Switchgear 2022: Life after SF6

One Birdcage Walk, London

21 November 2022

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Overview

SF6 has typically been used in switchgear as it is very cheap to produce and has excellent insulating properties. This seminar will discuss technical strategies in reducing/eliminating dependence on Gas-Insulated Switchgear (GIS) containing the extremely potent greenhouse gas Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) in electrical power systems.

The seminar is an opportunity for operators to hear more about each other’s strategies and signal their requirements to the supply chain. It will also be an opportunity for particularly electro-intensive or sensitive industrial users of switchgear to learn more about how new regulation might impact them as they also frequently operate SF6 GIS.

This event will highlight the technical roadmaps for users, primarily distribution and transmission network operators, in replacing this equipment. Stay up to date with the latest developments in technology and the supply chain though case studies that will look at the results of pilot projects of new, SF6-free equipment.

Discount for Distribution and Transmission Network/System Operators:

Save a further 20% on individual registrations or 40% on groups of three or more attendees to this seminar.

Contact the IMechE Event Enquiries team on eventenquiries@imeche.org for details and assistance with your booking.

Join this seminar to:

Receive an update on the state of play in the UK power sector as operators develop their post-SF6 roadmaps
Meet and network with key stakeholders representing operators, manufacturers, industry associations and regulators
Benefit from case studies on the latest technological developments to replace SF6-intensive GIS
Benchmark your organisation's readiness to move past SF6 against industry peers, both in the UK and Europe

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Day 1

09:00 - Seminar programme

	Monday, 21 November 2022
09:00	Registration and refreshments
09:30	Chair’s opening remarks Professor A. Manu Haddad, Director, Advanced High Voltage Engineering Research Centre, Cardiff University
	Defining an industry-wide strategy to respond to SF6 regulation
09:40	Keynote address: F-gas legislation and the power sector: current requirements and a review of legislation Jacob Andresen, Domestic Lead, Defra F-Gas & ODS Team, Defra The wider F-gas context Existing F-gas legislation and its interaction with switchgear Our review of the legislation
10:00	UK network operator responses to SF6 Matthew Kayes, Plant Policy Manager, Electricity North West 2020 report – overview and outcomes Impact assessment – drives and lessons learned Working with industry
10:20	Understanding the position of the supply chain to respond to operator requirements John Parsons, Director of Digital, BEAMA SF6: A Hard Act to Follow Alternatives to SF6:Requirements Bringing new solutions to the market
10:40	Question and answer session
11:00	Networking refreshment break
	Identifying critical technical challenges for alternatives to SF6 equipment
11:30	Overview of CIGRE international activities Mark Waldron, Chair UK National Committee, CIGRE Working Group A3.41, Interrupting and switching performance of SF6 free switching equipment Working Group B3.45, Application of non-SF6 gases or gas-mixtures in MV & HV gas-insulated switchgear Working Group D1.67, Dielectric performance of non-SF6 gases for gas-insulated systems
11:50	Panel session: Life cycle of switchgear equipment Matthew Kayes, Plant Policy Manager, Electricity North West Matt Barnett, Electrical Plant Subject Matter Expert, SSEN Transmission
12:20	Networking lunch
	Roadmap to elimination with considerations for SF6 alternatives
13:20	Sustainable MV networks with Pure Air technology Matt Sands, Marketing Manager, Schneider Electric The choice of Air for MV insulation Pure Air technology Deployment & customer testimonies Questions and answers
13:45	Keynote address: A road map to minimise SF6 emissions and ultimately eliminate SF6 from networks Mark Waldron, Technical Leader – Net-Zero Asset Strategy, National Grid Background & the scale of the challenge The tools and techniques we presently have available (including progress and pilot projects) Wider context including things like regulatory risks, asset management complexities, international standards etc Questions and answers
14:10	Feeding the supply chain; SF6 alternatives Bertrand Portal, Product Manager, GE Renewable Energy Working to create sustainable solutions Collaborating with industry and operators beyond SF6 eradication Implementing SF6 alternatives for offshore application with the support of EU Commission LIFE programme Questions and answers
14:35	Networking refreshment break
	Ensuring collaboration between operators and the supply chain
15:05	Building a network for net-zero: the importance of industry cooperation and effective communication of requirements Matt Barnett, Electrical Plant Subject Matter Expert, SSEN Transmission SSEN Transmission’s growing network and commitment to SF6 alternatives The benefits of industry cooperation How this has been applied practically so far in specifications and pilot projects
15:25	Europe's commitment to reducing SF6 and sourcing alternatives Francois Trichon, Chair of the T&D Europe Gases for Switchgear Working Group, T&D Europe The role of educating around SF6 and alternatives Europe’s current status on SF6 alternatives – regulation and projects New equipment versus existing equipment
15:45	Question and answer session
15:55	Chair’s closing remarks
16:00	End of seminar

