New SF6 gas-free compact switchgear from Schneider

SF6 gas

For SF6-insulated installations there is a fee of NOK 7,708 per kg of SF6 gas in the installation. The end customer has to pay this. The customer can apply for exemption from the fee for the first filling of installations produced this year, but must first apply to NVE for exemption, then to the Norwegian Tax Administration for a refund. There is still no ban on the gas in Norway, but it is expected during the year when the Norwegian Environment Agency has finalized the regulations. Most major grid companies in Norway have decided to ban SF6-insulated installations from 1 July this year. From 1 January this year it has been prohibited to put new SF6-insulated installations up to and including 24 kV into service in the EU.

Ban

A ban means you must choose SF6-free alternatives such as vacuum breakers, dry/clean air insulation, or other low-GWP gases. These technologies are already on the market from suppliers including ABB, Siemens, GE, and Schneider Electric.

After a tour of the factory, the delegation of 15 visitors got a closer look at the production of the RM AirSet switchgear, from component level to fully tested unit. RM AirSet builds on proven sustainable technology using air and vacuum. Unlike other manufacturers, Schneider Electric has developed an entirely new unit from the ground up. They have filed more than 60 patents and use future-oriented technology and high-quality materials. The units operate down to minus 40 degrees Celsius and have a service life of at least 40 years.

Impressive

The factory is brand new, with state-of-the-art equipment for producing several key switch types needed for safe control of electrical distribution. Medium-voltage switchgear detects, clears, and isolates faults in the connected grid, protects it from overload, and keeps operations stable.

“It was an impressively clean and technically advanced factory. All operations were digitalized and logged; if anything is assembled incorrectly, the unit stops and you have to fix the error before production can continue. This gives our customers equipment that is fault-free and offers high safety for the personnel who operate it,” says Lifjeld.