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Hitachi Energy is launching a technology that will help to eliminate the emissions of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), 80 percent of which are estimated to come from the power sector.
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is widely used in switchgear, which are critical components protecting an expanding number of power grids. SF6 is estimated to be 24,300 times more climate-hostile than CO2 and can remain in the atmosphere for over a thousand years, which is longer than CO2 that lasts less than 200 years. Overall, SF6 makes up 220 million tons of CO2 equivalent or 0.6 percent of global emissions, which is estimated to exceed the equivalent of 50 typical coal power plants.
While high industry standards mean that SF6 leaks are minor and accidental releases are rare, private stakeholders and regulators are reluctant to continue using SF6, a gas that they see as a significant environmental threat and liability.
To help the power sector address this problem, Hitachi Energy has launched its high 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).
This equipment will replace SF6 switchgear globally, including in China, which is the source of an estimated 57 percent of the global SF6 emissions. Each new 550 kV GIS substation using EconiQ eliminates the carbon equivalent of 170 wide-body jets flying from Europe to the U.S. while retaining the size, performance, and reliability levels of traditional switchgear.
This SF6-free solution for high voltage rated switchgear, Hitachi Energy’s new offerings maintain the same footprint, dimensions, compatibility, lifespan, safety, and efficiency as traditional SF6 equipment. This allows utilities and operators to plan SF6 phaseout migration 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 new training requirements.
An estimated 1,300 tons of SF6 are used in the UK’s network of substations alone, with more than 10,000 tons are used in the European Union. This leaves power grid operators to focus on two major challenges: delivering the energy transition to an expanding number of power grids and addressing climate change with a rapidly planned 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 U.S. are preparing similar regulations.