A decisive moment for distribution networks
Across Europe, substations engineered decades ago must now meet rising reliability and safety expectations - often without structural modification. At the same time, operators seek solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining familiar operating practices.
Choosing SF₆‑free switchgear is no longer a future consideration. It is an essential part of planning new installations and replacement cycles and a key step toward building more resilient and compliant grids.
Field‑proven performance across Europe
Early adopters are demonstrating that utilities can integrate SF₆‑free technologies smoothly into existing substations:
E.ON in Germany installed the first dry‑air insulated secondary switchgear in 2025, maintaining the same footprint and operating procedures as its SF₆‑based equipment to minimize installation complexity.
Enedis in France, collaborating with ABB, has validated SF₆‑free air‑insulated designs across varied environments, confirming reliable internal‑arc performance and consistent operational behavior.
These installations show that dry‑air and vacuum‑based switchgear can meet the needs of both new and established substations while complying with regulatory requirements.
Flexible architecture for industry, infrastructure and renewables
Industrial and infrastructure facilities typically require greater flexibility in functional units, accessibility, and protection schemes. ABB’s SF₆‑free air‑insulated switchgear (AIS) – like UniSec Air - supports this with:
- A broad range of functional units.
- Frontal and lateral cable access.
- LSC2A and LSC2B service continuity classifications.
This design aligns with established engineering practices while enabling greater adaptability across diverse applications, supporting easier installation, maintenance, and sustained service continuity in complex industrial and infrastructure environments.
SF₆‑free solutions for compact utility substations
Most utilities operate fleets of compact secondary substations where space, access, and cable entry points are predetermined. In these cases, footprint compatibility is essential for fast replacement and standardized operation. Dry‑air insulated Ring Main Units (RMU) - such as ABB’s SafeRing Air and SafePlus Air - are designed with:
- Dry‑air insulation (GWP = 0), compliant with EU Regulation 2024/573.
- Sealed-for-life tanks, reducing installation and maintenance complexity.
- Footprint and interface continuity with existing RMUs.
This approach lets utilities modernize substations without civil works, retraining programs or workflow disruption - an essential factor for large fleet operators.
Supporting the journey toward resilient, regulation-aligned grids
The transition to SF₆-free switchgear is about more than regulatory compliance for new and replacement assets in secondary distribution. It is an opportunity to modernize distribution networks with technologies that support long-term reliability, operational efficiency and sustainability goals.
With a complete portfolio of SF₆-free medium-voltage solutions, ABB is helping utilities, industries and infrastructure operators build resilient, future-ready networks capable of meeting the demands of an increasingly electrified world.
