based service monitors the health of transformers using a combination of IoT sensors and advanced software analytics. The all-in-one and easy to deploy solution provides cloud-based analysis based on real-time data to deliver aging insights and risk assessment, in addition to expert advice and consultation.  

Transformers play a critical role in energy networks, from electrical generation to consumption and powering industry. Downtime is extremely harmful for businesses, but replacing transformers is expensive. To increase uptime but avoid unnecessary spending, organisations need the ability to closely monitor, in real-time, the health and status of their transformers; which is a legal requirement in the UK & Ireland.  

EcoStruxure Transformer Expert helps alleviate these worries through features such as IoT monitoring and online health analysis. It also offers additional real-time insights into factors such as heat, oil temperature, water presence, noise, and vibrations, which could indicate if there is an issue that needs urgent attention. Visibility into their operations allows medium to large organisations to make data-driven decisions about the performance, maintenance, and lifespan of their transformers.  

EcoStruxure Transformer Expert is a unique all-in-one, cost-effective, and easy-to-deploy monitoring system for oil transformers. Its features include:  

• Predictive analytics: Using real-time monitoring data, Schneider Electric experts can help predict potential issues before they occur, allowing companies to schedule maintenance in a more efficient way. Advanced transformer monitoring tools and automated online analysis make it possible to track transformers’ operating state and trends that are mapped against safe limits. 

• Reliability: Knowing an asset’s health increases the equipment’s reliability and reduces the risk of downtime because maintenance can be scheduled based on a transformer’s actual need. Companies can assess short and long-term risks with recommendations based on industry standards. 

• Safety: Detecting early signs of potential problems improves overall transformer safety. 

• Data-driven decision making: Using real-time data makes it possible to make more informed decisions about maintenance and asset replacement. 

• Economic benefits: Extending asset life expectancy reduces the need for costly replacements, improving maintenance planning reduces maintenance codes, and reducing downtime saves money.  

EcoStruxure Transformer Expert in action at CERN  

CERN, one of the world’s largest centres for scientific research, adopted EcoStruxure Transformer Expert to improve the monitoring, risk assessment, and asset management of eight transformers. CERN, which uses 1.3 terawatt hours of electricity annually, needed a solution that could predict the remaining life of its aging transformers to facilitate smooth replacements, and prioritise upgrade decisions. EcoStruxure Transformer Expert is enabling CERN to maintain these critical assets and plan to replace them with minimal risk to operations.  

David Pownall, Vice President, Services, Schneider Electric UK and Ireland: "We’re proud to be working together with CERN to successfully solve their transformer challenges. The project is a real-world example of our solution and shows how our collaboration with customers can solve their specific challenges. Extending equipment’s lifespan is an important way to decrease companies’ carbon footprint. Using EcoStruxure Transformer Expert, companies can maximise transformers’ lifespan, resulting in less waste.” 

Extending transformers monitoring solution portfolio for higher flexibility 

Schneider Electric is offering the monitoring services as a software-as-a-service model, and a software-only offer for monitoring transformer fleets. This is where customers can upload and store their offline dissolved-gas analysis (DGA) reports and get initial insights and analytics about their transformers and prioritise high-risk equipment for closer monitoring and replacement planning, if needed. They are also offering the option to integrate it into an EcoCare membership: Schneider will perform advanced condition-based monitoring for the customer and provide insights to improve transformers performance, as well as core electrical distribution equipment in a customer’s installation.  

Learn more about EcoStruxure Transformer Expert here. 

Explore CERN customer story here