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How Requirements, Architecture, and Performance Differ — And What This Means for SF₆-Free Switchgear

Why Internal Arc Safety Is Essential in Modern Medium-Voltage Switchgear – and How SF₆-Free GIS Meets These Requirements

SF₆ remains widely used in MV switchgear — but with a global warming potential ~24,300× higher than CO₂ and a 3,000-year lifetime, even small leaks create major long-term emissions. In this paper, Amol Patharkar, Cassidy Kuiper, Probal Sarkar, and Lucas Zaehringer highlight the case for SF₆-free (dry-air) switchgear. Using India as an example, they estimate ~160 t of SF₆ already installed in MV networks, equal to ~3.9 million tCO₂e — with emissions set to rise alongside grid expansion if conventional GIS persists. SF₆-free alternatives can eliminate these direct emissions while offering comparable performance — and may even unlock carbon-credit and ESG value as carbon markets evolve.

Every part of an electrical grid must be protected from faults such as short circuits, overloads, or insulation breakdowns. Protection relays act as the grid’s nervous system — constantly monitoring electrical signals and commanding circuit breakers to isolate faults before they cause widespread outages or damage. This article gives an overview of the key protection functions.

For decades, utilities and industries have relied on two main types of medium-voltage (MV) switchgear: Air-Insulated Switchgear (AIS)and Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS). Each technology offers unique advantages — and trade-offs. At Nuventura, we believe the future doesn’t belong exclusively to one or the other. It lies in combining the strengths of both, enabled by our SF₆-free dry-air insulation technology.

In medium-voltage (MV) power distribution, voltage level defines everything — from how efficiently electricity travels through the grid, to how equipment is designed, rated, and operated.