Schneider Electric SF6-Free MV Switchgear Named Green Product of the Year by Southern Weekly

Schneider Electric, the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation in 2021 as ranked by Corporate Knights and the global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been honored with the China CSR Ranking Green Product of the Year Award at the 13th Annual China CSR Conference in Guangzhou for its innovative SF6-free MV switchgear with shunt vacuum interruption technology.

The China CSR Ranking is compiled based on a holistic evaluation of the CSR activities and performance of the companies that make the list. It was launched in 2003 by Southern Weekly in cooperation with prestigious organizations such as the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the Institute of Strategic Studies of Peking University.

The Green Product of the Year Award was introduced at this year’s annual conference to recognize products or solutions that have pioneered green innovation.

A greener power system

Schneider Electric’s new MV switchgear is powered by an innovative combination of vacuum interruption and pure air insulation. It is a breakthrough alternative to traditional SF6 technology and a key milestone in moving toward a cleaner, more efficient and decarbonized power system.

Apart from the environmental benefits, the new SF6-free switchgear using pure air has more to offer: It maintains the compact physical footprint for which traditional SF6-based equipment is valued and operates in the same way without the need to retrain technicians. Schneider Electric has a track record of successful pilot projects of its new SF6-free medium voltage switchgear at numerous electric utilities, including GreenAlp in France, EEC Engie in New Caledonia, E.ON in Sweden, and more recently Renault in France, and Azienda Trasporti Milanesi in Italy. Many more are energized regularly, including in private power networks for commercial and industrial applications.

"Many countries around the world have set ‘zero carbon’ targets; for example, China has pledged to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.  For the power industry, meeting the growing demand for electricity while accelerating the decarbonization transition is a priority, but also a challenge”, said Shaofeng XU, SVP, Power Systems China, Schneider Electric.  “Our new green and smart MV switchgear replaces a potent greenhouse gas with pure air, helping to decarbonize the grid. This underlines our long-held commitment to building new power systems that are truly green and reinforcing our position as a leading innovator in sustainable development."

Focus on climate

With climate issues topping the agenda of governments worldwide, it has become exceedingly urgent for power and energy companies, and beyond, to step up their sustainability efforts. Schneider Electric has always placed sustainability at the heart of its corporate strategy, integrating it into products' whole life, from research to production.

Underpinned by its world-leading innovation and digital capabilities, Schneider Electric is committed to contributing to a sustainable future by transforming power systems and helping build a green, digital, and decarbonized energy world. Looking ahead, the company will continue to uphold green innovation and practice social responsibility to lead the new wave of green and smart MV distribution equipment.

The Green Product of the Year Award follows on from previous recognition for Schneider Electric. The company’s project with E.ON won the enerTIC Award in the Smart Grid category. Before that, Schneider’s SM AirSeT switchgear – part of the MV range of products - was recognized as one of the Top 10 Innovations by the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF) and received the iF Design Award from iF and the Industrial Energy Efficiency Award in the Energy Economy category at the Hannover Messe.