NEWS

▶ First developed in Korea and third in the world, expanding eco-friendly products targeting Europe’s extra-high-voltage transmission market

▶ Proactively responding to stricter EU F-Gas regulations, with demand expected to continue growing

▶ Europe’s eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker market projected to reach KRW 3 trillion by 2030, as the company moves to secure an early market position

HD Hyundai Electric is accelerating its expansion into the European eco-friendly power equipment market with the successful independent development of Korea’s first 420kV eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker.

HD Hyundai Electric announced on Thursday, November 13, that it has recently completed the development of a 420kV SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breaker(*). This marks the first such development in Korea and the third worldwide.

The newly developed eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker replaces conventional SF₆ insulating gas with a C₄-based gas mixture(*). As a result, the insulation and interruption structure had to be completely redesigned to suit the characteristics of the new insulating gas. In particular, 420kV-class eco-friendly circuit breakers are extra-high-voltage products used in national transmission networks, requiring stable and reliable performance under extreme operating conditions over extended periods, making their development highly challenging.

Since 2021, HD Hyundai Electric has independently developed SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers in the 170kV, 145kV, and 72.5kV classes. With the addition of the 420kV model, the company has further expanded its portfolio of eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breakers across major voltage classes.

The 400kV transmission network, where 420kV-class circuit breakers are deployed, represents a key voltage class accounting for more than half of transmission system operator (TSO) grids operated by major European transmission companies. As a result, securing a 420kV-class product is considered a critical requirement for entering Europe’s extra-high-voltage power infrastructure market.

In particular, as stricter European Union (EU) regulations on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gases) coincide with growing investment in power grids, the European market for SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers is expected to continue expanding and reach approximately KRW 3 trillion by 2030.

To respond to these market changes, HD Hyundai Electric has proactively secured local supplier qualifications by passing prequalification (PQ) assessments conducted by European transmission network operators during the product development stage. Going forward, the company plans to establish a stable order base through long-term supply agreements and expand its presence in the European eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker market.

An HD Hyundai Electric official said, “We are currently pursuing a long-term supply agreement with a major power utility in the United Kingdom and are targeting our first order by the end of this year or early next year. Over the next three years, we also plan to complete the development of additional SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers, including 300kV- and 362kV-class models, further strengthening our position in the global eco-friendly power equipment market.”

(*) SF₆-Free High-Voltage Circuit Breaker: An eco-friendly power device that does not use sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆), one of the most widely used fluorinated greenhouse gases.

(*) C₄-Based Gas Mixture: An alternative insulating gas utilizing C₄F₇N, with a global warming potential (GWP) approximately 98% lower than that of SF₆.