Schneider Electric to Deploy SF6-Free Switchgear with Southern California Edison

SF6-Free Switchgear will be deployed by Schneider Electric and Southern California Edison to accelerate substation upgrades, add grid capacity within existing footprints, and replace sulfur hexafluoride with pure air and vacuum in modular, medium-voltage equipment.

Schneider Electric will collaborate with Southern California Edison to deploy SF6-free, modular medium-voltage switchgear at existing substations, targeting faster construction cycles, added grid capacity, and a smaller physical footprint. The initiative aligns with broader smart grid technology programs intended to modernize utility networks and connect new load efficiently.

The switchgear replaces sulfur hexafluoride with pure air and vacuum interruption, eliminating a high global warming potential gas while maintaining reliability. Integrated into compact, pre-assembled and enclosed substation systems, the equipment is designed to be installed more quickly and to make better use of constrained sites. According to the project plan, the approach is expected to help double capacity within the current substation footprint, supporting load growth that also reflects increasing adoption of distributed resources and storage, including california solar battery electricity initiatives across the state.

The first two deployments are slated for the Great Lakes substation in the Antelope Valley region of northern Los Angeles County and the Running Springs substation in the San Bernardino Mountains. Installation is scheduled to begin in 2027, with standardized, modular designs selected to streamline engineering, construction, and commissioning. The new equipment is described as digital ready, a capability that can complement efforts to integrate condition monitoring and advanced analytics alongside digital transformers used in modern substations.

By packaging SF6-free switchgear into compact, factory-assembled enclosures, the utility expects to reduce the need for full substation rebuilds, bring capacity online sooner, and minimize on-site work. The smaller footprint can also lessen construction impacts on surrounding communities and simplify future maintenance. In parallel, utilities in Southern California continue to harden systems for extreme weather and wildfire resilience, with related planning reflected in sdge grid fire preparation efforts that inform regional reliability strategies.

SF6-free medium-voltage technology has seen broader utility adoption in Europe and parts of Asia, while uptake in the United States is beginning to accelerate. Standardized, modular substation solutions such as these are intended to add capacity rapidly while advancing decarbonization and electrification goals. As California continues to expand and reinforce its transmission and distribution assets, initiatives that streamline construction and replacement work remain central to overall system readiness, including ongoing programs focused on repairing california grid infrastructure and optimizing existing sites for future demand.

Related News

• Electricity Forum News

• Grid Technologies News