By: Obinna Uche - Sales Director, Power Systems Division at Schneider Electric Anglophone West Africa

The African switchgear market presents numerous opportunities for development.  According to the report Africa Switchgear Market (2024-2030) | Share, Growth, Size, Revenue, Value, Analysis, Trends, Industry, Companies & Forecast the marketplace is set to grow at CAGR of 8.9% till 2030. “One significant trend in the African switchgear market is the focus on renewable energy sources,” says the report.

Contributing to the above, is SF6-free switchgear which is poised to become a major player in the continent’s quest to reach its decarbonisation goals whilst establishing long-term operational efficiency.

Synthetic, odourless, and a highly stable, SF6 (sulphur hexafluoride) is manmade gas that has been widely used over decades in the electricity industry for insulation, and current breaking, in medium and high-voltage equipment.

Unfortunately, SF6 is also the world’s most potent GHG (greenhouse gas) and has a global warming potential (GWP) which is about 24,300 times higher than CO2. And whilst - in the case of medium voltage (MV) switchgear - SF6’s leakage rate during operating life is negligible, its end-of-life recapturing or rather lack thereof poses a significant threat.

Challenges in West Africa

In West Africa, the adoption of SF6-free technology has been slow, primarily due to the initial upfront costs and the lifespan of existing installations. Many utilities and industrial operators have infrastructure that still has a lifespan of five to 10 years, and replacement or upgrades are often postponed until the equipment reaches the end of its useful life. 

This, in turn, presents a challenge in terms of timing, as many operators will not consider transitioning to SF6-free switchgear until it's time for major replacements.

Another concern in West Africa is the potential for gas leakage from aging equipment, improper storage, or transportation of SF6. These leaks not only pose environmental risks but also health hazards for workers, as inhalation of SF6 gas can have serious consequences. 

Furthermore, improper monitoring of gas levels in switchgear can lead to safety risks, such as equipment fires, if there is insufficient gas to quench electrical arcs.

Air that is safer and greener

The benefits of adopting SF6-free technologies, such as Schneider Electric’s RM AirSeT switchgear, are clear. The RM AirSeT switchgear uses pure air instead of SF6 gas, eliminating the risk of GHG emissions entirely. 

This technology is not only beneficial for the environment but also offers operational advantages. Its hermetically sealed design protects the switchgear from harsh environmental conditions, making it ideal for West Africa's diverse climates, from coastal regions to industrial areas.

The switchgear's longer lifespan also presents a significant opportunity for utilities and industries to make a once-in-a-generation upgrade that will align with future regulatory trends. 

The RM AirSeT’s features also include:

• Protection against harsh environments - it is completely sealed from the external environment, which provides extra protection against the harsh conditions of grid such as humidity or saltwater. This design makes it suitable for utilities and some industrial settings.

Its compact footprint also enables it to be used for deployment in space-sensitive applications.

• Natively digital - it offers condition-based maintenance features, feeding data from its sensors to both local field tools/apps and sophisticated analytics tools, which can be either hosted in the cloud (using best of breed cybersecurity practices), or on premise, depending on customer requirements.
• Built to last - the advanced Schneider Electric-patented CompoDrive operating mechanism is reinforced to handle the increased switching requirements of a modern, decentralised grid. With ten times the mechanical endurance of conventional mechanisms, RM AirSeT has a longer lifespan and 10,000 operations.
• Complete and flexible range of functions - functions such as switch, switch-fuse, circuit breaker, and metering, and freedom to combine it.
• Peace of mind for regulatory compliance - SF6 gas is a regulated fluorinated gas, which currently has a special exemption for use in electrical distribution across many geographies. However, as alternatives become more readily available, various countries and territories are considering measures to restrict its use. Pure air offers ultimate transparency.