Switching Gears for Net Zero

Who we are

Six leading high and medium voltage power equipment manufacturers who are committed to bringing ever cleaner electricity to homes, cars and workplaces.

Why we need action today

The race for net zero places clean electricity at the heart of Europe’s energy supply. This shifts the focus to the grid infrastructure itself: it must not harm the environment, the climate, or people.

Today, electricity grids still rely on SF6 as an insulating gas. Its contribution to global warming potential is 25,200 times greater than that of CO2. The grids of tomorrow could rely simply on Natural-Origin Gases; these have zero impact on the climate, the environment and human health.

This requires the right policy choices now. The negotiations of the F-Gas Regulation will determine which kind of switchgear insulation will succeed  SF6.

Switchgears are the ‘nodes’ of power grids. They are essential to ensure that electricity is transmitted and distributed at the proper voltage level.

What comes after SF6 is in our hands: Do we really want to accept the use of other harmful F-Gases such as Fluoroketone and Fluoronitrile, which are classified as PFAS (‘forever chemicals’)? Or do we want to make the switch to Natural-Origin Gases, whose usage poses no risks to the environment or to human health?

Our choice is clear: we want to switch gears for net zero, for zero F-Gases in switchgear.

Avoid GHG emissions

Avoid GHG emissions

And hence fully align with Europe’s net zero climate law. F-Gas free solutions are the only technology allowing operators to reach their own net zero targets and to reach net zero emissions in all product life-cycle phases.

Prevent harm to the environment and human health

Prevent harm to the environment and human health

By avoiding use of PFAS or “forever chemicals” which are at odds with the EU’s non-toxic environment strategy. This eradicates new oppositions from anti-wind campaigners, as accelerating renewable energy is Europe’s number one priority.

Zero dependencies

Zero dependencies

As Natural-Origin Gases are widely available and free of patents, unlike Fluoronitrile and Fluoroketone which are entirely controlled by a single company. There is already a broad choice of reliable and safe technologies and manufacturers.

No additional costs to consumers’ electricity bills

No additional costs to consumers’ electricity bills

Thanks to lower gas costs and lower maintenance costs. Despite higher initial investment costs due to higher material needs, the relevant question is: as a society, can we afford not to have F-gas free grids?

Our Mission

Timely action is needed. Operators need investment certainty and a clear signal that Europe is switching gears for F-gas free power grids.

Our call to EU policymakers:

Phase-out switchgear relying on F-gases for all voltage levels where F-gas free alternatives are commercially available; 
Extend containment, leakage and reporting obligations to all use cases of F-gases, including Fluoroketone (CF3C(O)CF(CF3)2) and Fluoronitrile (Iso-C3F7CN);
Support the ambitious timeframe proposed by the European Commission for phasing out of SF6 and F-Gases in power grids.

The race for net zero places clean electricity at the heart of Europe’s energy supply. This shifts the focus to the grid infrastructure itself: it must not harm the environment, the climate, or people.

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