Iberdrola high-voltage breakers, Spain

"Our aim is to be carbon-neutral by 2050," said Ignacio S. Galan, Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola. “We understand clearly that climate change is a real problem, which is why we are approving a strategy to reduce our CO₂ emissions.” 

Iberdrola is a global energy leader and one of the largest power utilities committed to ambitious climate targets. Hitachi Energy's EconiQ technology will support Iberdrola's efforts in fighting climate change and providing Spain with clean and reliable power. The Alhama de Murcia substation is Spain’s first installation of eco-efficient high voltage outdoor live tank breakers that will help Iberdrola reduce carbon emissions and make progress in the journey towards carbon-neutrality.

The innovative EconiQ LTA uses carbon dioxide (CO₂) as insulation gas mixture instead of sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), and will reduce CO₂ equivalent emissions throughout the total lifecycle. SF₆ is has been the norm in the elecrical industry for decades, however it is a greenhouse gas. As an alternative, the new EconiQ solution is based on well-proven gas-circuit-breaker design, with minimal footprint and exceptional reliability.

The EconiQ Live Tank Breaker (LTA) for 72.5 kilovolt (kV) and 145 kV will help accelerate efforts to make the grid carbon-neutral while enabling the reliable operation of the Alhama de Murcia substation. The new installations will provide clean energy to support the sustainable agricultural development of the region.