Belgian transmission system operator Elia has commissioned the first SF6-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substation on its grid, at Anthisnes in the Condroz region of Wallonia. Walloon energy minister Cécile Neven and local officials visited the site on Friday 16 October.
SF6 is a gas long used for insulation in high-voltage equipment. The Anthisnes substation needed modernising to meet future grid needs, and Elia chose to use GIS technology that does without the gas for the first time. Siemens Energy is the project partner. Replacing the transformer raises the substation’s capacity from 13 to 25 MVA, which Elia says will improve connection opportunities in the region. The upgrade also gives distribution system operator RESA additional solutions for grid reliability.
Elia describes Anthisnes as a pilot. The installation will be monitored under real operating conditions, and the findings will inform future investment in high-voltage equipment. The operator also takes part in European initiatives to share experience with SF6 alternatives. It points to the European regulatory framework, which provides for a gradual shift away from SF6 in electrical equipment over the coming years.
“By deploying our first SF6-free GIS here, we can trial a more sustainable technology under real-world conditions,” said David Zenner, Chief Grid Solutions Officer at Elia. Neven called for practical, field-tested solutions that combine reliability, innovation and decarbonisation.
The project is relevant beyond Belgium: SF6 replacement is a topic for transmission operators across Europe, including those building out offshore and onshore connections around the Baltic Sea.
