Clarification of the new rules

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The new EU Regulations will soon enter into force. Member States will then have to implement the Regulation at national level. In practice, this means that the electrical industry will have a two-year period to prepare for the Regulation, as the use of SF6 in new medium voltage switchgear up to and including 24 kV will be prohibited by law from January 2026. Similar bans on the use of SF6 in switchgear with higher voltage ratings will follow at a later date.

Companies can now start evaluating their existing SF6 switchgear and planning how to special database continue operating without it after January 2026.

Action plan

Once property owners or managers have assessed their presence of sulfur hexafluoride switchgear and identified the units to be replaced, they should explore alternatives that do not use this gas, evaluating the technical characteristics, costs and benefits. Since a full understanding of the initial capital and operating costs, the total cost of ownership will help shape the subsequent strategy.

Next, a plan for transitioning to SF6-free devices needs to be developed and implemented. The long-term goal should be not only to comply with the new regulations, but also to implement a strategy that will allow for the economic benefits of the transition.

Proper disposal of switchgear using SF6 at the end of their life cycle also minimizes their impact on the environment, which is also worth remembering.

Environmental aspects

The transition to SF6-free technologies not only ensures compliance with regulatory obligations in Europe, but also makes a significant contribution to achieving environmental sustainability goals by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This transition helps companies play their part in the circular economy , support the objectives of the EU Green Deal and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change . This is an activity that can be referenced in the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) communications to highlight its commitment to sustainability and innovation.