Therwil, Switzerland — The switchgear containing an innovative circuit breaker with vacuum technology will be the first system of its kind to be installed by Siemens Energy in the region.

As part of the construction project for the new substation the energy, a  high-voltage switchgear with "Clean Air" insulation has been chosen by Primeo for its particularly  environmentally friendly attributes, which are down to an innovative circuit breaker with vacuum technology inside the switchgear.

"In addition to economic and technical aspects, it was above all the sustainability aspect that convinced us that the F-gas-free switchgear from Siemens Energy was the right choice for the substation in Therwil," said Dr Lukas Küng, Managing Director of Primeo Netz AG and member of the Primeo Energie Group Executive Board.

More and more energy companies are opting for high-voltage systems that do not use F-gases such as Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which is the world's strongest known greenhouse gas. Despite contributing as much to the greenhouse effect as 23 500 kg (51 808 lbs) of CO₂ in a 100 years, it is still in frequent used as insulation for high-voltage switchgear.

The new plant in Therwil however will use processed air consisting of 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen for insulation, making it climate neutral.

The new switchgear will be manufactured in Berlin and delivered to Therwil in autumn 2022 and the new substation is scheduled to go into operation in 2023.

Source: Siemens Energy