- New medium-voltage switchgear from Schneider Electric operates with pure air and vacuum interruption
- Greenhouse gas SF6 is completely avoided
- SM AirSeT with same compact size and operating mechanism as proven SM6 series
- New technology won Industrial Energy Efficiency Award at Hannover Messe in 2020 and has since received numerous other industry recognitions
Schneider Electric, a leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced the commercial availability of its new green and digital medium voltage switchgear range at Hannover Messe 2021. SM AirSeT is another milestone on the road to greater sustainability, as it uses pure air for insulation and vacuum switching instead of SF6. In addition, the innovative technology enables users to take full advantage of digital functions and thus fully unlock the value of data. The new technology is thus the greener version of the SM6, one of Schneider Electric's globally most popular classic product ranges for secondary electrical power distribution.
In 2019, Schneider Electric debuted its new combination of innovative shunt vacuum switching (or Shunt Vacuum Interruption SVI technology) and pure air insulation. Since then, the tech company has completed numerous successful pilots of the SF6-free medium-voltage series in both utility and power systems for commercial and industrial applications. Designed for the secondary electrical power distribution market, the new green and digital switchgear is now available in several regions in Asia and Europe. The company expects interest after the commercial launch to be as high as in the pilot phase. This is because the combination of shunt vacuum switching and pure air insulation not only avoids the use of SF6, it also retains the advantages of traditional SF6-based equipment, such as the compact footprint and the proven mode of operation. In addition, the new SM AirSeT switchgear offers an SF6-free fuse-load-break combination, which is especially used in buildings.
Air is the best gas
"At Schneider Electric, we believe that air is the best gas," says Frederic Godemel, Executive Vice President of Power Systems at Schneider Electric. "Now that our green and digital SF6-free switchgear is coming to market, we can accelerate the real work of decarbonisation. When people think of green energy, the focus is on generation or consumption. And the SM AirSeT fits right in between the two operationally - this is where we can make big green improvements for business operations."
Schneider Electric can point to successful pilot projects of its new SF6-free medium-voltage switchgear at numerous utilities, including GreenAlp in France, EEC Engie in New Caledonia or E.ON in Sweden. Recently, Renault in France and other operators of industrial power grids have also become convinced customers.
The future is green and digital
The commercial debut of SM AirSeT is a milestone on Schneider Electric's roadmap towards an SF6-free future. As an alternative to its SF6-based devices, the company is systematically building a complete portfolio of green alternatives. It is also focusing on new sustainable offerings aimed primarily at customers with energy-intensive applications. For example, Schneider Electric has already launched its GM AirSeT offering in China, a primary medium-voltage switchgear and sister technology to the new SM AirSeT.
Beyond the environmental benefits and independent of specific offerings, the company stresses the importance of the numerous digital technologies that its new switchgear can be equipped with. For example, the natively digital SM AirSeT switchgear includes condition-based maintenance functions. These relay data from their sensors to both local field tools/apps and sophisticated analytical tools. Embedded in Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure holistic system architecture, the entire equipment platform becomes natively digital and improves operational efficiency and safety thanks to the ability to share data cloud-based.
Praise from the industry and from the highest level
Back in 2020, Schneider Electric's new SM AirSeT switchgear won the Industrial Energy Efficiency Award from Hannover Messe, recognising Schneider Electric's outstanding commitment to investing in and applying energy-efficient solutions. In cooperation with the independent market research and consulting company EUPD Research, the award was presented by Deutsche Messe as part of the Hannover Messe Digital Days. In selecting the winner, the jury considered the degree of innovation, contribution to efficiency, economic benefits and social sustainability features.
SM AirSeT was also nominated for another Deutsche Messe 2020 industry award, the HERMES Award, where it was among the three finalists. These recognitions join a list of other major industry awards given to SF6-free switchgear, including an IF Design Award, an enerTIC Award for the project with E.ON and a Top 10 Innovation Award from the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum.
