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Feature20 August 2021Siemens EnergyMunich
Due to their special chemical characteristics, man-made fluorinated
gases (F-gases), such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF
6), are widely used
in the electricity sector and are the standard insulation solution in most
substations. However, these F-gases come with a downside: as greenhouse gases
(GHG) they are harmful to the environment. SF
6 , for example, is around 25,200 times more harmful to
the climate than CO
2.
Grid operators worldwide are searching for environmentally friendly methods of power transmission to minimize CO 2 emissions and to meet net-zero target goals. Furthermore, in various parts of the world new F-gas regulations are expected to restrict the use of F-gases in future. With its zero-F-gas Blue portfolio of high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, circuit breakers and instrument transformers, Siemens Energy offers a future-proof and environmentally friendly alternative. Through the innovative combination of vacuum switching technology and clean air insulation, Blue switchgear use purified air as insulation medium instead of F-gases, which have been proven to pollute the environment and cause damage to health. Clean air consists of 80 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen, both natural elements in the surrounding atmosphere. This means that every Blue product has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of zero.
Grid operators worldwide are searching for environmentally friendly methods of power transmission to minimize CO 2 emissions and to meet net-zero target goals. Furthermore, in various parts of the world new F-gas regulations are expected to restrict the use of F-gases in future. With its zero-F-gas Blue portfolio of high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear, circuit breakers and instrument transformers, Siemens Energy offers a future-proof and environmentally friendly alternative. Through the innovative combination of vacuum switching technology and clean air insulation, Blue switchgear use purified air as insulation medium instead of F-gases, which have been proven to pollute the environment and cause damage to health. Clean air consists of 80 percent nitrogen and 20 percent oxygen, both natural elements in the surrounding atmosphere. This means that every Blue product has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of zero.
Contributing to decarbonization
Fighting global warming remains one of the biggest challenges we face as
society. For this reason, more and more countries are striving for
decarbonization. Finland is one of the leading countries in this shift; here,
40 per cent of energy end-consumption is already being provided by renewable
energy sources. Environmentally friendly transmission technologies can
contribute greatly in driving the carbon footprint ever closer towards zero.
After the installation of ten bays of zero-F-gas switchgear, the total
reduction of SF
6 at Virkkala substation in Lohja (60 kilometers west
of Helsinki) will be 2,5 tons – equivalent to 57,000 tons of CO
2.
Learn more in the
press release:
For a greener Finland: Siemens Energy’s eco-friendly system complements one of China’s largest offshore wind turbinesCombining economic and ecological sustainability
Aside from the ecological aspects, grid operators must also consider economic
and safety issues. The current review of F-gas regulations by the European
Union is expected to lead to new legislation or even the banning of this insulation
gas in the near future. The use of fluorinated gases already demands
time-consuming and costly accounting and reporting. Moreover, the handling of
the gas requires special safety measures. Reducing usage to zero by using clean
air instead makes operations and maintenance easier, safer, more cost-efficient
and future-proof.
That ecological and economic considerations can go hand in hand is demonstrated by Norwegian Energy provider BKK Nett, who achieved their own ambitious goals by upgrading their Bergen substation with zero-F-gas high-voltage switchgear in order to provide renewable energy to cruise ships.
That ecological and economic considerations can go hand in hand is demonstrated by Norwegian Energy provider BKK Nett, who achieved their own ambitious goals by upgrading their Bergen substation with zero-F-gas high-voltage switchgear in order to provide renewable energy to cruise ships.
Learn more in our
Energy Story:
For the love of nature: Eliminating SF6
Creating the substations of the future
Besides sustainability and decarbonization, digitalization is one of the
most pressing topics in energy transmission. To meet the new challenges posed
by the increasing proportion of volatile renewable energy sources and greater
grid complexity, the use of data provided by digital assets in the substation
will be of increasing importance.
In Burladingen in Germany, Siemens Energy is combining the eco-friendly
Blue portfolio with future-proof digital solutions to create a complete,
sustainable and digitally-enabled substation of the future.
Learn more here:
Substation of the future in BurladingenBringing zero-F-gas technology offshore
For
the special demands of the often hostile conditions of offshore applications,
Siemens Energy has developed the Blue gas-insulated 8VM1 switchgear. With a capacity
of up to 72.5 kV, it enables higher voltages within increasingly powerful wind
turbines and can be installed inside a wind tower or a transition piece. This
makes it possible to bring the concept of integrated clean energy solutions to
wind parks like the Shantou Haojiang Industrial Park.
Learn more in our
press release:
Siemens Energy’s eco-friendly system complements one of China’s largest offshore wind turbines
Defining new standards of sustainability
For Siemens Energy to classify a
product as “Blue”, it must meet a series of strict environmental protection and
sustainability requirements. Since they use zero F-gases or other greenhouse
gases, the Blue portfolio products are non-toxic, non-hazardous and require no
special safety systems. This not only makes them easier to handle but means
that the mandatory reporting of F-gas usage is avoided. In addition, the portfolio
requires virtually zero maintenance, which means even lower costs during its
life cycle. Siemens Energy Blue products guarantee absolutely zero CO
2
equivalent emissions over the operational lifecycle of the equipment - and they
are easy to recycle, serving the cause of sustainability even after they have
been decommissioned.
For more information about the criteria
to classify a product as Blue, please visit our Blue Portfolio website:
Blue Portfolio