Cargill: Tata Power Will Use Natural Esters in its Electrical Distribution Transformers

01 Jul 2014 --- Tata Power, based in Mumbai, will be the first utility in India to incorporate a natural ester, versus petroleum-based, dielectric fluid into its electrical transformer systems.

All of Tata Power’s new Package Substations will be filled with Cargill’s FR3 fluid, the leading natural ester-based dielectric fluid that is currently installed in over 600,000 transformers on six continents. “Demand for solutions like FR3 fluid is increasing because power companies are seeking effective solutions that combine operational efficiencies and improved performance with environmental benefits,” said Cargill dielectric fluids global business manager, Dave Roesser. In February 2014, Cargill announced CPFL Energia in São Paulo Brazil, is migrating its entire distribution network to FR3 fluid-filled transformers.

Tata Power is India’s largest integrated power company serving more than 500,000 residential and industrial customers. It is known as an innovative leader with a long history of “firsts” in the market.  Recently, it was the first Indian power company to energize a 1 MVA Transformer with FR3 fluid. 

“We continually look for ways to better serve our communities with safe, reliable solutions that also support our sustainability initiatives,” said Mr. Ashok Sethi, Executive Director- Tata Power Co. Ltd.

Tata Power thoroughly evaluated FR3 fluid and chose the natural ester solution for three key reasons:

- Improved fire safety - With more than twice the flash and fire point as mineral oil and self-extinguishing properties, FR3 fluid provides improved fire safety for the densely populated areas within Tata Power’s service area.
- Environmental benefits - FR3 fluid is biodegradable as well as non-toxic and non-hazardous in soil and water.
- Reduced carbon footprint - As FR3 fluid is made from a renewable resource, it is carbon neutral and results in 56 times less carbon emissions less than mineral oil.

Tata Power will work with Cargill and with transformer manufacturing partners, Schneider Electric, ABB, and Raychem RPG, on integrating FR3 fluid into its distribution network.