GE Grid Solutions today announced its selection by Omexom Norway to deliver four 145 kV g3 gas insulated substation (GIS) bays to equip Nordkraft Industrinett AS’ Skoglung Skoglund substation. GE’s g3 insulating and switching gas is the SF6-free alternative for high voltage equipment.
Nordkraft Industrinett AS’ Skoglund substation will supply power to a future electro-intensive industrial area in Bjerkvik, in the municipality of Narvik located in the northern most part of Norway. About 200 MW are expected to flow into the “green” industrial complex ranging from low-carbon steel to hydrogen and battery production, as well as a data centre as part of a comprehensive investment plan.
With a focus on building industrial parks with reduced impact on the environment and using renewable energy generated locally, Nordkraft Industrinett selected Omexom, who will use GE’s g3 GIS solution for the new Skoglund substation. This solution offers a low carbon footprint and proven performance. The four new F35g GIS bays featuring GE’s SF6-free gas technology are expected to be delivered in the summer of 2023.
“It is an industry-wide priority to avoid carbon emissions as much as we can. This is fully integrated into our Company strategy. With this in mind, we welcomed the chance to adopt GE’s g3 GIS. This gives us an immediate and economical alternative to SF6, the world’s most potent greenhouse gas according to the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, in the Skoglund substation,” said Raymond Wang, at Nordkraft Industrinett. “It goes without saying that when an alternative like GE’s g3 GIS is available, it is well worth investing in a environmentally positive and future friendly alternative.”
“We are very happy that Nordkraft choose us to deliver this project, and we are looking forward to be working with GE on helping our customer achieve their goal to become a more sustainable business,” said Petter Eikeland, Business Unit Manager at Omexom.
“We are delighted to contribute to Nordkraft Industrinett’s plan to decarbonize the industrial sector,” said Espen Bostadlokken, Country Sales Director Norway at GE Grid Solutions. “The g3 technology is essential to help power utilities and the industry reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
The global warming potential (GWP) of GE’s g3 gas is 99% lower than SF6, the gas most commonly used at present in high voltage switchgear. But the environmental benefit is not limited to the gas contribution and its GWP. A significant added benefit comes from g3 properties as the gas permits high voltage equipment up to 420 kV to be designed without compromising the dimensions of the substation and without increasing the volume of raw materials such as aluminum, that represents two-thirds of the GIS weight. Such concerns were central to GE’s considerations in 2008 at the very beginning of its search for the most appropriate SF6 alternative.
A Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the only tool which allows the holistic understanding of the real impact of a product on the environment. When performed according to the ISO 14040/14044 standards, the LCA demonstrates the lowest environmental impact results from products based on GE’s g3 gas technology compared to other SF6-free alternatives.
To further support Norway’s move to eliminate the use of SF6, GE Grid Solutions is participating in Norway’s independent Research Institute’s Sintef study on alternative gases.
More about GE’s g3 insulating and switching gas
GE’s g3 products are available for live-tank circuit-breaker and gas-insulated substations (GIS) up to 145 kV and gas-insulated lines (GIL) up to 420 kV.
A g3 420 kV gas-insulated substation has been developed with financial support from the EU as part of its LIFE Programme and will be available in 2023 while a g3 live-tank circuit-breaker and a gas-insulated substation (GIS) for the 245 kV level are currently in development, two projects that are also supported by EU Commission’s LIFE Programme.
To learn more about GE’s high-voltage g³ substation equipment, visit GE’s website or explore its interactive application here
