SF6-GIS-Technology L I F E CYC L E

ASSESSMENT
for Power Distribution
– Medium Voltage –

Solvay
Fluor und Derivate
Sustainability in In order to ensure the future supply of electricity we re-
quire sustainable concepts that preserve resources and
power supply and do not harm our environment. Humankind needs a reli-
the technical able and secure power supply that is also environmen-
tally friendly and economic – today and in the future.
performance
On the one hand, the grids that are needed to transmit
potential of SF6 and distribute electricity comprise cables and trans-
mission lines, and on the other, components such as
transformers and switchgear. Designs (topology) of
transmission and distribution grids vary depending on
the application. For example, in the case of distribution
grids we can make a distinction between utility grids
and those of industrial customers. But it is also the
Discussions about Immediately after the Kyoto Protocol was signed, Ger-
man manufacturers and operators of SF6 switchgear
environmental and equipment and the SF6 producer Solvay Fluor und
aspects Derivate GmbH & Co. KG declared their commitment
to avoid and reduce emissions throughout the entire
product life cycle and also to monitor SF6 emissions.
The German government expressly acknowledged this
voluntary commitment in 1997.
Goal and scope On the one hand, life cycle assessment studies such as
the one presented here should create a platform for
of the life cycle a sound environmental discussion, and on the other
assessment hand, demonstrate possibilities for further ecological
optimisation to the companies involved.
available switchgear technologies that open up various
possibilities for grid design. Thus, manufacturers and
above all grid operators must find well-balanced solu-
tions under a wide range of criteria.
Synthetically produced sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)
makes an important contribution to this task. As an
insulation and arc-extinguishing medium in high and
medium-voltage switchgear, SF6 has enabled a continu-
ous development of advanced solutions in the transmis-
sion and distribution of electrical energy like no other
technology since 1960.
Switchgear manufacturers, electricity suppliers and
Solvay Fluor prepared an initial life cycle assessment
study as early as 1999. The study involved the analysis
of an urban electricity transmission system. This previ-
ous life cycle assessment showed that the use of SF6-in-
sulated high-voltage switchgear in urban energy supply
is advantageous even from an ecological aspect.
Subsequently, a more detailed study became necessary
for the area of medium-voltage switchgear in energy
distribution. Within the scope of its considerations to
implement the National Climate Protection Programme,
the German Ministry for the Environment considered
the relevance of SF6 in medium-voltage switchgear in
regard to this programme. Therefore, to obtain reli-
able information about the environmental profile of
medium-voltage switchgear industry performed a cor-
responding life cycle assessment study for the power
distribution at the medium-voltage level in 2003.
The goal and scope of the present study is to develop
an environmental profile of power distribution in the
medium-voltage range with a comparison between air-
insulated switchgear (AIS) and gas-insulated switchgear
(GIS).
Procedures of The study was commissioned as a joint project by ABB, To determine the quantity structures two different ap-
the life cycle AREVA T&D (formerly: ALSTOM), SIEMENS, EnBW, proaches were taken.
E.ON Hanse, RWE and Solvay Fluor.
assessment ● For the system approach on grid level two rep-
The life cycle assessment was conducted in accord- resentative model grids were examined: on the one
ance with ISO 14040–43 standards and included the hand, an urban and on the other, a rural region.
participation of scientists and other stakeholders in the These model grids are characteristic for utility grids
advisory board as well as a critical review by an external, and have a large number of ring-main units (RMUs).
independent verifier from TÜV NORD CERT. On the basis of the network calculation it was also
possible to include ohmic losses of cables, transmis-
In the course of the study, data was gathered for a
sion lines and transformers.
representative mix of medium-voltage switchgear:
transformer substations, ring-main units (RMU) and ● On the switchgear level a representative German
customer substations. The data included electrical key mix of medium-voltage switchgear was determined
figures (in particular ohmic losses), material data from based upon a current delivery statistic from the
disassembly analyses as well as electrical load and life- Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikin-
time. dustrie (ZVEI). This mix covers the complete range of
switchgear types both for use in the utility grids and
for industry and infrastructure grids. However, an
investigation at the switchgear level means that the
considerable ohmic losses of cables, transmission
lines and transformers are not taken into considera-
tion.

0,067 MW

0,372 MW 0,875 MW 0,652 MW

0,213 MW 0,559 MW
0,213 MW 0,346 MW 0,464 MW 0,110 MW
0,160 MW 0,245 MW 0,080 MW 0,492 MW 0,093 MW
0,842 MW 0,446 MW
0,519 MW
0,160 MW
0,210 MW
0,266 MW 2878,120 MW 0,218 MW
0,372 MW 0,451 MW

0,346 MW 0,319 MW
0,293 MW 0,000 MW 0,505 MW 0,186 MW
0,239 MW 0,532 MW
0,170 MW 0,287 MW 0,878 MW 0,532 MW 0,126 MW
0,189 MW 0,266 MW
0,447 MW 0,266 MW
0,359 MW 0,335 MW
0,872 MW 0,081 MW 0,665 MW
2161,250 MW 0,266 MW
0,851 MW
0,186 MW
0,372 MW 0,291 MW 0,293 MW
0,399 MW 0,532 MW 1,057 MW
0,146 MW 0,532 MW 0,495 MW
0,399 MW
0,271 MW 0,201 MW
0,293 MW 0,356 MW 0,346 MW 0,599 MW
0,410 MW 0,078 MW
0,266 MW 0,266 MW
0,173 MW
0,266 MW
0,215 MW
0,372 MW 0,346 MW
0,967 MW
0,000 MW
UW 0,372 MW 0,153 MW 0,404 MW
0,250 MW
0,160 MW

