Europe | September 2, 2022

EU co-funds development of its 245 kV SF₆-free g³ gas-insulated substation

France, Paris: The European Commission’s LIFE climate action program has awarded GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business $3 M (€3 M) to fund.

 

GE G3 technology EU funding

Image source: GE

France, Paris: The European Commission’s LIFE climate action program has awarded GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business $3 M (€3 M) to fund.

The fund is to be used for the realization of a full SF6-free 245 (kV) g3 gas-insulated substation (GIS) for onshore and offshore applications.

This third GE g3 (pronounced “g” cubed) gas project co-funding reflects the EU Commission’s commitment to accelerate the decarbonization of Europe’s electrical grids and prepare utilities for the EU’s stricter fluorinated (F)-gas regulation, which aims to cut F-gas emissions two-thirds by 2030.

“The 245 kV voltage is a key standard voltage level for the European high voltage grid,” explains Eric Chaussin, GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions High Voltage Products Leader. “Having SF6-free gas-insulated substations at 245 kV will be crucial to support the decarbonization of the high voltage grid.”

Supporting this point, a recent EU Commission report concluded that fluoronitrile-based gas mixtures may be the only insulating and switching gas alternative to SF6 when space is a constraint.

GE’s LIFE SF6-FREE GIS project also addresses digitalization, which is another key challenge for the European high voltage grid. A grid becomes more complex when introducing intermittent sources, making proactive load balancing a key success factor. By integrating digital sensors in the primary equipment, the project is providing efficient data for grid operators moving toward more renewable sources. This will not only limit the resource depletion but also further reduce the switchgear carbon footprint. The full benefits will be evidenced by a life cycle assessment (LCA) as part of the project.

 

Source: GE Renewable Energy