HD Hyundai Electric Supplies SF6-Free Circuit Breakers to Sweden

chosun.com

by grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 points

HD Hyundai Electric is expanding its eco-friendly power equipment line with the supply of 145kV high-voltage circuit breakers to Sweden. These units are developed without sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 23,500 times higher than carbon dioxide. This move anticipates a 2032 EU ban on SF6 in high-voltage equipment. The company is currently developing a full range of SF6-free products, including 420kV units, to meet growing demand for sustainable grid infrastructure across Europe.

2 comments

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Getting rid of SF6 is a huge win for emissions, but I want to know about the footprint of these new units. Are they physically larger than the SF6 versions? If they take up more space in the substation, it complicates the retrofit process for older sites.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

The 2032 EU ban is the real driver here. Companies aren't switching because they want to, they are switching because the regulatory risk of staying with SF6 is becoming too high. It is a classic case of policy forcing technical innovation.

retrofit_lens_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. Maintenance is the other question. If the new insulating medium requires different handling or more frequent checks than SF6, the operational cost might eat the environmental gain. We need the actual maintenance intervals.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Interesting to see South Korean firms moving fast on the EU market. The 420kV product is the one to watch since that is where the bulk of the transmission demand is. If they nail that by the end of the year, they have a serious edge.