DUAL-ADE and nuventura Announce Partnership to Bring Innovative SF6-free Switchgear to the North American Market

Nov 27, 2020

Technologies DUAL-ADE Inc, a Canadian manufacturer of custom designed switchgear, and nuventura GmbH, a German innovation center developing next generation Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) technology, announced the signing of a partnership agreement. The partnership will enable DUAL-ADE to offer a unique SF₆-free medium voltage GIS – branded Gasuo^TM – to accelerate North American utilities’ plans to reliably meet their energy transition objectives.

GIS are becoming widely adopted in electricity grids due to their compactness, reliability and low maintenance. This enables grid operators to meet the increasing power demand by replacing existing equipment with more compact GIS while significantly reducing total cost of ownership.

GIS uses SF₆, or sulfur hexafluoride, as an insulation medium due to its electrical insulating properties. However SF₆ is a potent greenhouse gas – the atmospheric greenhouse effect of one kilogram of SF6 equals that of over 23,500 kilograms of CO₂ and its atmospheric lifetime estimate is over 3,000 years. With the energy transition and increasingly stringent regulations, a growing number of utilities are tracking their SF₆ usage and seeking ways to reduce it – without compromising on safety and reliability. Looking forward, DUAL-ADE was searching for a solution that would enable North American utilities to meet their immediate business needs while future-proofing their critical assets to meet the objectives of the energy transition.

By replacing SF₆ in GIS with dry air, nuventura’s technology offers significant environmental benefits compared to SF₆-based GIS while increasing efficiency and profitability. The Gasuo^TM switchgear equipped with nuventura’s technology allows for sensors within the gas vessel to monitor status and capture data for smart grid applications and asset management. Furthermore, since SF₆ is replaced by purified industrial air, the cost and complexity related to SF₆handling, recycling, disposal, and reporting is avoided.

Combining the technology with DUAL-ADE’s know-how, build-to-specification engineering and production capabilities will ensure the new Gasuo portfolio meets North-American market requirements on performance, safety, and reliability. The portfolio will cover the medium voltage range up to 36 kV 2500 amperes with options to customize solutions with nuventura’s patented technology designed in Germany. E.ON is currently investing in nuventura’s technology to help meet its ambitious sustainability and climate commitments.

“For the past decade, urbanization and renewable energy have put pressure on utilities to identify more compact and environmentally friendly switchgear solutions. Our partnership will benefit our customers and help them meet these challenges by using the most innovative non-SF₆ GIS available.” – Éric Ducharme, DUAL-ADE’s CEO.

Fabian Lemke, commercial director at nuventura, adds, “The partnership has accelerated our expansion into the North American market.  I am excited about the opportunity to work with DUAL-ADE, who shares our vision for an SF₆-free grid, the world’s most potent greenhouse gas.”

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