Novel dry air switchgear technology to reduce industry’s dependence on SF6

Project Information

Nuventura

Grant agreement ID: 190181312

DOI 10.3030/190181312

EC signature date 1 November 2022

Start date 1 November 2022

End date 30 April 2025

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost € 3 543 125,00

EU contribution € 2 480 187,50

Coordinated by

NUVENTURA GMBH
Germany

Project description

Innovative medium-voltage switchgear technology slashes global warming potential

Circuit breakers, fuses and switches are all parts of electrical switchgear that serve to protect, isolate and control electrical equipment. Medium-voltage power grids use three types of switchgear: air insulated switchgears (AISs), solid insulated switchgears (SISs) and gas insulated switchgears (GISs). AISs and SISs have technical and economical drawbacks and GISs use sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), primarily as an insulating medium. SF6 is a far more potent greenhouse gas than CO2 and its effects last for thousands of years. The European Innovation Council-funded Nuventura project will combine the advantages of GISs and AISs in a new sustainable, safe and reliable switchgear that replaces SF6 with dry air.

Objective

Nuventura develops medium voltage (MV) gas insulated switchgear (GIS) which replaces SF6 - the world's strongest greenhouse gas - with dry air. Annual SF6 emissions are 8,100 t, equal to the CO2 emissions by 100m cars. 85% of SF6 gas is used as a GIS insulating medium. Though recycling of SF6 is possible, it is usually not done due to difficulty & cost. It can be expected that SF6 that exists now & that is produced in the future will persist for thousands of years, whether in GIS equipment or, ultimately, in the atmosphere. SF6' atmospheric lifetime is 3,200 years. MV power grids (12-40.5 kV) use 3 types of switchgear: air insulated switchgear (AIS), solid insulated switchgear (SIS) & gas insulated switchgear (GIS). AIS have a large physical footprint, costly maintenance, & inability to meet the demands of urban grids. SIS works only in rare & highly specialized use cases. Nuventura combines the advantages of GIS & AIS in a new dry air switchgear that is sustainable, safe & reliable.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering › electrical engineering › power engineering
• social sciences › economics and business › economics › sustainable economy

Keywords

• greenhouse gas
• electrical industry
• alternative technology
• climate change mitigation
• global warming potential
• industry 4.0

Programme(s)

• HORIZON.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC) Main Programme

Topic(s)

• HORIZON-EIC-2022-ACCELERATORCHALLENGES-02 - EIC Accelerator Challenge: Technologies for ‘Fit for 55’

Call for proposal

HORIZON-EIC-2022-ACCELERATOR-01

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-EIC-ACC-BF - HORIZON EIC Accelerator Blended Finance

Coordinator

NUVENTURA GMBH

• Net EU contribution: € 2 480 187,50
• Address: GREIFSWALDER STRASSE 31 ; 10405 Berlin ; Germany
• SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes:
  Region
  Berlin › Berlin › Berlin
• Region: Berlin › Berlin › Berlin
• Activity type: Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
• Total cost: € 3 543 125,00