Switchgear are devices that control and distribute electricity in power grids. They are essential for ensuring a reliable and safe supply of electricity to homes, businesses and industries. However, many switchgear use a harmful gas called sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) as an insulator and interrupter. SF 6 is a fluorinated gas (F-gas) that has a very high global warming potential and stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years. It is one of the most potent greenhouse gases known to humanity and contributes to climate change.
F gases in switchgear are fluorinated gases that are used as insulation and current breaking medium in electrical switchgear. The most common F gas in switchgear is sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ), which has a very high global warming potential and is harmful to the environment. SF 6 can leak from switchgear or be released during decommissioning, contributing to climate change and posing a risk to human health.
The European Union (EU) has recognized the need to reduce the use of F-gases, especially SF 6 , in various sectors, including electrical switchgear. The EU F-Gas Regulation, which was introduced in 2006 and revised in 2014, sets emission reduction targets and bans certain applications of F-gases. The regulation is currently being reviewed again as part of the EU Pollutants and Emissions Package, which aims to align the EU’s environmental policies with its climate ambitions under the European Green Deal.
The review of the F-Gas Regulation is an opportunity to phase out SF 6 from switchgear and replace it with clean and sustainable alternatives. Such alternatives already exist and are widely available in the market. They include natural gases such as CO 2 , or vacuum and compressed treated air, which have a much lower environmental impact than SF 6 . These alternatives can achieve the same performance and reliability as conventional switchgear with SF 6 , but with lower lifecycle costs and easier recycling.
Moreover, these alternatives can be integrated with digital applications and Internet of Things (IoT) systems that enable smart and efficient power distribution. These technologies can help optimize grid operation, enhance grid resilience, improve asset management and facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources.
Several industry players have already taken steps to develop and deploy F-gas free switchgear for different voltage levels. For example, Siemens Energy has introduced the 8DJH 24 switchgear, a ring main unit (RMU) for line voltages up to 24 kilovolts (kV), completely free of F-gases. This medium-voltage switchgear for secondary electrical distribution uses clean air as an insulation medium and a vacuum interrupter as a switching device. It has the same compact dimensions as the variant with SF 6 , but with a zero global warming potential. It also has integrated sensors and communications interfaces to higher-level automation and IoT systems.
Siemens Energy is part of an industry initiative that aims to drive the change away from harmful F-gases in switchgear. The initiative calls on the EU to vote for zero F-gases and ban them forever from switchgear. This would support the EU’s climate objectives and ensure a future-proof and sustainable power distribution for Europe.
Switching to F-gas free switchgear is not only good for the environment, but also for the economy and society. It can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save costs, create jobs, foster innovation and enhance competitiveness. It can also contribute to a more secure and resilient energy supply that can cope with increasing demand and changing consumption patterns.
Farewell to F gases in switchgear is not only possible, but necessary and beneficial. It is time to end the era of F-gases in power grids and embrace clean alternatives that can help achieve climate neutrality by 2050.