HD Hyundai Electric develops eco-friendly 420kV circuit breaker

HD Hyundai Electric has developed South Korea’s first 420-kilovolt (kV) eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker that does not use sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). This marks the third such development globally. The new device utilizes a C4-based insulating gas, which has a global warming potential approximately 98% lower than SF6, a potent greenhouse gas currently facing stricter regulations in the European Union.

Developing the 420kV model required a complete redesign of the insulation and interruption structures to ensure stability under the extreme conditions of national power grids. This technology is specifically targeted at the European market, where 400kV-class transmission networks represent more than half of the grids operated by major transmission system operators. The European eco-friendly circuit breaker market is projected to reach approximately 3 trillion won ($2.1 billion) by 2030.

HD Hyundai Electric has already passed preliminary qualification reviews with European operators and is currently pursuing a long-term supply agreement with a major British power company. The company aims to secure its first order by late this year or early next year and plans to expand its lineup to include 300kV and 362kV classes within the next three years.