Circular Economy in Power Transformers: Financial Opportunity and Climate Solution in Colombia

Colombia’s electrical sector is at a pivotal moment, facing urgent infrastructure renewal needs, long equipment delivery times, and increasing environmental pressures. This study explores the implementation of a circular economy model for the renovation of 230 kV power transformers, focusing on the strategic reuse of non-degraded components such as copper, steel tanks, and magnetic cores. Using a triple-impact valuation framework (social, environmental, and economic), the research evaluates the benefits of this approach, which includes a five-stage reconditioning process aligned with zero-waste principles.