Hitachi Energy to deliver the world's first SF6-free 550 kV gas-insulated switchgear

Hitachi Energy announced it will deliver the world's first sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)-free 550 kV gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) to the Central China Branch of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). This pioneering achievement marks a significant step toward decarbonizing the power grid and contributes to China's target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.

SGCC is the world's largest utility company, serving over 1.1 billion people across 88 percent of China's national territory. As a leader in the energy sector, SGCC is firmly committed to sustainability and has developed an ambitious action plan for carbon neutrality.

The SF6-free 550 kV GIS is part of EconiQ, Hitachi Energy's eco-efficient portfolio for sustainability, where products, services, and solutions are scientifically proven to deliver exceptional environmental performance. This technology strengthens critical infrastructure while significantly reducing the environmental impact of the power system.

By replacing SF6 with a sustainable gas mixture, this GIS eliminates the greenhouse gas emissions caused by SF6 while maintaining the same reliable performance and compact design as the conventional solutions. Replacing SF6 is crucial for protecting the environment because it has a global warming potential 24,300 times higher than CO2 and remains in the atmosphere for over 1,000 years if it leaks from the equipment.

An official from the Central China Branch of SGCC said, "In recent years, SGCC has been comprehensively promoting the emission reduction of power grid equipment and its clean and low-carbon development. Using an alternative gas to replace SF6 can effectively reduce the consumption and emission of greenhouse gases.

This project is the world's first pilot application of 550 kV SF6-free GIS, which is of great significance to the Central China Branch of SGCC and will contribute to the clean transformation of the electrical industry to achieve the dual carbon goals."

Hitachi Energy has been providing SGCC with 145 kV EconiQ eco-efficient GIS and live tank circuit breaker LTA products since 2022. With a growing portfolio of eco-efficient high-voltage products, Hitachi Energy is well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for sustainable and reliable power grid solutions. The EconiQ high-voltage series includes SF6-free LTA, GIS, gas-insulated lines (GIL), dead tank circuit breakers (DTB) for various voltage levels, and retrofill for GIL.

This comprehensive portfolio empowers utilities to integrate sustainability into their existing infrastructure or new installations, paving the way for a truly decarbonized future.