The Big Switch: China Powers Its Very First 420 kV SF₆-free Switchgear
Customer Story | 3 min read
China is making waves in the world of energy: embracing renewables at an unprecedented scale, decarbonizing its power grid (including phasing out sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) from the grid), and now taking one of its most significant steps yet.
The country has taken a major step toward a cleaner grid with the commissioning of its first 420 kV SF₆-free dead tank circuit breaker. For decades, SF₆ has been the backbone of high-voltage technology. It’s a high-performing gas, but one of the most potent greenhouse gases, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 24,300 times greater than CO2.
This milestone demonstrates that China can decarbonize its grid safely and sustainably, eliminating harmful SF₆ emissions while maintaining world-class reliability.
| Main data | |
|---|---|
| Client | State Grid Corporation of China |
| Location | China |
| Solution | EconiQ® 420 kV Dead Tank Circuit Breaker |
Challenge
The hidden cost of SF₆
China’s rapid grid expansion and massive scale make dependence on SF₆—a gas prized for its superior insulating and arc-quenching properties—one of the major obstacles to achieving the nation’s carbon neutrality goals.
While SF₆ has been essential for high-voltage equipment worldwide, it comes at a steep cost: it has an extremely high GWP and remains in the atmosphere for over a thousand years, making it highly harmful to the environment.
This creates a multi-faceted challenge for utilities in China:
- Maintaining grid reliability and safety
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from critical infrastructure
- Aligning with national climate policies and global sustainability standards
As China pursues carbon neutrality by 2060, utilities urgently need a solution that can replace SF₆ without sacrificing reliability or performance, an especially daunting task at ultra-high voltage levels.
Solution
The game changer: EconiQ SF₆-free switchgear
Hitachi Energy’s innovative EconiQ technology delivers a practical and reliable solution that eliminates SF₆. By using an alternative gas mixture with a dramatically lower GWP, EconiQ delivers the same operational performance, compact design, and safety as traditional SF₆-based equipment.
In August 2024, the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) made a landmark move and placed an order for an EconiQ 420 kV Dead Tank Circuit Breaker. This marks the first application of SF₆-free switchgear at ultra-high voltage level in China, demonstrating that Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ is ready for large-scale integration into the country’s transmission network.
Impact
Introducing a new era of energy in China
The SF₆-free 420 kV switchgear was recently commissioned at Haishiwan substation in Gansu province representing a major step forward in cutting greenhouse gas emissions from power infrastructure and creating a model for a broader low carbon transition across China’s power grid.
By combining innovation, sustainability, and policy leadership, this project inspires confidence that the nation’s energy infrastructure can meet climate goals while powering economic growth and serving society.
Environmental gains
By implementing EconiQ switchgear with eco-efficient gas mixtures, this project removes potential emissions at the source and supports China’s broader climate goals.
Grid reliability and performance
EconiQ maintains the same compact dimensions, safety standards, and operational integrity as conventional SF₆ switchgear, making the transition seamless.
A more sustainable high-voltage grid
This success demonstrates that China’s vast transmission network can modernize to cleaner and more sustainable technologies without compromising on reliability or performance.
Technological leadership
Positions China as a pioneer in eco-efficient technology, encouraging adoption across Asia and globally.
This shift away from SF₆ in China’s high-voltage grid is not just a technological upgrade. It is a signal of a true change. It shows that even the most entrenched industrial practices- e.g. SF₆ reliance - can evolve when innovation is based on science and responds to customers’ needs. By deploying SF₆-free switchgear at 420 kV, China is demonstrating that sustainability can be scaled, and that environmental responsibility is now inseparable from infrastructure excellence.
