The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hitachi Energy, a technology company headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.
The SEC-Hitachi Energy memorandum aims to adopt advanced technology for electrical switches and circuit breakers that are free from sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), a greenhouse gas.
The MoU comes in a big step towards enhancing sustainability in the electricity sector of the Kingdom. It was signed at SEC headquarters in Riyadh in the presence of SEC acting executive vice president for technical services Eng. Nasser Mohammed Al-Sulami and Hitachi Energy managing director in Saudi Arabia Mohammed Al-Masri.
The partnership is an extension of both parties’ commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions that support the transition to clean energy and reduce emissions.
The proposed technology under the MoU offers environmentally friendly alternatives in the production of high- and medium-voltage electrical switches and circuit breakers, using substitutes for SF6 gas as an insulating medium, while maintaining the same quality, performance, and safety requirements, contributing to the reduction of global warming caused by greenhouse gases.
The collaboration is part of national efforts to enhance the adoption of clean energy sources, as the SEC continues to develop its infrastructure through environmentally friendly technologies that reduce the environmental impact of energy systems.
Recently, Hitachi Energy unveiled a EconiQ roadmap, a revolutionary action plan for eco-efficient switchgear technology. Hitachi Energy embarked on an extensive R&D journey to identify a solution that could match SF6 in performance while eliminating its environmental drawbacks. After evaluating numerous gases and technologies, the effort culminated in the creation of EconiQ, an entirely SF6-free solution designed to deliver the same reliability, efficiency and safety, without compromising the planet’s future.
