Germany: Schneider Electric and E.ON have signed a long-term framework agreement to deploy SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear across E.ON’s European grid network. The move supports compliance with the EU’s upcoming ban on fluorinated gases in new medium-voltage equipment, effective from January 2026, and reinforces efforts toward a greener and more efficient energy infrastructure.
Under the agreement, Schneider Electric will supply a large portion of E.ON’s primary and secondary medium-voltage switchgear, including GM-AirSeT and RM-AirSeT systems. These SF₆-free alternatives will replace the greenhouse gas widely used in switchgear, sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), which has a global warming potential 24,300 times greater than CO₂ and can remain in the atmosphere for around 1,000 years.
The agreement follows a successful pilot project by E.ON subsidiary Westnetz and strengthens the companies’ two-decade-long collaboration. Schneider Electric’s manufacturing hubs in Regensburg, Germany and the Duna Smart Factory in Hungary will deliver the switchgear, supporting European supply chain resilience and regulatory compliance.
E.ON’s Chief Procurement Officer, Lisbeth Buschkühl, stated that the deal “secures access to SF₆-free technologies, supports standardisation, and enables cost-efficient implementation of the energy transition.” Schneider Electric’s EVP of Power Systems, Melton Chang, added, “We are shaping the future of electricity in Europe.”
Standardising switchgear components across E.ON’s German grid companies will simplify maintenance and deployment, allowing for more flexible and scalable infrastructure upgrades. Schneider Electric plans to continue expanding its SF₆-free portfolio to meet growing demand driven by regional sustainability goals and application-specific requirements.
Source: ESG News
