Small footprint, big impact: Decarbonizing the grid one step at a time

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How a small footprint makes a big impact for more sustainable grids

When we think of high-voltage systems, what comes to mind?

If you envisioned sprawling substations, enormous switchgear technologies, and miles and miles of electrical lines stretching across the landscape, you’re exactly right. High-voltage systems encompass many essential (and often large) components, from transmission lines to switchgear. But what if I told you that the future energy grid doesn’t need to occupy as much space – or emit as much carbon? What if high-voltage technologies that are compact in size and low in carbon footprint exist? Well, let me tell you now that it absolutely does!

In this blog, we’ll dive into how minimizing carbon emissions, material use, and spatial footprint is becoming a game-changer when it comes to reshaping high-voltage technologies for a more sustainable energy future.

What’s in the footprint?

In the world of energy, the term “footprint” isn’t just about the space it occupies. It’s a double-edged term that involves both carbon footprint and spatial footprint. Both of these factors play a critical role in how sustainable and efficient an energy system can be.

Let’s break down how the footprint of a high-voltage technology impacts the grid.
 

• Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere during production, operation, and disposal. In traditional high-voltage systems, like those using sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), the carbon footprint can be quite significant.
  
  While SF₆ makes for an excellent insulation gas in switchgear, it is the most potent greenhouse gas. Now more than ever, the industry is on a path to moving away from SF₆ and implementing eco-efficient alternatives for a much better and more sustainable grid.

• Spatial footprint refers to the physical space a technology requires for its installation and operation. In the past, high-voltage systems like air-insulated substations took up massive amounts of space – covering acres of land. These large systems required significant real estate, which is scarce in an urban environment. Therefore, high-voltage systems that demanded smaller spatial footprints were essential in urban areas and modern energy infrastructure.

In the latest Power Pulse episode, I share expert insights about our EconiQ portfolio and why it’s becoming a real game-changer in decarbonizing the high-voltage grid.

How carbon footprint is measured: Understanding Life Cycle Assessments

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a state-of-the-art method that provides a holistic 360° view of the environmental performance of services and solutions. It quantifies the environmental impact of a product or a system throughout its entire life cycle, providing a clear understanding of critical environmental focus areas for further development. 

So, when we talk about a high-voltage product’s carbon footprint, it doesn’t just refer to the insulation gas. The total carbon footprint is based on the following areas that are meticulously evaluated using the LCA approach:

Why it matters: The bigger picture of low footprints

Sustainability has become the central goal and anthem of grids of the future. Over the past decade, the power industry has been integrating renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing SF₆-free alternative technologies.

Reducing footprint drives grid decarbonization

The concept of minimizing footprints is not just a trend; it’s a critical approach to accelerating grid decarbonization. In the energy sector, minimizing both carbon and spatial footprints has a direct impact on reducing overall emissions while enhancing efficiency of power systems. The reduction of carbon emissions from power generation, transmission, and distribution networks is not only an environmental imperative but also an economic opportunity for industries looking to align with global sustainability goals.

One critical aspect of decarbonizing the grid involves transitioning away from SF₆-insulated products and upgrading to innovative and eco-efficient technologies such as Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ^TM.

Below are just a few reasons how EconiQ is revolutionizing the industry: 

Big impact 1: Zero-SF₆ and lowest carbon footprint

The EconiQ high-voltage portfolio is completely SF₆-free, essentially eliminating CO₂ equivalent emissions related to the insulation gas. All EconiQ high-voltage products are 100% as reliable and scalable as the conventional solution while delivering the lowest carbon footprint throughout the total life cycle.

Big impact 2: As compact as SF₆-based technologies with low material use

The entire EconiQ portfolio retains the size, performance, and reliability of the conventional solution. Its compact design ensures that the technology can be deployed at scale and with speed while minimizing the overall carbon footprint of the grid. 

Big impact 3: Reliable and future-proof technology

EconiQ is designed to be future-proof, ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory standards and environmental requirements, therefore providing long-term sustainability in the energy sector.

Conclusion: The road ahead for sustainable high-voltage systems

In the quest for decarbonization, it’s clear that smaller footprints – both in terms of carbon emissions and physical space requirements – hold the key to creating a more sustainable and resilient grid. The beauty of focusing on smaller, smarter SF₆-free technologies such as EconiQ lies in the ripple effect they create: less land use, fewer materials, lower emissions, and ultimately, a more flexible and capable grid, able to meet the demands of today’s generation and those to come.

A small footprint today can lead to a big impact for a better tomorrow. 

Interested to know more about EconiQ? Visit this page for more information.