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Decarbonizing High-Voltage Transmission Grids with Fluorinated Gas Alternatives
GE Vernova partnered with French agency ADEME to industrialize sulfur-hexafluoride-free gas-insulated switchgear for digital infrastructure and regional electrical utilities.
www.gevernova.com
GE Vernova and French ecological transition agency ADEME cooperated under the France 2030 investment plan to develop and industrialize the F35g 170 kV gas-insulated switchgear. This equipment provides transmission system operators with a high-voltage switching and protection alternative that eliminates sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent greenhouse gas historically used for electrical insulation.
Industrial Challenge and Cooperation Model
High-voltage substations require compact, insulated equipment to manage power flows in constrained spaces such as urban networks. While SF6 provides dielectric strength, regulatory and environmental pressures require alternatives with lower global warming potential. Addressing these technical parameters across high-voltage classes requires extensive life cycle assessments and capital-intensive industrialization.
Through France 2030, ADEME provided public funding and strategic oversight to accelerate the transition toward lower-carbon infrastructure. GE Vernova supplied the engineering design, manufacturing capability, and its proprietary g³ insulating gas mixture to validate the 170 kV ratings.
Technical Architecture and Implementation
The F35g 170 kV switchgear functions as a digital-native control and protection node for electrical substations.
- Dielectric Performance: Operates without SF6 by using a fluoronitrile-based gas mixture, matching conventional operational footprints and dielectric reliability.
- Standards and Compliance: Engineered to comply with both IEC and IEEE engineering standards for worldwide transmission grids.
- Digital Infrastructure Integration: Features built-in digital monitoring systems to provide real-time telemetry on equipment health and operating parameters.
- Life Cycle Verification: Utilizes cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) covering raw material extraction, assembly, deployment, and end-of-life reclamation.
Deployment and Operational Scope
The switchgear integrates directly into standard high-voltage transmission topologies. By completing the manufacturer's non-SF6 portfolio across ratings from 72.5 kV to 420 kV, the solution allows utility operators to standardize substation layouts without altering physical footprint requirements.
Manufacturing takes place in Europe, supporting regional supply chain integration. The system was presented at the CIGRE technical exhibition in Paris, France (August 23–28, 2026).
Strategic Insight
“Over the past decade, the challenge has evolved from simply finding an alternative insulating gas to designing high-voltage equipment that can help customers reduce carbon emission impact across the life cycle of their infrastructure without compromising performance,” said Yannick Kieffel, Power Transmission Chief Technology Officer, GE Vernova. “The F35g 170 kV is the latest step in that journey, giving customers another option as they move away from SF₆ while continuing to build the reliable and compact transmission networks they need.”
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.gevernova.com
The switchgear integrates directly into standard high-voltage transmission topologies. By completing the manufacturer's non-SF6 portfolio across ratings from 72.5 kV to 420 kV, the solution allows utility operators to standardize substation layouts without altering physical footprint requirements.
Manufacturing takes place in Europe, supporting regional supply chain integration. The system was presented at the CIGRE technical exhibition in Paris, France (August 23–28, 2026).
Strategic Insight
“Over the past decade, the challenge has evolved from simply finding an alternative insulating gas to designing high-voltage equipment that can help customers reduce carbon emission impact across the life cycle of their infrastructure without compromising performance,” said Yannick Kieffel, Power Transmission Chief Technology Officer, GE Vernova. “The F35g 170 kV is the latest step in that journey, giving customers another option as they move away from SF₆ while continuing to build the reliable and compact transmission networks they need.”
Edited by Evgeny Churilov, Induportals Media - Adapted by AI.
www.gevernova.com
