Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to conduct a feasibility study on the joint development of a zero global warming potential (GWP) high-voltage switch solution, which uses clean air to replace greenhouse gases for insulation. The two companies will study ways to apply clean air insulation technology to higher voltages. They will start with a 245 kV dead-box circuit breaker, which will accelerate the availability of climate-neutral high-voltage switch solutions for customers worldwide. The two parties will continue to independently manufacture, sell and maintain switchgear solutions.

Siemens Energy and Mitsubishi Electric are pioneers in developing high-voltage switch solutions. The two companies have been committed to developing SF6-free gas-insulated switch solutions, replacing greenhouse gases with clean air (a pure mixture of nitrogen and oxygen) in order to achieve the global carbon neutral goal. So far, clean air insulation is the only alternative to greenhouse gases, so health and safety risks are zero. Combined with the vacuum interrupter, even compared with all known SF6 circuit breakers, it can ensure higher switching performance.

In most substations in the world, sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)-the world's most powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of approximately 23,500 times that of carbon dioxide-remains the insulating gas of choice. Even if the number of leaks is very small, the impact on global warming is huge. Given the driving force for global decarbonization, as operators seek future-oriented technologies that can significantly reduce their system's carbon footprint, the demand for alternatives is growing. At the same time, regulations aimed at reducing or prohibiting the use of fluorinated gases in the electrical industry are being reviewed and implemented around the world.