Clean air plays an important role for a sustainable future but high-performance switchgear relies on sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 23,500 times greater than carbon dioxide (CO₂). Climate change has been of extreme importance and there is a call for alternative that may minimize the rate of greenhouse gases emission.

For such challenges, green air-and-vacuum switchgear was developed. It uses the latest insulating and switching technologies, which have eliminated SF6 without any compromise in performance, functionality, or compact design. The migration to this new technology is straightforward, and operators do not face the costly end-of-life treatment that they typically do with SF6.

The Challenge of SF6

The reason for the high occurrence of SF6 in applications based on dependability and safety is far outweighed by its massive contribution to the environment. SF6 has insulated electrical currents for decades in various applications such as high and medium voltage applications and interrupted several currents in that process as well. The greenhouse-gas potential that SF6 offers threatens the planet extremely badly. Removal from switchgear systems is totally feasible but required.

This may require that circuit breakers be replaced with vacuum units, which are much larger and more complex in nature, making the operator change their practice. This alone can easily make vacuum circuit breakers impractical and too expensive to install in most applications.

For example, think of a home: it would be an overkill to try and use a circuit breaker to turn on a little light. Fortunately, SF6 has been successfully removed from medium voltage switchgear without losing the simplicity or efficiency of the process. The new switchgear continues with the same degree of reliability and electrical performance, is compact, and retains important functions such as fuse protection.

New Switching Technology

The breakthrough comes in Shunt Vacuum Interruption (SVI) technology, which incorporates a clever blend of pure air and vacuum to develop a load break switch as effective as its SF6 predecessors. It means operators can maintain their familiar three-position switches without extra training, and thus enhance safety and continuity of operation.

Such green switchgear, with absolutely no necessity for any type of end-of-life SF6 treatment, offers performance on levels equivalent to traditionally designed systems but with all now being environmentally friendly. Commitment to safe, proven technology that puts the health of the environment first must be considered. The idea is simple: the best insulating gas is pure air. A new green technology will make medium voltage switchgear no longer a rather unsustainable venture but a clean, secure future.

As the industry progresses, it is important to look into sustainable solutions that will make a positive impact on the environment. Innovation and sustainability will help protect the planet while ensuring reliable power delivery for generations to come.