SP Energy Networks installs UK’s first SF6-free switchgear
Image courtesy SP Energy Networks
SP Energy Networks has energised SF6-free (sulphur hexafluoride-free) switchgear from Lucy Electric, which they say is the UK’s first.
The Sabre EcoTec non-SF6 ring main unit (RMU) uses synthetic air instead of the SF6 greenhouse gas, which is currently used to insulate critical electrical network equipment. The tech has been installed and energised at a substation in SP Energy Network’s Mid-Cheshire district.
The product – the only one designed to UK distribution network specifications, says SP Energy Networks in a release – ensures lower emissions from network operations, addressing the challenge of a gap in available products ahead of the anticipated UK ban on SF6 in 2026.
Taking up the same space as traditional switchgear, Sabre EcoTec is designed to fit within the existing substation footprint and can be directly mounted to the transformer, removing the need for costly adaptations.
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Commenting in a release was Eddie Mulholland, process and technology director at SP Energy Networks: “This is a huge milestone, not just for SP Energy Networks, but for our industry as a whole, as we strive to decarbonise the grid and support a cleaner and greener future for us all.
“It’s been fantastic to work with Lucy Electric to develop and deliver this innovative, sustainable, and cost-effective technology, which gives us the quality and performance we need without the greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a real win-win.
Said John Griffiths, CEO of Lucy Electric: “Through close collaboration with trusted partners such as SP Energy Networks, we have developed and energised the UK’s first non-SF6 ring main unit, reducing emissions for UK network operators efficiently and cost-effectively. If implemented across the UK, EcoTec could save millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.
“We look forward to rolling out more EcoTec units to serve the growing package substation market in the UK and beyond.”
As part of a long-standing partnership with Lucy Electric, SP Energy Networks gave input into the design and product development process for EcoTec, alongside other UK distribution network operators.
According to the utility, the collaboration was key to ensuring that the RMU meets their current specification and future network needs, including automation technology as standard.
