Nexans’ breakthrough offers reliable innovative solutions to connect High Voltage cables with less environmental impact

Nexans is at the forefront of the move towards a new era of safer, sustainable, renewable and decarbonized electrification that is accessible to everyone. Recently Nexans High Voltage laboratory successfully carried out a 420 kV HVAC electrical type test with the use of g³ gas, inside the termination, gas with significantly reduced impact on the environment compared to the previously used type.

Sulphur hexafluoride gas (SF₆) has been extensively used in the transmission grid for its remarkable properties as a high strength gaseous dielectric medium and arc suppression (e.g. high-voltage circuit breakers, switchgears). However, its potent greenhouse gas behavior (global warming potential of about 23,000 times that of CO2, remaining in the atmosphere for up to 3,200 years) led research engineers to develop and experiment alternative gas. The challenge is to keep high performance in harsh ambient conditions, in terms of voltage withstand, current interruption and heat transfer, with similar design compactness to today’s equipment.

To reduce the potential impact of emissions, with the support of GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business in Villeurbanne (France), Nexans selected GE’s g³ gas as an alternative gas to SF₆. g³ gas has a significantly reduced impact on the environment compared to SF₆, especially in terms of Global Warming Potential (GWP): 98% less than technologies commonly used at high voltage level.

Currently, SF₆ is the gas most often used in composite Outdoor Sealing Ends 420 kV HVAC. The Nexans High Voltage laboratory in Calais (France), accredited ISO 17025, successfully carried out a 420 kV HVAC electrical type test according to IEC 62067 with the use of g³ gas inside this termination.

This breakthrough allows Nexans to offer reliable green solutions to connect High Voltage cables. Controlling the use of g³ gas, Nexans is writing a new chapter to move forward a new world of clean and safe industrial environment.