GE Vernova has launched a 170-kV sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)-free gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) at CIGRE Paris 2026, expanding its portfolio of technologies designed to reduce the carbon emission impact of high-voltage electrical infrastructure.

The F35g 170-kV GIS is designed to provide the performance, reliability and compact footprint of conventional high-voltage GIS without using SF₆. GIS is used in substations to control and protect the flow of high-voltage electricity, with its compact design making it particularly suited for urban substations and other space-constrained locations.

The launch comes 10 years after GE Vernova introduced its first product using g³ technology as an alternative to SF₆. The gas has traditionally been used in high-voltage electrical equipment because of its insulating properties, but it is also a potent greenhouse gas.

The F35g 170-kV completes GE Vernova's SF₆-free GIS range for transmission grids, which spans 72.5 kV, 145 kV, 170 kV, 245 kV and 420 kV.

“Over the past decade, the challenge has evolved from simply finding an alternative insulating gas to designing high-voltage equipment that can help customers reduce carbon emission impact across the life cycle of their infrastructure without compromising performance,” said Yannick Kieffel, Power Transmission chief technology officer at GE Vernova. “The F35g 170 kV is the latest step in that journey, giving customers another option as they move away from SF₆ while continuing to build the reliable and compact transmission networks they need.”

Since the first g³ product was introduced in 2016, GE Vernova has expanded the technology across its high-voltage portfolio. The 170-kV GIS extends the technology into another transmission voltage range and is intended to support utilities seeking to reduce their reliance on fluorinated greenhouse gases.

The F35g 170-kV also incorporates monitoring and digital capabilities intended to provide operators with greater visibility into equipment condition and performance. The product is designed to meet IEC and IEEE requirements.

GE Vernova uses Life Cycle Assessments to evaluate carbon emissions across stages including raw material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, use and end of life. The assessments are intended to identify opportunities to reduce global warming impact beyond the insulating gas itself.

Development of the F35g 170-kV GIS has been partially supported through France 2030, operated by ADEME, to support the development and industrialization of technologies intended to contribute to France's transition toward lower-carbon infrastructure.

GE Vernova will manufacture the new GIS in Europe. The product is available for order following its launch at CIGRE Paris 2026.

The F35g 170-kV is part of GE Vernova's GRiDEA portfolio, which includes technologies focused on reducing the carbon footprint of electrical equipment while supporting the reliability and performance required by critical grid infrastructure.

CIGRE Paris 2026 is taking place Aug. 23–28. GE Vernova is showcasing the F35g 170-kV and its broader SF₆-free portfolio at Stand C93.