Comparative life cycle sustainability of transformer cores with metallic glass alloys

Abstract

This paper evaluates the sustainability of metallic glasses (MGs), specifically in applications as a core material in transformers. The environmental, economic, and social performance of the transformer is assessed through a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of three low-voltage transformer configurations: ferrite, silicon steel, and amorphous (MG) core transformers. To do that, we conducted two analyses. First a cradle-to-gate LCA under four distinct production scenarios, reflecting varied energy intensities in MG manufacturing, revealing that the sustainability of MGs depends on the energy needed during their production. Second, a cradle-to-use LCA over an operational period of 40 years to capture long-term environmental advantages of amorphous transformers. Under energy-intensive manufacturing conditions, the amorphous core transformer reduced environmental impacts by almost 50 % compared to silicon steel. Additionally, the influence of alloy composition is further explored by comparing several Fe–B–Si amorphous alloys, showing that alloys with an optimized iron-to-silicon ratio are more sustainable as amorphous core materials. To further validate the findings, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to validate the robustness of the results under variations in use-phase lifetime. The outcomes consistently confirmed the superior sustainable performance of amorphous core transformers compared to silicon steel core transformers. Finally, the impacts of material use and societal implications are discussed and integrated by analyzing human well-being, health implications, and noise pollution of transformers. The findings collectively show that amorphous core transformers offer superior sustainability across environmental, economic, and social dimensions, paving the way for greener power systems and more sustainable transformer design.