Impact of Distributed Renewable Generation and Storage on Transmission & Distribution Equipment

India, in compliance with 2015 Paris Conference and COP28, has outpaced other countries in achieving its targets in implementation of renewables against fossil fuel generation to contain greenhouse gases maintain global temperature rise. Amongst other institutions, R&D resources, electrical equipment manufacturers as a contribution in containing the climate changes and global temperature rise, disrupt low Global Warming Potential (GWP) dielectric insulating gases (Clean air, fluorinated gas mixtures) as a substitute to SF6 with high GWP {(16300 for 25 years compared to CO2 (unity) and long life (3200 years) in atmosphere} for use in SF6-free switchgear.

Nine Global Switchgear Companies (USA, EURO) have, in their joint statement, mentioned producing SF6 Gas-Free Switchgear and the status of SF6 free gas equipment. Some of the companies and their products affording the same footprint have been discussed in this paper.

Paper recommends Indian R&D institutions, power industries and power utilities collaborate in taking up development of SF6 free insulating gases and switchgear with the same footprint as a commercially viable solution and be competitive in open Indian market.