Image credit: Linkedin, Hans Linder

Hitachi Energy has delivered the world’s first EconiQ® 420 kV Live Tank Circuit Breaker, marking a milestone in high-voltage transmission technology and the transition toward SF₆-free grid equipment.

The newly handed-over breaker is designed to operate without sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), a potent greenhouse gas widely used in conventional high-voltage switchgear. According to Hitachi Energy, the EconiQ 420 kV Live Tank Breaker maintains the required switching and dielectric performance while eliminating SF₆ from the design.

The product is part of Hitachi Energy’s EconiQ portfolio, which focuses on eco-efficient alternatives for power grids. The 420 kV rating supports Europe’s high-voltage transmission backbone and is designed to scale with future grid expansion needs.

The breaker delivers E2-class performance and advanced inductive switching capabilities, drawing on more than 50 years of gas circuit-breaker expertise within Hitachi Energy’s High Voltage Products business unit. The company said the technology is engineered to operate under demanding grid conditions while supporting sustainability targets across the energy sector.

The delivery reflects growing industry efforts to reduce the environmental impact of power transmission infrastructure as electricity demand rises and grid modernization accelerates across Europe.

Source: Linkedin, Hans Linder