Natural Esters: Insulation Fluids for Green and Reliable Transformers - Interview with Dr. Miroslaw Wrobel, CEO/CTO & Co-Founder of Passero GmbH, and Roberto Jardón, Regional Technical Leader at Cargill BioIndustrial- Power Generation

Dr. Miroslaw Wrobel and Roberto Jardón, two of the leading experts in natural esters, reveal important findings and new developments resulting from the collaboration of their respective companies, Passero and Cargill, in their interview with our Managing Editor Alan Ross.

Both Dr. Wrobel and Mr. Jardón point out the importance of esters as insolation fluids. Synthetic esters started in the 70s as the second generation of insulation fluids. However, soon there was a desire to create a bio-based, biodegradable material which solves the problem of fire safety as well. Dr. Wrobel explains that, unlike mineral oils and oil derivatives, natural esters are suitable for applications near people's homes, since they are fire safe and non-toxic, and they do not require the installation of new transformers - only the insulation fluid needs to be changed. He further explains that mineral oil insulation has many disadvantages, but we take this into account and we try to counteract this with technical solutions like the berms under the transformers, and the constant replacement of the oil. But all of these "fixes" create costs and if the need for the transformers and the electrical power will grow as much as we think, these costs will go through the roof. Changing to ester oils will be the best way to bring these maintenance costs down, as Mr. Jardón explains, as they are virtually maintenance-free, because they do not generate sludge.

You can read the rest of the interview in the February edition of our magazine.