0,230 MW 0,000 MW
0,559 MW 0,133 MW
0,263 MW 0,375 MW 0,293 MW
0,245 MW 0,186 MW 0,194 MW 0,372 MW
0,213 MW 1585,360 MW
0,652 MW
0,343 MW
0,599 MW 0,000 MW 0,146 MW
0,293 MW
0,340 MW
0,471 MW
0,160 MW 0,287 MW 0,067 MW
0,064 MW
0,319 MW 0,426 MW
0,346 MW
0,113 MW 0,133 MW 0,206 MW
0,372 MW 0,207 MW
0,060 MW
0,069 MW
0,053 MW 0,271 MW 0,400 MW
0,106 MW
0,133 MW
0,247 MW 0,239 MW
0,169 MW 0,129 MW
0,230 MW
0,347 MW
0,396 MW 0,266 MW
0,319 MW

0,213 MW
Topology of a representative urban distribu-
tion grid. Cables come from a high to medium
voltage transformer substation (designated
here as »UW«). The nodes show the locations
of ring-main units (RMUs) which constitute
the transition to the low-voltage grid. These
are labelled with the calculated power flows
in megawatts (MW).
Results of the
life cycle
assessment
Grid components
such as cables and lines:
92 %
When the total global warming
potential (GWP) of a representative
urban distribution grid is considered
the switchgear only makes a minor
contribution. Rather, other grid
components such as cables and
transformers play the decisive role
– regardless of whether AIS or GIS
technology is used.
The figure shows an overview of the
environmental impact categories
that were examined in the study
at switchgear level. It is based on a
representative mix of all switchgear
types in the medium-voltage range
on the basis of a ZVEI delivery sta-
tistic. Clear advantages for SF6-insu-
lated (GIS) compared to air-insulated
switchgear (AIS) are also shown in
regard to global warming potential
(GWP).
Conclusion
An analysis of the contribution made by distribution
grids to the global warming potential (GWP) in Ger-
many shows that the greatest share is attributable to
ohmic losses in cables, transmission lines and trans-
formers. At present, SF6 emissions from medium-volt-
age switchgear contribute less than 0.005 % to the
global warming potential in Germany.
Furthermore, the following conclusions can be drawn
from the results of the life cycle assessment:
Contributions to global warming potential
of an urban power distribution grid
Switchgear in
transformer
substations: 1%
Switch-
gear: Switchgear in
8% ring-main units
(RMU): 7%
Environmental impacts of switchgear
Air-insulated switchgear (AIS)
SF6-insulated switchgear (GIS)
% 100
80
60
40
20
0
Primary energy demand Global warming potential (GWP)
● In principle the results of this life cycle assessment
can be transferred to other European countries. A
sensitivity analysis shows that the selection of pri-
mary energy carriers used for electricity generation,
as the most significant regional factor, only has a
minor effect on the results.
The life cycle assessment study presented here demon-
strates the advantages of SF6-insulated (GIS) compared
to air-insulated switchgear (AIS) at a switchgear level.
The switchgear themselves, however, only make a very
minor contribution to global warming potential. The
design and capacity utilisation of the power distribu-
tion grids have a much greater influence, regardless of
whether AIS or GIS technology is used. Therefore, bans
and application restrictions on the use of SF6-insulated
medium-voltage switchgear cannot be justified from
an ecological point of view. Consequently, regulations
aimed at switchgear and components will not make
any significant contribution towards climate protection.
The study can be ordered from the project participants. More information: www.solvay-fluor.com
● The system approach on grid level is indispensa-
80/800/03.04/007/3 000
ble to obtain meaningful results. On the one hand,
it confirms that the total contribution of power
distribution grids to the global warming potential
in Germany is very low. On the other hand, ohmic
losses are clearly identified as the main determinant
of this contribution to global warming potential.
Consequently, the differences between the switch-
gear technologies are marginal compared to the sig-
nificant ohmic losses from cables, transmission lines
and transformers. For this reason alone, regulations
aimed at switchgear will not accomplish any relevant
climatic protection potential.
● However, if a detailed investigation is made at
switchgear level a comparison of air-insulated
(AIS) and SF6-insulated (GIS) technologies shows
the advantages of the SF6-GIS technology in regard
to primary energy demand, acidification potential
(acid rain), eutrophication potential (over-fertilisa-
tion) and global warming potential (GWP). It has
been shown that the determining factors impact-
ing on the global warming potential are in fact the
electrical loads in the grid and the switchgear. The
current trend towards higher capacity utilisation of
the grids increases the advantages of SF6-insulated
switchgear. Thus, to accomplish any significant cli-
matic protection potential it would appear that load
management in grids would be more promising
than a further optimisation of switchgear design.
Ohmic losses
Materials and manufacture SF6 emissions
Acidification potential Nutrification potential
Rather, grid opera-
tors for whom also
other criteria such as
economic efficiency
and personal safety
are relevant should
be given freedom
of choice when se-
lecting switchgear
technology.
Solvay
Fluor und Derivate