GE Supports Scotland’s decarbonisation goals with g3 technology
SSEN Transmission has awarded GE’s Grid Solutions a contract for world’s first 420 kV Green Gas for Grid (g3) gas-insulated substation (GIS)
Image source: GE
Scotland, Aberdeen: Scotland’s SSEN Transmission announced on 3 December it has awarded GE’s Grid Solutions a contract for world’s first 420 kV Green Gas for Grid (g3) gas-insulated substation (GIS)
GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business (NYSE-GE) are to manufacture, deliver and commission the substation at its new Kintore 400 kV substation in Aberdeenshire, on the north-east coast of Scotland.
The 420 kV g3 circuit breaker at the core of the substation is being co-funded over a two-year period by the EU’s LIFE Programme dedicated to climate change. SSEN Transmission joined GE’s LifeGRID project earlier this year to contribute to the specification of the circuit breaker’s main performance requirements.
GE’s g3 technology is a game-changing alternative to sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), an insulating and switching gas that has been used for decades in high-voltage substation equipment. Identified as the world’s most potent greenhouse gas by the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, SF6 is estimated to contribute 23,500 times more emissions than CO₂, if leaked, and can remain in the atmosphere for up to 3,200 years.
Commenting on the ground-breaking development, Rob McDonald, Managing Director of SSEN Transmission, said: “Tackling climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our generation and we are serious about our commitment to take direct and meaningful action to reduce our own impacts, as demonstrated by our world leading emission reduction targets.”
”SSEN Transmission’s 420 kV g3 gas insulated substation order is further proof of the market’s acceptance of our technology as a game-changing alternative to SF6,” said Heiner Markhoff, CEO of Grid Solutions. “Because 420 kV is the highest voltage level used in Europe, it will demonstrate the scalability of GE’s g3 for all standard voltage levels,” he added.
According to life-cycle assessments, based on international ISO 14040/14044 standards, CO2 equivalent impact of g3 products is reduced by 99 %, compared to SF6. At the same time, because g3 products have the same compact dimensions as SF6 products, there is no increase in emissions during the manufacturing process due to additional material.
“We have been working closely with GE over the past 18 months and are extremely proud to support the research and development of this innovative and world leading new technology. By leading the industry in the drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we hope we can build on this partnership and encourage even greater action and industry cooperation to support the transition to net zero emissions,” added McDonald.
Source: GE