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NEWS
Toward T&D equipment free of fluorinated gases
A joint statement of T&D equipment manufacturers
he recently published sixth toward a more sustainable future. Each of the undersigned is committed to delivering
Intergovernmental Panel on T&D equipment free of fluorinated-gas and PFAS-gas needed to enable this transition.
TClimate Change (IPCC) report The first F-gas free products are successfully in operation, and each of the signing
shows the seriousness of the climate companies is committed to close the remaining portfolio gaps in the upcoming years
crisis. Human activity is changing in order to deliver on science-based net zero targets (SBTI) that companies are setting.
the climate in unprecedented and These products will help deliver our own company health and climate commitments
sometimes irreversible ways. The while enabling environmental improvements.
electrical transmission and distribution You are welcome to join in delivering this ambition and building truly sustainable
(T&D) industry has an opportunity clean power grids for a climate-neutral future. The undersigned will continue to
to lead society’s response to deliver develop, manufacture, sell, and service independently. This statement shall in no way
infrastructures that are targeting create any joint responsibility or liability or any form of cooperation or joint venture.
climate-neutral objective to underpin
the transition to net zero emission Signatories include:
economies. Soo Hwang, President and CEO, ILJIN Electric Company; John Paserba, Vice President,
The clean transportation of low- Power Systems Group, Mitsubishi Electric Power Products; Nobuaki Tamaki, Director
carbon electricity is an essential element and Senior Managing Executive Officer, MEIDENSHA Corporation; Dr Fabian Lemke,
of national decarbonization plans, Co-founder and CEO, Nuventura GmbH; Dr Ulf Katschinski, Senior Vice President,
which will underpin the sustainable Transmission Switching Products and Systems, Siemens Energy Global GmbH and Co KG;
economies of the future. In conjunction Melton Chang, Senior Vice President – Medium Voltage LoB, Schneider Electric; Stephan
with decarbonized power generation May, CEO of Distribution Systems at Siemens Smart Infrastructure, Siemens AG; Koji
using renewable energy sources, it is Saito, Vice President, Director Grid Aggregation Division, Toshiba Energy Systems and
vital to do the same for T&D power grids Solutions Corporation; Masanori Osumi, General Manager, Switchgear department T
upon which the system relies. For over and D Systems Centre, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.
50 years, the recognized insulation and
switching performance as well as proven Contact Chika Yamada, Toshiba Africa, Phone 011 305-2820,
and stable characteristics of SF6 have chika.yamada@toshiba.co.za, www.toshiba.co.za
contributed to the reliability, efficiency,
and resilience of power network
facilities, enabling compact equipment
for all voltage classes. However, because
SF6 has a global warming potential over
25 000 times greater than CO 2, action is
now required to achieve truly sustainable
power grids. To enable this change, we
need to limit the SF6 emissions and
install new electrical equipment using
clean, reliable and non-toxic alternatives.
As equipment manufacturers, we
embrace our responsibility to society
and are fully committed to the net
zero goal. Each of the undersigned has
already developed or is in the process of
developing T&D equipment completely
free of fluorinated gases. The phase-out
of fluorinated and PFAS-gases (per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances) in electrical
T&D equipment, where alternatives are
available, would accelerate progress
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