What is SF6?
SF6 is an artificial gas whose properties make it a great dielectric. Specifically, it exceeds the dielectric property of air by 2.5 times, making it an excellent electrical insulator.
Where is it used?
Over the last few decades, it has been applied in a large number of assets in electricity transmission and distribution networks, for example as an insulator in switchgear, transformers or GIS (Gas Insulated Substation), among others.
Why should we reduce its use?
SF6 was considered a greenhouse gas in the Kyoto Protocol because of its high global warming potential.
How do we do this?
In line with its strong commitment to sustainability, in 2021, Redeia increased its environmental ambition by committing to a 55% reduction in direct emissions (scopes 1 and 2) by 2030 compared to 2019.
Courses of action?
Actions in this area include the refurbishment of facilities and equipment as well as the improvement of leak detection and repair methods, among others. And, of course, we are also working on several innovation projects managed and coordinated by Elewit.
Featured projects?
We are developing several innovative initiatives to limit the use of this gas as well as to improve its monitoring and reduce the risk of emissions due to leaks or other incidents.
This is being conducted using both hardware and software technologies, the results of which are proving to be promising.
1. Red.es - Sensorisation SF6/SO2
As part of the National Plan for 5G Development led by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, which is being implemented by Red.es, Elewit is participating in a consortium with seven other companies for the development of pilot projects to analyse the potential of 5G technology in the management and maintenance of electrical infrastructures. One of the pilot projects developed is the inspection of electrical facilities using artificial vision, which we are developing alongside Robotnik and BCD; another pilot project is the sensorisation of substations, with the monitoring of SF6 gases and their SO2 content in the circuit breakers of the Morvedre electricity substation, which we are developing with the Instituto Tecnológico de la Energia (ITE) and Trafag.
2. SF6 recovery system
The solution being tested, together with the CSIC, will allow SF6 leaked from GIS facilities to be recovered by using adsorbent chemical compounds (commercial, modified or synthesised compounds).
3. Monitoring systems for SF6 pollutant by-products in high-voltage equipment of the electricity transmission network
A continuous monitoring system is being developed together with the Nanophotonics Technology Center of the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV).
Find out more about our projects in detail