Developing sustainable products is at the heart of the Grid Solutions business model,
which includes multiple initiatives covering different focus areas.
Since the 2000s, GE Grid Solutions has embarked on the path of eco-design – integrating the environment into the design phase alongside other conventional design concerns such as customers’ expectations, technical performances, cost control, etc.
The objective of Grid Solutions is to reduce the global environmental impact of its products, over its whole life cycle, from the extraction of the raw materials until the end-of-life, while considering all environmental indicators.
Eco-design is one of the pillars of Grid Solution’s Clean Grid program.
The process put in place follows the IEC 62430 “Environmentally conscious design for electrical and electronic products” recommendations. The target is to introduce environmental requirements as far upstream as possible in the design process, i.e., at the start of product development, to reduce its global environmental impact compared to the product that is replaced.
GE's F35 GIS meets the challenges of networks up to 145 kV for all applications. With GE’s g³ technology, F35 GIS become the SF₆-free solution for high voltage grid operators showing:
GE’s T155 Dual Gas GIS meets the challenges of electrical networks up to 420 kV for all applications. The innovative design of the GIS offers the flexibility of being:
The T155 Dual Gas GIS features:
GE's gas-insulated lines meet the challenges of networks up to 420 kV, 63 kA for all applications. An SF6-free alternative is available using GE’s g³:
The GL 312 g air insulated circuit breaker is available for 145 kV, up to 3,150 A and 40 kA at 50 Hz. It is made of a current interrupting chamber using GE’s g³ for the purpose of insulation and arc interruption. Eco-design and g³ have enabled environmental improvement compared to previous versions.
GE’s green power transformer (10 MVA to 500MVA and up to 550kV) is a sustainable, eco-efficient product with the following functionalities:
Product Environmental Profile (PEP), also known as Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), is a document for customers communicating the environmental impact and performance of the product. It is the environmental ID card of the product.
A PEP includes several sections:
The PEP is based on the LCA. More than 70 PEPs are available so far, covering:
GE PEPs are periodically updated with new data and new products. You can access the complete list of available PEPs below.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a quantitative methodology ruled by international ISO 14040/14044 standards. LCAs are commonly used to map and evaluate the environmental impact of products or activities along their life cycle.
A LCA considers all the environmental indicators: pollution of water, air, soil and the depletion of resources. The study presents the environmental impact of the product not only on climate change (carbon footprint), but also ozone depletion, water acidification, toxicity, and impact on resource depletion.
Circular performance of Grid Solutions' high-voltage products is the following:
To support customers growing environmental challenges, Grid Solutions provides a variety of services to increase efficiency, reliability and environmentalism of customer assets. Grid Solutions helps customers to reduce power consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and material consumption, and to use ecological and sustainable solutions especially in the recycling process. By supporting customers in SF₆ management and offering different end-of-life options, Grid Solutions is the ideal partner to better manage equipment through its life cycle.
Grid Solutions provides a number of SF₆ services, including gas management(handling training and certification, leak detection and repair), optimizing transformer eco-performance (vegetable oil, monitoring, oil analysis), and end-of-life management (decommissioning, refurbishing).
Many regulators now request that grid operators manage the end-of-life of their equipment with the lowest environmental impact. Grid Solutions supports customers by providing end-of-life management services:
Grid Solutions is committed to transferring knowledge and technical expertise to its customers. The Technical Institute Aix-les-Bains (TIA) has been accredited by the French government to evaluate and certify workers from across the industry involved in recovering SF₆ sub gas from high and medium voltage switchgear. TIA offers two different training programs relating to the use of SF₆ gases and adapted to applicant experience.
The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has edited a new standard, ref. IEC 62271-4, regarding SF₆ gas handling on all electric power equipment. The Technical Institute Aix-les-Bains offers to train and certify your team on this new standard.
The training center supplements the practical examination with hands-on training, on real equipment, including gas-insulated switchgear and air-insulated switchgear technology.
In addition, the Technical Institute Aix-les-Bains can address other international regulations and standards related to SF₆ handling, for internal and external operators from electrical industries worldwide.
According to CIGRE A3.06*, 40% of GIS minor failures are due to small SF₆ leaks. GE provides a GIS sealing solution to solve SF₆ leaks on insulator flanges and to make the GIS more sustainable. Benefits of GE’s solution include:
GE offers the following corrective solution, to be performed as soon as an SF₆ leak is discovered on GIS flanges:
GE’s technical solution has been validated in GE’s Research Centers and on site.
Test in GE Research Center in France
Test on GIS with SF₆ leak on flanges:
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Explore GE's environmentally friendly alternative to SF₆ gas for high-voltage switchgear, while gaining an understanding of the global warming challenges industries are facing today.
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This video provides an introduction to GE's Grid Solutions Green Services and highlights the Sealing Solution for solving GIS SF₆ gas leakage
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TenneT TSO about g³ at CIGRE 2016
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