Matt Barnett: Electrical Plant Subject Matter Expert, SSEN Transmission

Matt Barnett is electrical plant subject matter expert at SSEN Transmission; he has overall technical responsibility for substation plant, in particular switchgear, for the north of Scotland electricity transmission network. His current work includes significant focus on the adoption of alternatives to SF6, including the world’s first 420 kV GIS entirely without SF6. He is a chartered engineer, with experience across the electricity transmission and distribution industry, and a member of various national (ENA) and international (CIGRE) groups.

Mark Waldron: Technical Leader – Net Zero Asset Strategy, National Grid

Mark Waldron has more than 30 years’ experience in electricity transmission asset management focussing upon substation primary equipment, particularly switchgear. He is employed by National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) in the UK as Net Zero Asset Strategy Technical Lead and has a particular interest in SF6 management and alternatives to SF6. He is active internationally within CIGRE, IEC, IEEE and ENTSOE, and has held senior leadership positions within both CIGRE (past Vice President Technical) and IEC (present Chair of Sub-Committee 17A). His present national & international activities focus heavily upon alternatives to SF6 and the wider environmental context of reducing SF6 emissions and inventory associated transmission assets, supporting NGET’s commitments and ambitions towards Net Zero.

Matthew Kayes: Plant Policy Manager, Electricity North West

Matthew is the Plant Policy Manager for Electricity North West Limited. He looks after the specifications and approvals of all Substation and Pole Mounted Switchgear and Transformers from LV to 132kV including all civil requirements. Matthew has been in the industry for 23 years, the first 3 with WPD and nearly 20 years with ENWL. He is the Chair of the ENA SF6 working group and Deputy Chair for both the ENA Transformer and Switchgear assessment panels.

John Parsons: Digital and Technology Manager, BEAMA

John Parsons has a long and varied career in the energy industry. He has been at BEAMA since 2003, previous to which he worked at British Gas Research and before that at GEC Research during which time he worked on many technologies, including fuel cells, microCHP and heat pumps.

Since April 2022 he has been BEAMA Digital and Technology Manager, providing technical support for BEAMA activities in power networks, ventilation, heating controls, electric heating as well as BIM and Cyber Security. He was the Head of BEAMA Networks from 2014 until April 2022. At BEAMA, he has worked across the whole range of BEAMA members’ products.

He is also the Secretary of the T&D Europe Transformers WG and Cyber Security TF and Chair of BSI L/13 Smart Energy Systems Coordination Committee.

Matthew Sands: Marketing Manager, Schneider Electric

Matt has been with Schneider Electric for 25 years, commencing as a mechanical apprentice at the Leeds manufacturing plant. He has progressed through various management roles, contributing to the growth of the medium voltage business at the Leeds site.

Presently, he works as the Marketing Manager for the Power Systems business, overseeing product management for the current 11kV and 33kV offers. Additionally, he leads the development and deployment of the 11kV SF6 free solution for the UK market.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Matt is an enthusiastic supporter of Huddersfield Town and eagerly anticipates the team's return to the Championship following their relegation last season.

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