Hitachi Energy today unveiled the world’s first eco-efficient 420-kilovolt (kV) circuit-breaker1 in conjunction with CIGRE Session 2022. This breakthrough technology marks a significant milestone in its accelerated EconiQ™ high-voltage portfolio roadmap that was announced at CIGRE Session 2021.

For over two decades, the company has been investing in eco-efficient alternative solutions to sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) including the world’s first 170 kV eco-efficient gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The EconiQ high-voltage portfolio uses a game-changing technology that eliminates sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas. Over time, it has been successful in continuously increasing the voltage levels of its EconiQ high-voltage portfolio.

Today, the EconiQ 420 kV circuit-breaker marks a key milestone in the industry to transmit large amounts of electricity over long distances while eliminating significant volumes of SF6.

This innovation is the key enabler to achieving a wide range of EconiQ switchgear applications, and will be used in both dead tank breaker (DTB) and gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). The EconiQ DTB and GIS are expected to be released at the end of 2022, on track with the company’s roadmap.

“This 420 kV breakthrough is a demonstration of our technology that is reliable and scalable to reach ultra-high-voltage levels with the lowest carbon footprint,” says Markus Heimbach, Managing Director, High Voltage Products within Hitachi Energy. “We are enabling our customers and the industry as a whole to rapidly transition to eco-efficient solutions to advance a sustainable energy future for all,” he added.

EconiQ is Hitachi Energy’s eco-efficient portfolio for sustainability, where products, services and solutions are proven to deliver exceptional environmental performance. Hitachi Energy has placed sustainability at the heart of its Purpose and is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. Its high-voltage portfolio also includes EconiQ Retrofill, another world’s first in replacing SF6 in existing high-voltage equipment and EconiQ gas-insulated current transformers. The EconiQ high-voltage technologies are widely adopted by key customers in Europe.

1 World’s first fully tested SF6-free 420 kV circuit-breaker where all relevant tests described in the IEC and IEEE standards for 63 kA, 5000 A, 50 and 60 Hz have been successfully performed.