Following the European Union’s (EU’s) latest F-gas proposals released earlier this year, ABB created a free-of-charge, downloadable whitepaper — Migrate to a more certain future — to support engineers in making this key transition.

The EU’s F-gas regulation, which outlines key dates for the prohibition of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆₎ in medium-voltage (MV) electrical equipment, including new installations of SF₆ gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), aims to reduce potent and harmful greenhouse gas emissions, including SF₆, by two-thirds by 2030 compared to 2014 levels. The 2022 proposal outlines important new proposed regulations designed to phase out the use of SF₆ — an established but environmentally harmful insulating gas that is 25,200 times more potent than CO₂. This has been made possible with the development of SF₆ alternatives paving the way for this level of regulation, including pioneering products within ABB’s ecoGIS range.

Drawing on the success of multiple SF₆-free projects in the field since 2015 for 12- to 40.5-kV MV gas-insulated switchgear with reliable low-pressure design, this whitepaper guides readers through the relevant steps needed for a successful migration. It includes all key dates from the latest EU proposal, in-depth case studies, a four-step approach to specifying alternative MV GIS, and expert insight into why F-gases are so harmful to the environment. 

“For the first time, we have dates for the prohibition of SF₆ MV GIS for installations, proposed by the EU, which means those businesses that have not yet started their migration toward a more sustainable alternative, must do so.,” said Maik Hyrenbach, senior principal engineer for ABB. “The latest whitepaper from ABB contains valuable information, which engineers and specifiers need to know to make a success of their product selection, piloting, and specification shift. 

“It includes relevant information about ABB’s proven SF₆-free AirPlus MV GIS, a technology that has been made publicly available by ABB for use by other manufacturers in a bid to meet F-gas regulations sooner,” he continued. “As pioneers in the field of sustainable switchgear, ABB is enabling the electricity distribution sector in reaching EU legislation and local government initiatives by creating educational resources that inform decision-makers and guide positive change.”