Photo from Siemens Energy company website GIS type 8VN1
Germany, Munich: Siemens Energy company seals the largest order for SF6-free gas-insulated switchgear in Europe.
Siemens Energy has been awarded a contract to deliver ten bays of sulfur hexafluoride(SF6)-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) to Fingrid,( Finland’s transmission system operator). It will be the first GIS in Finland that replaces SF6 as the most potent greenhouse gas in the world with “clean air”, a pure mixture of nitrogen and oxygen with zero potential for global warming. It represents Siemens Energy’s largest order for SF6-free high-voltage GIS in Europe to date.
Fingrid decided to modernize the 110 kV-switchgear in the Virkkala substation 60 km west of Helsinki so that it operates without any climate-harming gases. The GIS of type 8VN1 from Siemens Energy’s SF6-free Blue portfolio will ensure safe, climate-neutral, and reliable power transmission operation by using vacuum interrupters for switching and clean air as insulation medium, leading to an improved switching performance, simplified operation and maintenance while meeting the highest health and safety standards. Commissioning is scheduled for summer 2022.
Timo Kiiveri, Senior Vice President at Fingrid said:
“Fingrid seeks to be a frontrunner when it comes to the replacement of SF6 in transmission operations. Modernizing the existing SF6-insulated 110 kV switchgear in Virkkala with a new one operating without SF6 gas is the first step on our strategic roadmap toward phasing out SF6 as insulating gas. The total reduction of SF6 gas at the Virkkala substation will be 2.500 kg equal to 57.000 tons of CO2. With Siemens Energy, we have found a reliable partner that offers innovative products with absolutely zero climate-harming fluorinated gases,”
Beatrix Natter, Executive Vice President Transmission at Siemens Energy said:
“We at Siemens Energy are proud that Fingrid has chosen our technology for their first SF6-free GIS. With its zero global warming potential, our Blue portfolio is the most environmentally friendly switching technology available and will reliably support Fingrid in systematically phasing out SF6 as an insulating gas,”
Due to its high climate-harming potential and its long atmospheric lifetime, SF6 is banned for most applications with exception of the electricity sector. However, as part of the European Green Deal, the European Commission is currently reviewing the regulation of fluorinated gases. Over the last decade Siemens Energy has invested in the development of chemical-free alternatives to SF6 and as a result, introduced the future-proof Blue portfolio which operates completely free of any F-gases and thereby goes beyond the common safety and environmental standards. It not only emphasizes the green aspect of the transmission of technology but also provides many other benefits for gas-insulated switchgear, circuit breakers, and instrument transformers. Over the next years, Siemens Energy will implement its clean air technology at higher voltages as well.
