Image from Mitsubishi Electric company website/news
On 2021/06/05 (World Environment Day), Siemens Energy company and Mitsubishi Electric company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study on the joint development of high-voltage switching solutions with zero global warming potential (GWP) that substitute greenhouse gases with clean air for insulation. Both companies will research methods for scaling up the application of clean-air insulation technology to higher voltages.
Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric companies are pioneers in the development of high-voltage switching solutions.
Both companies have been working on the development of SF6-free gas-insulated switching solutions that
replace greenhouse gas with clean air, a pure mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, in order to contribute to global carbon-neutrality goals. To date, clean-air insulation is the only alternative to greenhouse gases and therefore poses zero health and safety risks. In conjunction with vacuum interrupters, higher performance for switching applications is ensured, even compared with all known SF6 circuit breakers.
Both companies start with a 245-kV dead-tank circuit breaker that will speed up the availability of climate-neutral high-voltage switching solutions for customers around the globe. Both partners will continue to manufacture, sell, and service switchgear solutions independently.
Siemens Energy’s Blue Portfolio offers future-proof and environmentally friendly solutions for high-voltage power transmission. It comprises F-gas-free gas-insulated switchgear, circuit breakers, and instrument transformers. The combination of vacuum-switching technology and clean-air insulation enables a significant reduction of emissions, while the lifetime of the products can also be increased. While circuit breakers that use clean-air and vacuum-switching technology have been available for at least 15 years for voltage levels up to 72.5 kV, the outstanding technical performance and low lifecycle costs also make it a perfect choice for other substation products, including gas-insulated switchgear(GIS) up to 145 kV, with absolutely zero CO2 equivalent emissions over the lifetime of the equipment. Siemens Energy’s Blue products lie outside the scope of any conceivable F-gas regulation.
Siemens already has a similar contract for the sale of sf6 free switching equipment for GIS, which you can see as an example of news in this regard here.
Mitsubishi Electric company provides a variety of high- and medium-voltage products to ensure the safe and reliable operation of modern power networks. With its state-of-the-art, best in the industry vacuum-interruption and dry-air insulation technology, Mitsubishi Electric is contributing to society by providing (SF6-free) and zero
CO2 equivalent emission, energy-efficient, and low lifecycle-cost solutions. Mitsubishi Electric has manufactured high-quality vacuum tubes and products since 1965 and started providing its 72.5-kV vacuum interrupter in 2002.
Mitsubishi Electric company is extending its vast experience with vacuum and dry-air switching technology to create a new lineup of higher-voltage circuit breaker and switchgear products.
There is a better way of doing green, and even gave plenty of details, to two Siemens employees, one from Berlin switchgear and in same capacity with Mitsubishi.
While it is possible that this concept has been considered- many reasons existed why it was not discovered, and even if all the measuring equipment had been available- it would have been unlikely those individuals would have been able to communicate the discovery.
Siemens and Mitsubishi, or at least TMEIC will attend IEEE PCIC, and I will be quite explicit about what method or means, is the greenest and lowest cost to make.
Dear Mr. Cary
Thank you for your comment.