SF₆ SF6 (or Sulphur Hexafluoride) had been the standard gas used inside high voltage electrical equipment as an insulating and arc-quenching medium. However, SF₆ SF6 is also listed as an extremely potent greenhouse gas according to the Kyoto protocol, with 23,500 times the comparative Global Warming Potential of CO₂ and a lifetime of 3,200 years in the atmosphere. With grid operators across the world becoming increasingly concerned about the environmental impact, GE now offers an alternative SF₆-free SF6-free solution: g³ G3 green gas for grids.

INTRODUCING g³ G3 – GREEN GAS FOR GRID
g³, G3 (pronounced "g" cubed) is GE's environmentally-friendly alternative to SF₆ SF6 gas, developed for HV electrical transmission equipment.

g³ G3 products feature the same ratings and same dimensional footprint as the state-of-the-art SF₆ SF6 ones, with a drastically reduced environmental impact: more than 99% less gas global warming potential (GWP), comparatively. Also, g³ G3 products operate with no restriction under the same temperature range as SF₆ SF6 products (down to -30°C).

Like SF₆, g³ is non-toxic and not flammable. It falls in the same safety class as SF₆.

GE’s g³ G3 products are type-tested and available for live-tank circuit breakers and gas-insulated substations up to 145 kV, gas-insulated lines (GIL) up to 420 kV and instrument transformers up to 245 kV.