Europe | November 23, 2021

Siemens Energy invests over €60 M in Berlin site

Germany, Berlin: Siemens Energy is investing over €60 million in a new production facility in Berlin.

 

Image source: Siemens Energy

Germany, Berlin: Siemens Energy is investing over €60 million in a new production facility in Berlin.

In the future, vacuum interrupters will be manufactured in the company’s switchgear plant in 6,200 m2 of space. The vacuum interrupters are the technological core of the Blue Portfolio, which comprises climate-neutral power transmission products in the high-voltage range and uses industrially purified air for insulation and vacuum as the switching medium instead of climate-damaging fluorinated gases. The new manufacturing facility is scheduled to go into operation in 2023.

In Germany alone, tens of thousands of switchgear ensure that electricity reaches consumers reliably every day. They are responsible for power distribution in places like substations and wind turbines. The problem is that fluorinated gases (F-gases) are usually used for insulation and as the switching medium in these systems, especially sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), the most potent greenhouse gas in the world. One kilogram of SF6 is equivalent to 25,200 kg of CO2 in terms of its climate-damaging effects, and it remains in the atmosphere for about 3,200 years when emitted.

“The consequences of rapidly advancing global warming require a fundamental change in the way we deal with energy, including power transmission,” said Ulf Katschinski, Senior Vice President Switching Products and Systems at Siemens Energy. “Siemens Energy aims to sell only F-gas-free high-voltage switching technology starting in 2030 at the latest. With our new vacuum interrupter production, we are laying the groundwork to achieve this goal and meet the growing demand for climate-neutral switchgear.”

 

Source: Siemens Energy