More than two-thirds of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are attributed to the energy sector. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), coal is accounted for 45% of global emissions from fuel combustion, followed by oil (32%) and natural gas (22%).

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We are now in a critical period of cutting carbon emissions to mitigate the worst effects of climate change, which requires shifting to carbon-neutral energy. While deploying renewables is key to meeting climate targets, every possible avenue must be explored in the pursuit of net-zero emissions. Therefore, the energy industry must also focus on how the transmission and distribution (T&D) portion of the value chain can contribute to GHG reductions. 

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For decades, sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) has been the norm in high-voltage substations due to its excellent insulation and current interruption properties, but it has a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) and requires careful handling. 

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Global technology leader Hitachi Energy is accelerating the energy transition and helping build the vital infrastructure to create a global power system that is more sustainable, flexible, and secure while maintaining a balance between social, environmental, and economic value. With an installed base in more than 140 countries, the company has a proven track record and a worldwide reputation for excellence and innovation. 

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Hitachi Energy is supporting worldwide efforts to reduce the impact of GHGs and is committed to reducing the use of SF₆, improving its lifecycle management, and accelerating the development of eco-efficient solutions. In 2021, Hitachi Energy launched a new portfolio of high-voltage products, services, and solutions that utilize a game-changing technology as an alternative to SF₆. EconiQ™, the new eco-efficient high-voltage portfolio, uses a gas mixture that eliminates SF₆-related emissions. The EconiQ high-voltage products have a similar compactness as SF₆ products, which results in the lowest carbon footprint over the product life cycle. A wide range of products under the EconiQ line has since been made available, with ratings of up to 420-kilovolt (kV).

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While the energy industry is making real efforts to reduce GHG emissions and invest in new equipment, utilizing advanced technology to upgrade current infrastructure could also be an economically beneficial and sustainable strategy. With sustainability at the core of the company’s purpose, Hitachi Energy developed its ground-breaking EconiQ Retrofill, designed to replace SF₆ in existing high-voltage equipment without the need to conduct any major changes or upgrades.

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Sam Ridsdale, Global Solutions Manager, Utilities, at Hitachi Energy explains further, "Sometimes people think the only way to decarbonize the power system in terms of the grid is to put new products in place. And that's true on a lot of occasions, but in this case, taking existing equipment, which is not ready to be replaced, to be able to put in a different gas than what is already there to make sure that it's performing as well as it was before."

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The company partnered with National Grid on a ground-breaking project to replace conventional gas-insulated lines that use SF₆, with an eco-efficient fluoronitrile-based gas mixture.

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National Grid has set an ambitious target to remove all SF₆ from its fleet by 2050, and this project is a significant milestone toward achieving that goal. Ismail Patel, Project Engineer at National Grid, says, “When we approached Hitachi Energy with the idea getting rid of this gas, there are very limited solutions in the market across the globe”. The EconiQ Retrofill solution presented by Hitachi Energy replaces SF₆, cutting emissions and network outages while saving costs by avoiding the need to spend on replacement equipment. “So, in order to achieve the net zero ambition, we need to be moving very fast and at pace with technology and innovation.”

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Hitachi Energy strives toward a carbon-neutral future by creating unparalleled economic, environmental, and social impact. Saskia Scheel, Project Leader/Lead Scientist, says, "We should find ways to avoid wasting energy by reusing our materials, not building everything up or buying everything new, but upgrading to an eco-efficient solution."

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Hitachi Energy's pioneering spirit and commitment to purposeful innovation will continue to transform and decarbonize today’s energy system, enabling a more sustainable tomorrow.

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