The Energy Transition's Hidden Asset: The Infrastructure We Already Have

The energy transition demands enormous investment. New wind farms, solar installations, charging infrastructure and industrial electrification are placing entirely new demands on the power grid. But amid all this necessary new construction, there’s an asset that’s often overlooked: the infrastructure we already have.

Across Sweden, and globally, there are thousands of transformer stations built 30, 40 or 50 years ago. They represent billions in investment and form the very backbone of our energy system. The question isn’t whether we should replace them all, but how we can get the maximum value from them for the rest of their service life.

A transformer station is more than a technical installation. It represents substantial capital investment, planning, regulatory approval and integration into the local grid. A new transformer can cost anywhere from a few hundred thousand SEK for smaller units to several million for larger zone transformers. On top of that comes installation, connection and commissioning.

But the value doesn’t end there. A well-maintained transformer that’s received the right upkeep over the years is a proven asset. It has a known history, stable behaviour and a critical role in the system. Replacing a functioning component prematurely doesn’t just mean scrapping hardware – it means discarding decades of accumulated value.

So how long does a transformer actually last? Most are designed and depreciated over 40 years, but actual service life is often closer to 50 with the right maintenance. A large grid operator today has thousands of power transformers in service — several have already passed 60 years. That says something about how much potential lies in managing assets well, rather than replacing them too soon.

With modern monitoring technology and predictive maintenance, existing infrastructure can be given new life. By connecting critical components and continuously monitoring their condition, you can:

• Extend service life by identifying and addressing problems before they become critical
• Optimise maintenance so resources go where they’re truly needed
• Avoid unnecessary interventions, which are themselves a risk to operation and quality
• Avoid unplanned outages that can cost millions in lost production
• Plan reinvestments well in advance instead of being forced into emergency orders

A connected transformer becomes a digital asset that actively helps optimise operations. Instead of reacting to problems, you can prevent them.

Connectivity isn’t about passively monitoring infrastructure until a scheduled replacement or a failure. It’s about actively managing it, freeing up both capital and resources for other projects.

Every time the service life of an existing transformer can be extended, you can direct investment toward the system’s real bottlenecks instead – to where capital does the most good right now.

Early warning gives you room to act: With continuous monitoring, deteriorating trends can be detected long before they become critical. That gives you time to plan, procure and carry out measures calmly, at the best price and without disruption.

Planned maintenance is both safer and cheaper: When you know exactly which components need attention, maintenance can be planned efficiently. Instead of routine rounds on a fixed schedule, resources can be concentrated where they’re actually needed.

Decisions based on facts, not guesswork: With access to real-time data and trend analysis, you can make decisions based on the actual condition of your equipment. Should you reinvest now or in a few years? Does the transformer need replacing, or is an upgrade to the cooling system enough? The data gives you the answer.

Sustainability gains that make a difference: Every extra year a transformer stays in service is a year less production, transport and material use. At a time when sustainability is business-critical, that’s a gain that shows up both on the balance sheet and in the sustainability report.

Let’s make it concrete. A 25–40 MVA zone transformer can today cost around SEK 20 million to replace, installation included. Lead times run to roughly 1.5 years for standard-sized units, stretching to 3–4 years for the very largest. And lead times haven’t been getting shorter – several grid operators report that they’ve lengthened considerably in recent years.

Should the transformer fail during that wait, the alternatives are costly in their own right. Bringing in a temporary solution, such as a mid-sized mobile substation, can cost in the region of SEK 2 million – resources that could otherwise have gone toward the grid’s real bottlenecks.

Connecting the transformer instead, installing monitoring and establishing predictive maintenance can save more than 90% of the annual cost compared with depreciating a new transformer. If it extends service life by just a few years, the investment pays for itself. If the equipment can be used for many years longer, the savings become substantial.

And that doesn’t even account for the value of avoiding unplanned outages, or the option of putting the millions saved toward electrifying a new industrial facility or expanding the grid to a new housing development.

The transformation of the energy system is already under way. To succeed, we need to both build new where it’s needed and optimise what we already have. Taking the full picture into account is what determines how fast and how efficiently the transition can move.

By connecting and actively managing what you already have, capital is freed up for the investments that actually move the transition forward – and the whole grid, not just individual stations, can develop faster.

It’s not a choice between old and new – it’s efficient use of resources, and the right way to meet the challenges ahead.

The energy transition’s hidden asset may not be so hidden after all. It’s already there, in the form of thousands of transformer stations that can keep delivering value for many years to come if managed the right way.