Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) Basics
Greenhouse Gas
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is a synthetic fluorinated compound with an extremely stable molecular structure. Because of its unique dielectric properties, electric utilities rely heavily on SF6 in electric power systems for voltage electrical insulation, current interruption, and arc quenching in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Yet it is also the most potent greenhouse gas known to date. Over a 100-year period, SF6 is 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide (CO2). SF6 is also a very stable chemical, with an atmospheric lifetime of greater than 1,000 years. As the gas is emitted, it accumulates in the atmosphere in an essentially undegraded state for many centuries. Thus, a relatively small amount of SF6 can have a significant impact on global climate change.
More information on long-lived fluorinated greenhouse gases, their emissions, emission sources, and trends is available on EPA’s overview of greenhouse gases.
Use in Electric Power Systems
Since the 1950s, the U.S. electric power industry has used SF6 in circuit breakers, gas-insulated substations, and other switchgear used in the transmission system to manage the high voltages carried between generating stations and customer load centers. For more information on the electric power sector visit EPA's Electric Power Sector Basics.
- The largest use of SF6 occurs in high-voltage circuit breakers. In addition to providing insulation, SF6 is used to quench the arc formed when an energized circuit breaker is opened.
- Gas-insulated substations use a significant amount of SF6, and house SF6-insulated circuit breakers, busbars, and monitoring equipment.
- Other pieces of equipment using smaller amounts of SF6 include disconnectors and ground switches that use SF6 primarily for insulation. These devices isolate portions of the transmission system where current flow has been interrupted (using a circuit breaker).
Emissions of SF6 in Electric Power Systems
The most common use for and largest emission source of SF6, both domestically and internationally, is as an electrical insulator in high-voltage equipment that transmits and distributes electricity. Approximately 67% of all SF6 emissions in the United States is attributed to the electrical transmission and distribution sector in 2022 based on the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks.
SF6-containing equipment is designed to avoid emitting any of this gas into the atmosphere. However, SF6 gas can inadvertently escape as leaks develop during various stages of the equipment's lifecycle, including manufacturing, installation, maintenance and servicing, and de-commissioning. In some cases, significant leaks can occur from aging equipment.
Several factors affect SF6 emissions from electric power systems, such as the type and age of the SF6-containing equipment (e.g., old circuit breakers can contain up to 2,000 pounds of SF6, while modern breakers usually contain less than 100 pounds) and the handling and maintenance procedures practiced by electric utilities.
The electric power industry can reduce the nation’s SF6 emissions through cost-effective operational improvements and equipment upgrades. Through improvements in the leak rate of new equipment, refurbishing older equipment, and the use of more efficient operation and maintenance techniques, utilities often find economical solutions to reduce SF6 emissions.
Under the SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems, EPA shares information on best management practices and technical solutions to help reduce emissions. Some cost-effective options to reduce SF6 emissions are:
- Leak Detection and Repair
- Use of Recycling Equipment
- Employee Education/Training
Reducing SF6 emissions helps electric power systems:
- Save money - Purchasing SF6 can be expensive, so reducing emissions can save money.
- Increase grid reliability - Use of improved SF6 equipment and management practices helps protect system reliability and efficiency.
- Protect the environment - SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas known. It is 23,500 times more effective at trapping infrared radiation than an equivalent amount of CO2 and stays in the atmosphere for more than a thousand years.
Other Common SF6 Emission Sources
SF6 is also used in industries including:
- manufacture of electrical transmission and distribution equipment
- manufacture of electronics such as semiconductors
- production of magnesium