November 25, 2019 by Nicholas Ottersbach 1 Comment

Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF6) is described as the world’s worst greenhouse gas. It’s 23,500 times more potent than CO2. Global annual emissions are 8,100 tonnes, equivalent to the CO2 emissions of 100m cars. It has an atmospheric lifetime of over 1,000 years and its installed base is expected to grow by 75% by 2030. 80% of all SF6 is used in gas insulated switchgear, a vital component of the grid (isolating and protecting different sections), so … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Energy, Grids, Policies Tagged With: CO2, emissions, grids, nonCO2, policies, SF6, SulphurHexafluoride, switchgear

May 21, 2018 by Nicholas Ottersbach

SF6, the most potent greenhouse gas in existence, was banned for all applications in the EU in 2014 – except in the electricity industry. The reason for the exemption, writes Nicholas Ottersbach, researcher at German cleantech startup Nuventura, was that there was no viable alternative. But according to Ottersbach that is no longer the case. He calls on EU policymakers to ban SF6, in the electricity industry when the relevant EU legislation is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Climate policy, Energy, EU Policy Tagged With: climate change, electricity market, energy transition, EU energy policy, grid, infrastructure