The tectonic shift to sustainable switchgear technology

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The tectonic shift to sustainable switchgear technology

Here’s a fact: The switchgear technology that powers our electrical grids has remained largely unchanged for over 50 years – until now. 

With growing environmental concerns, the industry is witnessing a major paradigm shift toward sustainable alternatives. One of the most exciting innovations in this space is the development of sustainable switchgear – equipment that reduces the environmental impact of the critical infrastructure that manages electrical networks. 

Curious about how sustainable switchgear is revolutionizing the high-voltage landscape? Let’s dive into the details of sustainable switchgear, current solutions from industry leaders like Hitachi Energy, and the outlook for high-voltage technology. Get more expert insights on this topic from the latest Power Pulse episode "POV: You’re designing an SF₆-free future." 

Advancements in sustainable switchgear

The pressing concerns of climate change and resource depletion have necessitated a critical reevaluation of our energy infrastructure. Several transitions poised to be the future of the high-voltage industry include:

• The integration of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power into the grid;

• The growing demand for high-voltage products to support the rapid expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure; 

• Sustainable switchgear, which focuses on reducing or eliminating harmful emissions;

• An increasing focus on sustainable materials and manufacturing processes to reduce the environmental impact of high-voltage products; and

• The adoption of eco-efficient materials as essential considerations.

The shift to more eco-efficient solutions is a game-changer for the high-voltage equipment industry. It allows manufacturers to meet both performance and sustainability goals, offering equipment that is not only safe and reliable but also significantly less harmful to the environment over its life cycle. 

What is sustainable switchgear?

Sustainable switchgear refers to electrical equipment designed to minimize its environmental impact while maintaining the high performance required for power transmission.

Traditional high-voltage switchgear, reliant on the environmentally harmful gas sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), has come under increasing scrutiny. SF₆, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential thousands of times that of carbon dioxide, poses a threat to our planet’s delicate climate balance. This has led the industry to seek eco-efficient alternatives that reduce emissions and meet global sustainability goals.

Hitachi Energy designs sustainable switchgear solutions that eliminate the reliance on SF₆. Instead, eco-efficient gas mixtures are used as insulators, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of high-voltage applications. The goal is to create equipment that maintains the technical reliability of traditional systems but with a much lower environmental impact throughout its life cycle – from raw material extraction, production and installation to operation and end-of-life recycling.  

The role of eco-efficiency in high-voltage applications

High-voltage switchgear, a crucial component of power grids, has traditionally contributed to environmental challenges due to SF₆, an excellent insulator and interrupter. For decades, the industry has worked to control SF₆ leakage and manage its use, but even small leaks contribute to global emissions. However, the development of sustainable switchgear offers a promising solution.

By replacing SF₆ with more eco-efficient gases, sustainable switchgear significantly reduces its carbon footprint. At Hitachi Energy, we aim to optimize the life cycle of all our products and solutions. This not only reduces the greenhouse gas emissions associated with high-voltage switchgear but leads to more compact and efficient designs. Smaller switchgear requires less material and fewer civil works for installation, which further reduces the overall carbon footprint. These efforts not only help mitigate climate change but also contribute to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

Get all the facts about sustainable switchgear in the latest Power Pulse episode. Learn what it takes to launch an innovative product that has the best performance, is reliable, and works even in the most challenging conditions.

Hitachi Energy's pioneering sustainable solutions

Hitachi Energy has been at the forefront of the transition to sustainable switchgear, leading the charge with its EconiQ^TM high-voltage portfolio, a game-changing alternative that achieves the same technical performance as conventional solutions without the environmental downsides.

This SF₆-free switchgear represents a breakthrough in the industry, offering a gas mixture that combines 90% CO₂ with 10% O₂ for live tank circuit breakers, supplemented by a minimal amount of fluoronitrile-based gas (C4-FN) for metal-enclosed switchgear. The new mixture has a drastically lower global warming potential compared to SF₆, making it a far more sustainable solution.

The introduction of EconiQ technology began in 2010, when Hitachi Energy commissioned the first high-voltage breaker that did not use SF₆. Over the years, the EconiQ product range has been refined and expanded, and now offers solutions that can handle voltages up to 550 kV, with future developments targeting even higher voltages. The eco-efficient switchgear is designed to meet the stringent technical demands of high-voltage networks, ensuring safety, reliability, and compactness. 

One of the key benefits of EconiQ switchgear is its scalability. This technology can be applied across different voltage levels, allowing utilities to implement sustainable solutions without overhauling their entire infrastructure. Additionally, Hitachi Energy’s solutions are designed with a long-term perspective in mind, factoring in future network demands, such as the need to handle higher short-circuit currents due to the increasing share of renewable energy in the grid.

The future of switchgear: Innovations on the horizon

As the energy landscape evolves, driven by renewable energy integration and stricter environmental regulations, the demand for sustainable switchgear will continue to grow. Hitachi Energy is constantly working to stay ahead of these changes. By engaging with customers and understanding their future needs, we’re gearing up for future challenges we see happening over the next five to ten years.

One emerging trend is the need for switchgear that can handle the higher fault currents generated by renewable energy sources. As more renewable plants are connected to the grid, the short-circuit currents in the system increase, which means future switchgear will need to be even more robust. Hitachi Energy’s R&D teams are already working on solutions to address these challenges, ensuring that future products will be able to manage these higher electrical loads while maintaining eco-efficiency.

Additionally, the ability to retrofit existing switchgear with sustainable alternatives, such as EconiQ, will be crucial. Many utilities have large amounts of switchgear installed with SF₆, and replacing all of it is neither feasible nor cost-effective. Hitachi Energy’s retrofill solutions allow these utilities to upgrade their equipment with more eco-efficient gases, significantly reducing their carbon footprint without needing to build new infrastructure.

Collaborative partnerships between industry leaders, policy makers, and researchers will be instrumental in driving these innovations and shaping a more sustainable future for the energy sector.

Conclusion: Commitment to a sustainable future

Sustainable switchgear is more than a trend—it is the future of high-voltage technology. Companies like Hitachi Energy are leading the way by developing innovative, eco-efficient solutions like EconiQ, which not only meet today’s technical demands but are also designed with a long-term commitment to reducing environmental impact.

As our pioneering work demonstrates, the transition to sustainable high-voltage solutions is not only achievable but also essential for a thriving planet. As the industry continues to evolve, the advancements in sustainable switchgear will play a critical role in achieving global carbon reduction goals, ensuring a cleaner future for the next generation.