SF6-free: Powering the transition toward a more sustainable industry

Martin Kok [Host]: Hello. I'm Martin Kok, Director of Strategy and Marketing for Eaton's IEC Assembly business here with another Eaton "10 in 10 Podcast." As the realities of climate change continue to influence government policies and business practices, industrial facilities around the world are looking for ways to significantly reduce their carbon footprint for the betterment of the environment.

Today, I'm here with Martin Binnendijk, Director of R&D, and Frits Besseling, Manager of Business Development for Eaton's Electrical Solutions and Systems, to talk about how industrial customers and network operators are investing in SF₆-free switchgear and the importance of making the transition towards more sustainable alternatives. Martin, Frits, we've got 10 minutes and 10 questions. So let's get started.

Martin, this first one is for you. So can you talk a bit about how SF₆ gas is used in medium voltage an high voltage switchgear?

Martin Binnendijk: SF₆ is a gas that has been used in MV and HV switchgear for many years now as an insulating material and also for current interruption. And it is true because of its favorable properties for this task. It's a very inert gas that makes it a very good insulator. And it enables to build very compact switchgear for high voltages.

Martin Kok [Host]: So why has an interest in SF₆-free technology become so common?

Martin Binnendijk: SF₆ gas is known to be a contributor to global warming. And actually, it tops the International Panel on Climate Change on the list of extremely harmful greenhouse gases. And it has a global warming potential of 23,500 times greater than CO₂. It is the most potent greenhouse gas out there. And in response to that, European legislators have decided to ban it wherever possible. Already in 2014, an update of the F-gas regulation has been done. All these bans successfully reduced already the use of SF₆. And now, actually, a new proposal for an update of legislation is in place actually for switchgear.

Martin Kok [Host]: So are SF₆-free regulations only surfacing in the European Union?

Martin Binnendijk: No. Of course, climate change is for everybody. So in the US, California has adopted legislation. And they are targeting 2025 for that. And the other end of the world, China, they currently give preferential treatment to SF₆-free products already. The Middle East, Africa, there we see not much activity yet to this point.

And actually, we see three groups of alternatives to SF₆, all enabling similar compactness. Those are alternative gases such as fluoroketones and fluoronitriles, also pressurized air, and then finally also atmospheric air, but then in combination with electrical field control and vacuum switching.

Martin Kok [Host]: So can you talk a bit more about these alternatives to SF6-free? What other options are there available out in the market?

Martin Binnendijk: For GIS, that's gas-insulated switchgear, there are alternative green gases such as Novec, for example, which is a commercial name for a gas. Also for GIS, air can be used or nitrogen, but then it needs to be pressurized. Yet another-- yet another alternative is solid insulation. And for GIS, again, also a combination of atmospheric air with electrical field control and solid insulation can be used.

All those different technologies have their own dielectric behavior. And that's the reason that for 36 and 38 kV, some more time is needed to come with alternatives. As a less compact alternative, there's also still the conventional air-insulated switchgear.

Martin Kok [Host]: And Frits, this one's for you. So if more companies invested in SF₆-free switchgear, or less harmful alternatives, what would be the impact?

Frits Besseling: If you look to the energy sector, then 80% of SF₆ emissions come from that sector. Another problem is that the SF₆ will last in the atmosphere for more than 3,000 years. So by greatly reducing the SF₆ in switchgear, it will have a significant impact on our ability to lower our total carbon footprint.

And if you look to the energy transition, which is going on right now, yeah, it will require about 70% more switchgear by 2030. So it's very important that we prevent to raise the banked SF₆ here. So the more companies will use SF₆-free switchgear, the better it will be for our environment and for the European Green Deal.

Martin Kok [Host]: Thanks, Frits. Here's another one for you. So we understand that there are alternatives out there, but we also that many companies still offer SF₆ switchgear in addition to the SF₆-free options. So why not get rid of the SF₆ versions altogether? Why offer both?

Frits Besseling: SF₆ has very ideal properties to insulate high voltages. And if it was very easy, then we could get rid of it today.

But unfortunately, not for all the voltages we can get rid of it today. There are still some areas in the switchgear use where we still need SF₆ to build compacts. And there is more time needed to get to alternatives here.

So, for example, for 36 kV and higher, there still might be some years needed to come with compact alternatives. And the same is for high voltage switchgear, and where above 145 kilovolt, there might be also some more time needed to come to alternatives here.

Martin Kok [Host]: So how is Eaton actually then advising customers on the use of SF₆-free?

Frits Besseling: Well, helping the customers is to understand the timing of the regulations and the benefits of SF₆-free. Some countries have stimulus programs for green switchgear. And it's all about to helping them to work through this transition period.

Martin Kok [Host]: And Martin, this is another one for you. So can you tell me a bit about what Eaton has done so far in this space?

Martin Binnendijk: Actually, Eaton has been a trendsetter here. We were first to market with bit compact SF₆-free switchgear that we have already for 60 years now. Eaton has a vision and is committed to developing and promoting environmentally sustainable solutions for all the markets that we serve and has always been on the forefront of innovation.

In the last 60 years, we have innovated and developed numerous patents and inventions related to air-insulated switchgear, vacuum interrupters, and smart dielectric solutions. Today, Eaton has one of the most environmentally sustainable portfolios in the market. And that's within the same dimensions and functionalities as SF₆ competitors for equipment-rated 24 kV and lower.

As part of our environmental commitment, we believe that we, as well as the broader electrical industry, should actively develop alternate solutions for applications that require high braking capacity, high voltages, and reduced footprints to replace the current SF₆-based solutions in the market. And Eaton has been accelerating our development efforts on that front with development projects that use both air and solid insulation, as well as alternative gases.

Martin Kok [Host]: Thanks, Martin. That's really interesting. So from your perspective, then, will SF₆ eventually be banned completely?

Martin Binnendijk: From our perspective, certainly, yes. It is proven that safe, reliable, and compact switchgear can be designed without the use of SF₆ at all. So why continuing with applying the most potent greenhouse gas if there is no strict need for it?

Eaton opts to further invest to cover the whole range of voltages and applications. Legislation helps here. And fortunately, we see good progress in different places in the world.

SF6 has also safety implications. Toxic byproducts are generated when electrical discharges or switching in SF₆ would occur. Special precautions and safety procedures are therefore being used at the end-of-life dismantling of the gear, the switchgear. And this is not at all necessarily with switchgear based on natural gases.

Other than this, the Eaton SF₆-free compact products, available up to 24 kV, are fully compliant and tested according to all relevant IEC standards.

Martin Kok [Host]: Many businesses are already making the shift now toward SF₆-free. But for those who haven't, how can they actually get started?

Frits Besseling: Well, fortunately, the shift towards SF₆-free switchgear has started long ago. And that means it is not new to have compact SF₆-free switchgear. And Eaton was and is on the forefront of that in all regions.

And to start a major shift, I think awareness, that is the most important issue, and maybe even before the legislation will be formalized. So industry can practice already with SF₆-free switchgear, discover that the functionalities, the sizes, the safety features are all equivalent with SF₆ switchgear.

So like Martin already mentioned, there is no need to use SF₆. And once again, for voltages up to, including 24 kV, there are enough alternatives on the market to make that switch. But it's a matter of wanting and a matter of doing. And yeah, we are there to make people wiser on that. So if there are any questions, please come to us, and we will be there to advise on that.

Martin Kok: Thank you so much for your insights today, Martin and Frits. And to learn more about our commitment to promoting a more environmentally sustainable future, please visit Eaton.com/SF6-free.