Siemens Energy India Ltd has successfully commissioned its first SF₆-free circuit breaker at the 145kV level, for the Goa Electricity Department (GED), bringing its Blue high-voltage technology into operation in India.
In a release, Siemens Energy India said that commissioning marks an important step in enabling more sustainable high-voltage grid infrastructure and supporting ongoing decarbonization efforts across the power sector.
As India progresses towards its long-term climate and energy goals, reducing emissions across the electricity value chain is becoming increasingly important. Alongside cleaner sources of power generation, attention is also turning to the infrastructure that transmits electricity. Technologies that reduce the environmental impact of grid equipment can play an important role in building a more sustainable power system.
SF6 and HV circuit-breakers
High-voltage circuit breakers are critical components of the transmission networks, helping protect the grid by safely interrupting electrical currents during faults and enabling reliable power transmission. Traditionally, such equipment has used sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆) for its strong insulating and switching properties. While effective, SF₆ is a fluorinated greenhouse gas with significant environmental impact. Siemens Energy’s Blue portfolio addresses this challenge through clean air insulation and vacuum switching technology, eliminating the use of SF₆ and other fluorinated greenhouse gases while maintaining the reliability and performance required for transmission networks.
Cleaner HV technologies
Speaking on the commissioning, Guilherme Mendonca, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Siemens Energy India Ltd (SEIL) said, “As India’s power system continues to evolve, the focus is expanding beyond how electricity is generated to how it is transmitted and managed. As the demand for power increases, there is also an opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of the infrastructure that carries that electricity. The commissioning of the 145kV SF₆-free circuit breaker in Goa is an important step in bringing cleaner high-voltage technologies into India’s transmission ecosystem.”
The commissioning highlights the growing role of grid technologies in supporting the energy transition. By eliminating fluorinated greenhouse gases from high-voltage equipment, Siemens Energy’s Blue portfolio contributes to cleaner transmission infrastructure while supporting the reliable operation of the power network, the release added.