GE Renewable Energy promises that new mixture based on SF6 will accelerate the process of reducing polluting gases in the electrical industry
GE Renewable Energy Grid Solutions and Hitachi ABB Power Grids have entered into a non-exclusive cross-licensing agreement relating to the use of an alternative gas to hexafluoride of sulfur (SF 6) used in high voltage equipment in the electric power industry to reduce greenhouse gases. This alternative gas-based blend fluoronitrile has a significantly reduced impact on the environment compared to SF 6. Under this landmark agreement, both companies will share complementary intellectual property related to their respective non-SF 6 solutions. The move is expected to help accelerate the use of eco-efficient insulation based on fluoronitrile and switching gas in high voltage equipment as an alternative to SF 6.
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A recent EU Commission report concluded that fluoronitrile-based gas mixtures may be the only insulation and gas exchange alternative to SF 6 when space is a constraint.
This landmark agreement paves the way for a standard SF6-free solution for high voltage equipment in the coming years. This would allow utilities and industries to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, while facilitating their ability to plan, operate and maintain their networks thanks to standardized services and the use of the same auxiliary equipment, the company said in an announcement.
“We want to reduce the carbon footprint”, said the director of Hitachi ABB Power Grids
Commenting on the development, Markus Heimbach, Managing Director of the High Voltage Products business at Hitachi ABB Power Grids, said “As a technology leader, we have always been at the forefront of gas insulated switchgear (GIS) which has become a key enabler for urbanization and installed the first SF 6-free GIS that significantly reduces the carbon footprint.
GE Renewable Energy pioneered the use of fluoronitrile-based gas
“GE pioneered this fluoronitrile-based gas we call g 3 and subsequently developed a broad line of SF 6 free products. Our SF 3 free g 6 products have been commercially available since 2015 and feature the same compactness and traditional SF6 equipment,” said Heiner Markhoff, CEO of GE's Grid Solutions.
For nearly half a century, SF 6 gas has been the norm in the electrical power transmission and distribution industry due to its unique physical properties. It is, however, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming if leaked. For this reason, Hitachi ABB Power Grids and GE have invested in developing better alternatives to SF 6.
