It’s time to switch to SF6-free switchgear!

Medium voltage switchgear is a vital component in electricity distribution—switching, connecting, and protecting the electrical networks we rely on every day. But with voltages far higher than those used in households, electrical arcs in these systems can have catastrophic effects.

SF₆ gas is often used as an insulator and switching medium in these devices because it enables efficient and compact solutions compared to conventional air-insulated alternatives. But there’s a problem. SF₆ tops the UN’s list of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a global warming potential 23,500 times greater than CO₂ over a century.

In recent years, the use of SF₆ in switchgear has grown due to the rise of a more decentralized European electricity grid. While power generation was originally based in a few, large installations—like coal and gas plants—the renewable revolution now means we’re constructing many smaller wind and solar plants. Each of these plants requires its own set of switchgear, which amplifies the risk of SF₆ leaking into the atmosphere.

However, I’ve long believed that the use of SF₆ in modern switchgear isn’t just undesirable, it’s also unnecessary. There are now good alternatives available for switching applications. For instance, vacuum-switching combined with a smart dielectric design using air and solid insulation is a safe and environmentally-friendly solution that’s already been in use across Europe for many years.

As an example, Eaton’s popular Xiria Ring Main Unit was launched in 2002 and we’ve now sold over 100,000 units—so it’s well tried and tested. In fact, Eaton has been pioneering the production of compact, SF₆-free, medium voltage switchgear since the 1960s. Sixty years later, 2020 also marks another major milestone in our green switchgear heritage: we’ll ship our one-millionth SF₆-free panel this year.

I think it’s time for our industry to catch up. With viable, proven alternatives out there now, there’s no reason not to make the move towards more sustainable and safer switchgear technologies