The Critical Issues, Opportunities, and Future Directions in the Transformer Industry

Skills Gap and Expert Services

A recurring theme in recent industry reports is the widening skills gap within the transformer industry. This shortage of technical personnel and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) is a pressing issue that threatens to impede progress and efficiency. The gap is driven by the retirement of experienced professionals and the industry's difficulty in attracting younger talent. This challenge presents a significant opportunity for our Asset Performance Team and our Sapient digital solution; a suite of powerful tools aimed at empowering energy operators to navigate the complexities of the grid.

By offering tailored training sessions, robust continuous learning programmes, and leveraging our digital solutions, we can help bridge this gap. Delivered by a specialist group of industry experts with decades of in-house experience in asset design, reliability, and diagnostics, our Asset Performance Team empowers customers to make informed decisions to safeguard their assets and networks.??

The Team’s unparalleled expertise and knowledge enables them to extract meaningful insights that were previously untapped, which will unlock significant value for asset owners.?Our Asset Performance Team is committed to empowering customers with the resources and expertise needed to enhance their operational efficiency, reduce risks, and attain a level of operational excellence.??

Rising Demand and Lead Times

The report indicates that the transformer industry is experiencing rapid growth, with demand consistently outstripping supply. This has resulted in prolonged lead times, sometimes exceeding five years. The extended wait for new transformers intensifies the financial risks associated with transformer faults. Therefore, extending the life of existing transformers through monitoring, diagnostics, and expert services is more crucial than ever. Our Sapient Asset Insights solution can play a pivotal role in this context, providing customers with a powerful software application which empowers energy companies to predict asset performance helping them maximise the lifespan and efficiency of their transformers.

Market Dynamics and Investment Risks

While the report predicts continued demand for transformers driven by various sectors, including data centres for Generative AI and ongoing electrification efforts, it also warns of potential overcapacity. Large investments in new manufacturing plants, particularly in countries like China, could lead to market saturation and subsequent crises. Moreover, changes in government policies, such as potential shifts in net zero commitments in the US, could influence market dynamics. Despite these uncertainties, the overall demand for electricity and transformers is expected to grow, fuelled by industrial onshoring, increased consumer electricity usage, and the AI revolution. Therefore, staying adaptable and informed about policy changes and market trends is essential.

Asset Insights and Grid Optimization

A critical aspect of managing the ageing grid infrastructure is gaining transparency at the asset level. With many transmission and distribution lines approaching the end of their estimated lifespans, optimizing existing grids is imperative. This begins with comprehensive monitoring and diagnostics to understand asset behaviour and pre-emptively address potential failures. Energy operators need to know how their assets are behaving and be ready to take quick action in case we identify any imminent or potential failures for these assets.

Our Sapient Asset Insights software can provide the intelligence needed to maintain and operate transformers effectively, reducing both unplanned and planned outages, so the availability of these assets can be increased.

By integrating diverse data sources and leveraging engineering analysis techniques, along with AI and Machine Learning, our Sapient Asset Insights software transforms raw data into actionable insights. These insights shift operators to proactive maintenance strategies helping them reduce costs and ensure a safer more sustainable grid.

Enhancing Intelligence and Diagnostics

Beyond basic monitoring, integrating diagnostics into our services can significantly enhance maintenance strategies. By using digital twins, we can simulate various scenarios and provide actionable insights. This simulation capability allows customers to understand the impact of load changes, plan for grid expansion, and understand the exact ageing estimation of their assets. Our solutions further extend this intelligence by offering tailored maintenance recommendations based on real-time asset health data. Our customers will receive our recommendations on what needs to be done and when but also what will happen if they don’t take the action immediately – giving them as much intelligence as we can so they can make the best possible decision at the right time.

The transformer industry is at a pivotal juncture, with significant challenges and opportunities on the horizon. Addressing the skills gap, providing Expert Services and optimizing asset management, are crucial steps forward.

By leveraging our expertise, advanced diagnostics, and commitment to innovation, we can help shape a more resilient and efficient future for the transformer industry. Our focus is on delivering comprehensive solutions that not only meet current demands but also anticipate and adapt to future market dynamics.

To learn more about our Sapient digital solution visit https://camlingroup.com/en-us/software ?or if you are attending CIGRE Paris 2024 from 25-30th August, come along to booth #173 and chat with our experts to learn more about our tailored solutions.?

Click on the link to read the Transformers Magazine’s Industry Think Tank Report 2024.

Thanks,

Peter