Eaton ANZ general manager, power distribution Kevin Nesdale applauds the recent Federal Budget and included $1.6 billion to fund and prioritise clean energy technologies but looks to the future and SF6-free technology.

“This is a promising step to take a technology focused approach to reducing emissions—however, if this is the intent, then the energy sector must accelerate efforts to mitigate the dangers of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), the most harmful greenhouse gases,” Kevin says.

“It is 23,500 times more potent than CO2 and stays in the atmosphere for 3,200 years, but is widely used in the electrical industry within switchgear, from large thermal power stations to renewable generation to electrical sub-stations, to insulate and switch electricity.”

He adds that last year, the EU released a report detailing alternatives to SF6 in switchgear and related equipment in an effort to phase out the gas part of the EU’s mission to cut greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds between 2014 and 2030.

“While international markets are making strides to leverage SF6-free technology, now must Australia, otherwise we risk seeing this hugely hazardous and unintended consequence of the green energy boom continue to negatively impact international efforts to manage global warming,” he says.

“The Budget speaks of a nation that will play a leading global role by partnering with other nations to accelerate the commercialisation of low emissions technologies. So, now’s the time to make this a reality and set the scene for SF6-free technology and become the norm for the industry.”