As regulations on SF₆ continue rolling out around the world, many utilities and industrial operators are taking a closer look at how they design and future‑proof their medium‑voltage networks. For most, the question isn’t whether to move away from SF₆ anymore—it’s how to make that transition smoothly, without creating new technical or regulatory headaches.
That’s where AirSeT comes in. Built on pure‑air insulation and vacuum-interruption technology, it gives customers a straightforward, reliable alternative. The goal is simple: reduce emissions, simplify operations, and stay comfortably ahead of changing regulations.
From restriction to opportunity
SF₆ has been a go‑to insulation gas in medium‑voltage switchgear for decades, thanks to its strong insulation properties. The challenge is that it’s also one of the most potent greenhouse gases used in power systems. Even very small amounts have an outsized climate impact, which is why policymakers are now putting tighter limits on its use.
AirSeT tackles this issue head‑on by removing SF₆ completely. With pure air as the replacement, emissions from leakage and end‑of‑life recovery disappear at the source. Across the full lifecycle, moving to pure air and vacuum technology delivers major CO₂‑equivalent footprint reductions compared with traditional SF₆ equipment. That means a healthier environmental impact right away, supporting both operational decarbonization and broader value‑chain emissions goals.
Since launch, AirSeT has helped avoid around 2.5 million tonnes of CO₂e (as of Dec 2025 internal analysis) compared to SF₆‑based solutions. Its optimized design and growing adoption have already delivered meaningful Scope 1 and Scope 3 CO₂‑equivalent reductions. The World Economic Forum’s Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders recognized AirSeT as a Champion of the Scope 3 Downstream Solutions Challenge in the Sustainable Design category. And importantly, these gains come without trade‑offs—performance and reliability remain exactly where customers expect them to be.
Simplifying operations while cutting environmental impact: SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear
Eliminating SF₆ doesn’t just change a switchgear’s emission profile—it simplifies how assets are handled throughout their entire life. Traditional SF₆ systems come with ongoing requirements: gas management, maintenance, and careful end‑of‑life recovery and treatment. Removing the gas removes a big share of that complexity.
AirSeT is intentionally designed as a drop‑in replacement. SM AirSeT keeps the same 3-position interface footprint as SM6, and RM AirSeT and GM AirSeT stay nearly identical in layout. This matters because electrical room space is both valuable and expensive. Customers can upgrade to SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear technology without adding square meters, reworking substation designs, or retraining teams. In short: sustainability with no extra space or operational burden.
Digital features add even more value. Continuous monitoring and condition‑based maintenance help reduce unnecessary site visits, improve availability, extend equipment life, and decrease service intervals. The combined effect is lower emissions, smarter maintenance, and long‑term reliability, all working together.
This balanced approach is why companies like E.ON, GreenAlp, and Renault have already integrated AirSeT into their networks as part of their transition strategies, and with minimal disruption.
What pure air really means
One of the most practical parts of AirSeT is its simplicity. Pure air means filtered, purified, and pressurized ambient air sealed within the switchgear and used as the insulation medium. Paired with proven vacuum-interruption technology, it delivers the electrical performance operators expect from modern medium‑voltage equipment.
Just as importantly, pure air contains no fluorinated gases and no proprietary blends. It’s simply purified ambient air. It is easy to source from standard suppliers anywhere in the world. That means no reliance on specialized gas supply chains and fewer long‑term uncertainties. For operators, this makes sustainability much easier to manage over the lifecycle of the equipment.
A clear path forward
New and increasingly stringent regulations, such as those in the U.S. and European Union, can feel overwhelming, especially when they affect systems meant to run for decades. AirSeT was built to make that transition manageable and beneficial.
By replacing SF₆ with pure air, customers can cut emissions, simplify operations, and align their medium‑voltage networks with long‑term climate and regulatory expectations, all without changing how they work or compromising on reliability. It’s a solution designed not just for today’s requirements but for a future where sustainability, resilience, and transparency go hand in hand.
With AirSeT, moving away from SF₆ becomes less of a leap and more of a confident, practical next step. It’s a step that helps operators future‑proof their networks and breathe easy.
Dive deeper
Download the eBook “How SF6 Alternatives and Digital Technologies Combine to Empower Electricity Decarbonization and Efficiency.”
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