Liechtenstein to convert MV switchgear to Clean Air
Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke (LKW) has chosen sustainable medium-voltage (MV) switchgear from Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
The 5-field NXPLUS C 24 system from the blue GIS portfolio of Siemens Smart Infrastructure has been commissioned by LKW at the Wiesengasse West substation in Schaan, Liechtenstein.
In announcing the choice by LKW, Siemens cited the benefits of its climate-neutral insulation gas Clean Air, stating how it replaces the greenhouse gas SF6 and dispenses with all other fluorinated gases.
“In our environmentally friendly switchgear, SF6 is replaced by the insulation gas Clean Air, which consists exclusively of components of the natural ambient air,” elaborated Stephan May, CEO of the electrification & automation business unit at Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
Armand Jehle, head of energy management at Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke, added: “Working with our partner Siemens, we are now one of the first operators to go live with this environmentally friendly generation of switchgear. The fluorine gas-free Clean Air technology paves the way for an even better circular economy.
“The advantage is that there is no need for controlled handling compared to today’s SF6 insulating gas, which reduces the effort required all around and has a positive impact on lifecycle costs.”
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LKW and Clean Air investments
LKW supplies the Principality of Liechtenstein with electrical energy. The Wiesengasse West transformer station serves as a switching station between two substations and for the power supply for the adjacent sports facilities in the municipality of Schaan.
According to Siemens, the announcement marks LKW as one of the first grid operators to convert an entire medium-voltage switchgear installation to the insulating gas Clean Air.
The purchase also marks a milestone in LKW’s investment in climate protection and supply security in the country.
SF6 is known as a particularly potent and toxic greenhouse gas. And with this announcement, LKW has signaled its commitment to mitigating GHG emissions and achieving carbon neutrality.
This is also the latest in a series of investments where Siemens’ switchgear has been opted by utilities and stakeholders within the energy sector.
Earlier in April, Siemens Smart Infrastructure announced the completion of EWE NETZ’s medium-voltage switchgear installation in Brake in the Wesermarsch region of Lower Saxony, Germany. This included seven fluorine gas-free NXPLUS C 24 circuit-breaker panels from Siemens’ green blue GIS portfolio. In the same month it was also selected by Spain’s Iberdrola.
