Hitachi Energy has launched a new switchgear technology designed to tackle emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), 80% of which come from the power sector.
To help the power sector tackle this problem, the company has launched the world’s highest voltage SF6-free switchgear – the EconiQ 550 kV circuit breaker that can be used in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) or dead tank breakers (DTB) and the EconiQ 420 kV Live Tank Breaker (LTA).
SF6 is widely used in switchgear and is 24,300 times more climate-hostile than CO2 and remains in the atmosphere for over 1000 – much longer than CO2, which lasts less than 200 years.
Overall, it makes up 220m tons of CO2 equivalent or 0.6% of global emissions. This exceeds the equivalent of 50 typical coal power plants.
While high industry standards mean that leaks are minor and accidental releases of SF6 rare, private stakeholders and regulators are reluctant to continue using SF6, a gas they see as a significant environmental threat and liability.
To help the power sector tackle this huge problem, Hitachi Energy has launched the world’s highest voltage SF6-free switchgear – the EconiQ 550 kV circuit breaker that can be used in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) or dead tank breakers (DTB) and the EconiQ 420 kV Live Tank Breaker (LTA).
The new Hitachi equipment will replace SF6 switchgear around the world, including in China, which is the source of 57% of the global SF6 emissions.
Each new 550 kV GIS substation using EconiQ eliminates the carbon equivalent of 170 fully booked jumbo jets flying from Paris to New York while retaining the size, performance, and reliability levels of traditional switchgear.
Executive vice president and managing director of the high voltage products business unit at Hitachi Energy Markus Heimbach said: “It is hard to overstate the critical role that this little-known gas plays in keeping the lights on – it has been as central to building our modern world as steel and concrete.”
“This makes SF6 exceptionally challenging to phase out. The industry can only overcome the dual challenges of strict SF6 regulations and rising transmission demands with solutions that eliminate this gas without sacrificing size or performance.
“Our new EconiQ technology is the first to meet this critical need. Hitachi Energy is the first to have come up with sustainable products for this voltage level, where the largest portion of SF6 is used.”
“As the world shifts to a sustainable energy future, so must power systems. With switchgear typically in service for 40 years, it’s important to act fast, as decisions taken today will determine the success of Net Zero in 2050.”
As the industry’s only SF6-free solution for these voltage ratings, Hitachi Energy’s new offerings maintain the same footprint, dimensions, compatibility, lifespan, safety, reliability, and efficiency as traditional SF6 equipment.
This allows utilities and operators to plan SF6 phaseout roadmaps, enabling them to swap components, retrofit or replace old switchgear and install new ones with no new construction requirements, and with only minor technical changes and minor new training needs.
Around 1300 tons of SF6 is used in the UK’s network of substations alone, with more than 10,000 tons used in the European Union. This leaves power grid operators to focus on two pressing challenges: delivering the energy transition and addressing climate change.
The former demands a rapid expansion of grid infrastructure like switchgear, while the latter necessitates an urgent phaseout of SF6.
The European Union has already implemented a strict phaseout and banned SF6 in medium and high-voltage switchgear by 2030 and 2032, respectively. The UK and USA are preparing similar regulations.
Both new EconiQ products have pilot orders confirmed and form part of ambitious climate commitments from utilities, said Hitachi Energy, demonstrating the need for SF6-free products at this voltage.
TenneT has placed an order for Hitachi Energy’s new EconiQ 420kV LTA. It plans to use the new infrastructure to support its ambition of reducing grid losses, along with the climate impact of its own operations.
Meanwhile, SSEN Transmission has placed an order for the new generation EconiQ 420kV LTA. The new order supports the company’s strategy to no longer install equipment containing SF6 wherever viable.
In North America, where the 550 kV voltage is common, two customers have also placed orders for the new EconiQ 550 kV DTB, Hydro One and Wesco.