HD Hyundai Electric Develops Korea's First 420kV Eco-Friendly High-Voltage Circuit Breaker, Targeting $2.2 Billion European Market

Excluding "Sulfur Hexafluoride," a Major Cause of Global Warming
Securing the World's Third Ultra-High Voltage Technology

HD Hyundai Electric has become the first company in Korea to secure technology for ultra-high voltage, eco-friendly circuit breakers used in the national transmission grid. This accomplishment will accelerate the company's efforts to tap into the fast-growing European power equipment market.

On the 17th, HD Hyundai Electric announced it has successfully developed a "420kV class SF₆-free high-voltage circuit breaker" that does not use sulfur hexafluoride, a typical fluorinated greenhouse gas (F-Gas). This is the first time a Korean company has independently implemented eco-friendly circuit breaker technology at ultra-high voltage levels. Globally, HD Hyundai Electric is only the third to achieve this, following General Electric (GE) of the United States and Hitachi Energy of Japan.

420kV Class SF-Free High Voltage Circuit Breaker by HD Hyundai Electric. HD Hyundai Electric

High-voltage circuit breakers are essential safety devices that protect power facilities by interrupting electricity when abnormal currents or overloads occur in the transmission grid. Traditionally, sulfur hexafluoride gas, known for its excellent insulating properties, has been used in these breakers. However, due to its extremely high global warming potential (GWP), it has been designated as a substance subject to environmental regulation.

The new circuit breaker replaces sulfur hexafluoride with a C₄ gas mixture, which has significantly less impact on global warming, as the insulating medium. As a result of this gas change, the internal structure of the breaker has been completely redesigned. Given the characteristics of the national grid, the company ensured the device maintains stable performance over long periods, even at high voltages and in extreme environments.

Since 2021, HD Hyundai Electric has sequentially developed eco-friendly circuit breakers rated at 170kV, 145kV, and 72.5kV, and with the new 420kV model, it has greatly expanded its key voltage lineup. The 400kV transmission grid, where the 420kV class circuit breaker is applied, accounts for over 50% of major transmission system operator (TSO) power networks in Europe. This makes the technology a critical requirement for entering the European ultra-high voltage power infrastructure market.

Amid intensified European Union (EU) regulations on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gas) and expanding investment in electric power infrastructure, the European eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker market is projected to reach approximately 3 trillion won by 2030. In response to these changes, HD Hyundai Electric has proactively secured local supply qualifications by passing pre-qualification (PQ) assessments by local transmission system operators from the product development stage. The pre-qualification process is a comprehensive review of a company’s technological and manufacturing capabilities before bidding on large-scale projects.

A representative from HD Hyundai Electric commented, "We are currently pursuing long-term supply contracts with major UK electric utilities, aiming for our first orders by the end of this year or early next year. Over the next three years, we plan to further solidify our presence in the global eco-friendly power equipment market by completing development of additional SF₆-free high-voltage circuit breakers, including the 300kV and 362kV class models."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.