Exploring future applications of high voltage technology
The vital role of research and development in high voltage advances
The energy world is more dynamic than ever before with the integration of renewable energies, large-scale electrification of transport and digitalisation. As the world becomes more electrified, the energy industry is facing steadily increasing demands on energy supply, efficiency, reliability and sustainability.
Electricity has become the backbone of the entire energy system, society needs a highly evolved power grid, and high-voltage technology is the cornerstone of progress. Advances in high voltage are essential to efficiently deliver electricity over long distances and ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
High voltage research and development (R&D) is a catalyst for innovation, stimulating the exploration of new ideas and concepts to produce more robust solutions. It provides the foundation needed to expand the capabilities of high voltage systems, paving the way for a more sustainable, safe and flexible grid. R&D focuses on promising innovations that will further advance high voltage technology to meet today’s demands while anticipating future needs.
In this blog, we explore the pivotal impact of R&D in high voltage, from focus areas and methodologies to recent breakthroughs and the interplay between innovation and international regulations.
The latest episode of the Power Pulse podcast, “High Voltage R&D Powers the Future,” offers valuable insight into the R&D process that drives successful high voltage innovation.
High Voltage Research and Development Priority Areas
One of the most historic milestones in research and development is the transformative impact that sulfur hexafluoride (commonly known as SF6) had on electrical engineering. Prior to SF6, mineral oil was widely used in circuit breakers. Oil had good insulating properties, but required larger equipment and regular maintenance due to the risk of contamination and degradation. In addition, it also had limited switching performance. Air was another alternative, and is still partially used today. As an insulating medium, air was much simpler and cheaper, but required more space due to its lower dielectric strength. Since the 1950s, SF6 has been adopted as the primary insulating and switching medium used in high-voltage circuit breakers, enabling advances in gas-insulated switchgear (GIS). Its excellent dielectric properties made it suitable for insulating high-voltage equipment, greatly improving operational efficiency.
The introduction of SF6 was a major breakthrough for the industry, but this is now changing and R&D is key to developing better solutions that today’s world needs.
As the demand for high voltage advancements grows, strategic research and development focus areas have emerged that not only meet market needs and global regulations, but also contribute to the long-term resilience of high voltage technology.
Materials Science and Engineering
High voltage is a critical component of the power transmission and distribution grid, and materials used in these systems must meet thorough standards to ensure safety and performance. Research in this area includes the development of better insulating materials for high voltage as an alternative to SF6, the most potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential (GWP) approximately 25,000 times that of CO2 over 100 years. Despite being the standard insulating and switching gas for many years, there is an urgent need to phase out SF6 and develop SF6-free high voltage technologies. Additionally, research in materials development will develop reinforced conductors that reduce energy losses, improve efficiency, increase durability, and extend the life of high voltage equipment.
Environmental impact and sustainability
Many countries are on a mission to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of their power grids. Creating global energy solutions that accelerate this urgent task requires a focus of research and development on minimizing the environmental impact of high-voltage technology. Developing sustainable materials, practices and products will enable more efficient resource use and create a more resilient energy infrastructure.
Conducting thorough environmental reviews from concept to development is a critical step in R&D. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a cutting-edge methodology for comprehensively evaluating the environmental performance of services and solutions in a 360-degree view. It quantifies the environmental impact of a product or system from birth to death, providing a clear picture of key environmental focus areas for future development.
