HD Hyundai Electric has independently developed Korea's first 420kV eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker, accelerating its entry into the European eco-friendly power equipment market.
On August 17, HD Hyundai Electric announced the completion of the development of the 420kV SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breaker, marking it as the first in Korea and the third globally.
The newly developed eco-friendly circuit breaker replaces the traditional SF₆ insulating gas with a C₄ mixed gas, necessitating a redesign of the insulation and interruption structure to accommodate the new gas's properties. The 420kV eco-friendly circuit breaker is a critical high-voltage product used in national infrastructure, requiring proven stable performance under extreme conditions, which adds to the development's complexity.
Since 2021, HD Hyundai Electric has developed SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers in various capacities, starting with 170kV, followed by 145kV and 72.5kV models. The development of the 420kV product expands its portfolio of eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breakers across major voltage levels.
The 420kV circuit breaker is essential for the 400kV transmission network, which constitutes over half of the power grid operated by major European Transmission System Operators (TSOs). Securing 420kV products is considered a key requirement for entering the European ultra-high voltage power infrastructure market.
With the European Union's tightening regulations on fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-Gas) and increased investments in power grids, the market for SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers in Europe is expected to grow, reaching approximately 3 trillion won by 2030.
In response to these market changes, HD Hyundai Electric has proactively secured local supply qualifications by passing the pre-qualification (PQ) assessments of European grid operators during the product development phase. The company plans to establish a stable order base through long-term supply contracts to expand its presence in the European eco-friendly high-voltage circuit breaker market.
An HD Hyundai Electric official stated, "We are currently pursuing long-term supply contracts with major power companies in the UK, aiming for our first order by the end of this year or early next year. Within the next three years, we plan to complete the development of additional SF₆-Free high-voltage circuit breakers, including 300kV and 362kV models, to further solidify our position in the global eco-friendly power equipment market."
Meanwhile, HD Hyundai Electric is accelerating its entry into the European power equipment market with the largest capacity eco-friendly transformers in Korea. Following a significant increase in its North American sales share to nearly 40%, the company aims to develop Europe as its "second core market" amid growing demand driven by expanded power grid investments and strengthened environmental regulations.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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